2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Ministry, The: District appointment of ministers

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(1) The right to take charge of all the ministers and churches within its bounds, as modified by 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:3e and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:365 (except those serving the General Church as the General Conference shall define who shall be amenable to the General Board of Administration, and except the district superintendent who shall be amenable to the General Board of Administration), and subject to the right of the ministers and churches to enter into pastoral engagements.

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(12) To take charge of all ordained, commissioned or licensed ministers, ministerial students, commissioned and licensed special workers, missions, developing churches, pastoral charges, auxiliary organizations (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:25; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:7365:2) and other district work within its bounds, except when the district is under discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:3c, e), and except for those members of the district who are elected as general officials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800), missionaries appointed under the Global Partners Division (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2272), and others who are amenable only to the General Board for their official duties (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5150; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5203).

(26) To receive and pass upon the recommendations of the district board of administration concerning the pastoral agreements, appointments, and district conference relations, as follows (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10):

(a) To approve the pastoral agreements entered into between the pastoral charges and the ministers, or to alter such an agreement, or to veto the action of the pastoral charge and appoint another pastor, provided that any such alteration or veto shall be for reasons as set forth in the Constitution, and shall be voted on as a separate action by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1-2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:697).

(b) To appoint a pastor to those pastoral charges not yet supplied at the time of the district conference or whenever requested to do so by a local church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:708) or to delegate such appointment to the district board of administration, and to appoint an interim pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3261:2) or to employ a qualified person as a supply pastor when deemed necessary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260).

(c) To appoint each minister to the proper category of service or other appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3250-3391), appointing each ordained minister not included on the appointed list (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:A) to the proper district conference relation as retired, on reserve, on educational leave, without appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:B-E) or in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104); appointing each commissioned or licensed minister to the proper category of service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:II:A-B; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:III:A-B; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255-3391) or in the process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104); to license as ministerial students those persons so qualified (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:IV; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1); and to appoint as commissioned or licensed special workers, designating their particular ministry (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3450-3480), those who have been granted the proper commissions and licenses (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:A-C) or to list them as in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:B); and to appoint commissioned lay missionaries.

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(10) To serve the district conference as a committee on pastoral relations and ministerial appointments, being responsible:

(a) To review all pastoral agreements between churches and ministers of the district (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:690-722).

(b) To receive a report from the district board of ministerial development concerning matters related to district conference appointments and relations as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:10.

(c) To submit to the district conference a comprehensive report covering all the churches and ministers of the district: recommending any necessary changes in the boundaries of the pastoral charges or in the classification of churches (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:24-25; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4720–4750); recommending the appointment of pastors for all churches for the coming year (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:510:1), including the approval, alteration or veto of pastoral agreements already made by the churches and ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:2), and the appointment of pastors or the delegation of responsibility for such appointment for churches otherwise without pastors (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26), and recommending the appointment and/or classification of all other ordained ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3075:5), commissioned or licensed ministers, special workers and the licensing of ministerial students as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26 and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1).

1240. The ordained ministers, commissioned ministers, licensed ministers, ministerial students, commissioned special workers, licensed special workers, commissioned lay missionaries, and supply pastors of the district shall be listed in the following order as appointed by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10). This listing shall be included in the district conference journal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1178) as an official district directory and shall be used for that portion of the district conference roll call.

I. Ordained Ministers

A. APPOINTED ORDAINED MINISTERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3250-3390)

1. District Service.

The district superintendent and other ordained ministers in full-time service of the district in a ministerial capacity (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1327; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1460).

2. Pastoral and Local Service.

a. Ordained ministers appointed as pastors, associate or assistant pastors, or interim pastors within the district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255).

b. Ordained ministers on loan to other districts of The Wesleyan Church for service as supply pastors (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260:1).

c. Ordained ministers appointed to serve in a local church spiritual formation or Christian education program (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:2).

3. Evangelistic Service.

a. Associate general evangelists. Ordained ministers appointed as associate general evangelists (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3270; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3280).

b. General evangelists. Ordained ministers appointed as general evangelists (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3270; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3275; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3285:1)

c. Reserve evangelists. Ordained ministers appointed as reserve evangelists (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3270; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3275; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3285:2).

4. Denominational Service.

a. Ordained ministers elected by the General Conference or General Board as general officials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320).

b. Ordained ministers employed at the World Headquarters, or those elected or employed by the board of directors of a general subsidiary corporation other than an educational institution, for full-time General Church service in a ministerial capacity as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320.

c. Ordained ministers appointed by the General Board for service in a ministerial capacity as missionaries or workers under the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division or Global Partners Division as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3300.

d. Ordained ministers employed to serve in a ministerial capacity on the administrative staff or faculty of a general educational institution of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2365) or one of the seminaries approved by the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2382).

e. Ordained ministers traveling and teaching in local churches and districts without a specific or pastoral assignment as itinerant Bible teachers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:3).

5. Chaplains (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3330).

Ordained ministers approved by the Committee on Chaplains and commissioned by the government as military chaplains, or employed as full-time professional institutional chaplains.

6. Interchurch Service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335).

Ordained ministers employed in a ministerial capacity in interchurch service, serving with an educational, evangelistic or missionary organization not directly related to The Wesleyan Church, provided such service is approved by the district conference.

7. Special Service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3345).

Ordained ministers serving in active ministry not otherwise provided for, if such service is approved by the district conference.

8. Affiliate Church Pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3346; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:7010).

Ordained ministers appointed by the district conference to service on staff of an affiliate church.

B. RETIRED ORDAINED MINISTERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3370)
Ordained ministers retired because of age or incapacitated by infirmity, provided they were either on the appointed list, on reserve or on educational leave at the time of such incapacitation or retirement.

C. RESERVE ORDAINED MINISTERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3360)
Ordained ministers available for but without appointment. An ordained minister who remains on reserve for two consecutive years shall be automatically transferred to the list of ordained ministers without appointment unless continued on reserve by vote of the district conference.

D. ORDAINED MINISTERS ON EDUCATIONAL LEAVE

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350:1)
Ordained ministers enrolled in a seminary or other graduate school for advanced training for church service.

E. ORDAINED MINISTERS WITHOUT APPOINTMENT

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3380)

1. Ordained ministers not available for appointment.

2. Ordained ministers employed in other than a ministerial capacity by the General Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320), by a general educational institution or one of the seminaries connected with the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310) or in interchurch service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335).

3. Ordained ministers not otherwise listed.

F. ORDAINED MINISTERS IN PROCESS OF DISTRICT TRANSFER

Ordained ministers receiving appointment by the district conference to 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:A, B, C or D but whose processes of transfer between districts of The Wesleyan Church are not yet completed.

1. The receiving district shall list the ordained minister under the appropriate category of service, followed by the notation, “Pending Completion of District Transfer.” The minister shall be a non-voting member of this district until completion of the transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:9).

2. The sending district shall list the ordained minister as having “Applied for District Transfer.” The ordained minister shall be a voting member of the sending district until completion of the district transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:5).

G. ORDAINED MINISTERS IN PROCESS OF DENOMINATIONAL TRANSFER

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3390) Ordained ministers from another denomination who have been granted recognition as ordained ministers in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:29a; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104).

II. Commissioned Ministers

A. PASTORS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255)
Commissioned ministers appointed as pastors or as full-time associate or assistant pastors of Wesleyan churches in that district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:3).

B. OTHER APPOINTMENTS.

Commissioned ministers appointed to service in a local church spiritual formation or Christian education program (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:2) or in a ministerial capacity to district, denominational or interchurch service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3250; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3300; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335); itinerant Bible teachers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:3).

C. COMMISSIONED MINISTERS WITHOUT APPOINTMENT

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3380)

1. Commissioned ministers not available for appointment.

2. Commissioned ministers employed in other than a ministerial capacity by the General Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320), by a general educational institution or one of the seminaries connected with the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310) or in interchurch service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335).

D. IN PROCESS OF DISTRICT TRANSFER.

Commissioned ministers receiving appointment by the district conference to 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:II:A or B but whose processes of transfer from another district of The Wesleyan Church are not yet completed.

1. The receiving district shall list the commissioned minister under the appropriate category of service, followed by the notation, “Pending Completion of District Transfer.” The commissioned minister shall be a non-voting member of this district until completion of the transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1).

2. The sending district shall list the commissioned minister as having “Applied for District Transfer.” The commissioned minister shall remain a non-voting member of the sending district until completion of the transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:3).

E. IN PROCESS OF DENOMINATIONAL TRANSFER.

Commissioned ministers or their equivalent from other denominations who have been granted recognition as commissioned ministers in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104).

F. RETIRED COMMISSIONED MINISTERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3371)
Commissioned ministers retired because of age or incapacitated by infirmity, provided they were either on the appointed list, on reserve or on educational leave at the time of such incapacitation or retirement.

III. Licensed Ministers

A. PASTORS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255).
Licensed ministers appointed as pastors, associate pastors or assistant pastors of Wesleyan churches in that district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:3).

B. OTHER APPOINTMENTS.

Licensed ministers appointed to service in a local church spiritual formation or Christian education program (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:2) or in a ministerial capacity to district, denominational or interchurch service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3250; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3300; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3320; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3335); itinerant Bible teachers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3310:3).

C. IN PROCESS OF DISTRICT TRANSFER.

Licensed ministers receiving appointment by the district conference to 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:III:A or B but whose processes of transfer from another district of The Wesleyan Church are not yet completed.

1. The receiving district shall list the licensed minister under the appropriate category of service, followed by the notation, “Pending Completion of District Transfer.” The licensed minister shall be a non-voting member of this district until completion of the transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1).

2. The sending district shall list the licensed minister as “Applied for District Transfer.” Unless a licensed minister is an ordained minister-elect, said minister shall remain a non-voting member of the sending district until completion of the district transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:2, 3).

D. IN PROCESS OF DENOMINATIONAL TRANSFER.

Licensed ministers or their equivalent from other denominations who have been granted recognition as licensed ministers in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104).

IV. Ministerial Students

Those approved by the district conference to be licensed as ministerial students as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1.

V. Lay Workers

A. COMMISSIONED SPECIAL WORKERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3450; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3470)
List by specific category such as director of music, director of spiritual formation or Christian education, youth director, song evangelist, children’s worker, lay evangelist, social worker or spouse in ministry.

B. COMMISSIONED SPECIAL WORKERS IN PROCESS OF TRANSFER

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3450; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3470)
List by specific category (refer to 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:A).

C. LICENSED SPECIAL WORKERS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3450; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3460)
List by specific category (refer to 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:A).

D. COMMISSIONED LAY MISSIONARIES

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3490)

E. SUPPLY PASTORS

(2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260)