2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104:4-5
From Wesleyan Discipline
- (4) If the district board of ministerial development so recommends (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:3), the district conference may appoint the applicant as an ordained minister in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:29a; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:G; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3390; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3067), a commissioned minister in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:II:E; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3391) or a licensed minister in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:III:D; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3391), which relation shall continue for one year unless the district conference shall by vote extend it. While serving under this relation, the applicant is a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:2, 3), may serve as a supply pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260), and shall seek to satisfy any requirements in ministerial training, particularly in Wesleyan doctrine, history, and polity. If at any time the district board of administration shall determine that it is not in the best interests of the district to continue the relation, they may by majority vote terminate the relation and any supply assignment, and thus dismiss the applicant from all ministerial relations to The Wesleyan Church. An ordained minister in the process of transfer shall have authority to administer the sacraments and perform marriages, while serving as a supply pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260:2).
- (5) If the year of service is satisfactory and all requirements in ministerial training have been met as evidenced by the certification of the Ministerial Study Course Agency, the district board of ministerial development may recommend to the district conference that the applicant be recognized as an ordained minister or commissioned or licensed minister of The Wesleyan Church and be received as a ministerial member of the district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:3). If the transferring minister has not previously joined a local Wesleyan church within the district, this must be done prior to the vote by the district conference receiving the applicant as a ministerial member of the district. If an ordained minister in process of transfer faces extensive additional academic requirements, and age or other extenuating circumstances make it doubtful to the applicant and the district board of ministerial development that such requirements can be met, the district board of ministerial development may authorize the applicant to qualify for commissioned minister’s status and proceed accordingly (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059).