3075

3075. Rights of an Ordained Minister. An ordained minister who maintains spiritual life, moral character, and faithful ministry, and is neither under discipline nor expelled from the ministry shall have the right (313) to:

(1) Preach the gospel and administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship, and to solemnize the rite of matrimony (313:1).

(2) Be eligible for election to any office in the Church for which ordained ministers are eligible (313:2).

(3) Contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the other provisions of The Discipline (313:3).

(4) Enjoy, if appointed as a pastor, the use for religious meetings of the church building or buildings of the pastoral charge to which assigned by the district conference (313:4); and to serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church (313:5; 3114).

(5) Be a voting member of the district conference if under appointment, retired, on reserve, on educational leave, or a member of the district board of administration (317; 1083:1; 1240:1:A-D), and a nonvoting member if without appointment or in the process of transfer (1090:1-2); and to have these conference relations changed only after careful investigation by the district board of administration, and interview if possible (1233:10).

(6) Transfer in the manner prescribed by The Discipline from one district to another, subject to the concurrence of the district superintendent over the district into which transfer is sought (313:6; 3100:1).

(7) Have recourse, even if under discipline, to a proper court of jurisdiction in any matters involving complaint against character or ministerial conduct and to appeal the decision of such court (313:7; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5200; 5206-5212).