2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Ministry, The: Categories of service

3250. While The Wesleyan Church recognizes only two levels of ministry which in and of themselves have a degree of permanency, that of ordained minister and that of commissioned minister, it also recognizes that the ordained minister, commissioned minister or licensed minister preparing for ordination may serve the Church in various capacities. Christ has called some to be “apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:11–12). The Church recognizes the following categories of service to which a district conference may appoint an ordained minister, or, as circumstances warrant, a commissioned or licensed minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26): pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255–3260); evangelist (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3270–3285); missionary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3300); educator or itinerant Bible teacher (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310); administrator (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320); chaplain (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3330); interchurch service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335); special service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3345); and affiliate church pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3346). Service within these categories that qualifies as being “in a ministerial capacity” would include that service for which ministerial training is required or greatly desired. The General Board adopts guidelines for each category which will aid district boards in identifying the kinds of service which are considered to be “in a ministerial capacity.”