2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3044

3044. Rights of Licensed Minister. As long as a minister qualifies for and receives a district ministerial license, the minister shall have the right (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313):

(1) To preach the gospel (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1), and, when appointed as a pastor or full-time associate or assistant pastor of a Wesleyan church, to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship, and to solemnize the rite of matrimony wherever local laws will permit.

(2) To contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the approval of the district conference and other regulations of The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1–2).

(3) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:4); and to serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:5; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3114–3117).

(4) To be a voting member of the district conference if an ordained minister-elect or if the pastor, an associate pastor or assistant pastor of a Wesleyan church in that district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:2–4). To be a nonvoting member if otherwise classified or appointed (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:3). To be eligible for election to any office not restricted to ordained ministers or lay persons.

(5) To transfer in the manner prescribed by The Discipline from one district to another, subject to the concurrence of the district superintendent and the General Superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3055:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3097; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1).

(6) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5200; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206–5212).