2016 Wesleyan Discipline: B. Ministerial Appointment Other Assignments

B. Other Assignments

1. Students

3350. The district conference may list ordained ministers and others pursuing ministerial studies in keeping with these regulations:

(1) Ordained Minister on Educational Leave. An ordained minister without other appointment who enrolls in a seminary or other graduate school for advanced training for church service shall be listed as an “ordained minister on educational leave” (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:D). An ordained minister so appointed shall be a voting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:1).

(2) Ministerial Student. A student engaged in full-time study in preparation for ordination, either by enrolling in the four-year or five-year ministerial or pre-ministerial course of a Wesleyan educational institution, or in an approved theological seminary or other approved graduate-level program of theological education, or by pursuing full-time study in the Ministerial Study Course Agency either by correspondence or by work in a college along with correspondence, if the student meets all other qualifications (3015:1), may be granted a license and appointed by the district conference as a ministerial student (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1). The ministerial student shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:4).

2. Reserve Ministers

3360. An ordained minister on reserve is one available for appointment but left without one (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:C). The ordained minister on reserve shall be a voting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:1). An ordained minister remaining on reserve for two consecutive years without definite appointment shall be automatically transferred to the list of ordained ministers without appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3380) unless continued on reserve by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26c).

3. Retired Ministers

3370. Ordained Ministers. An ordained minister who is retired because of age or incapacitated by infirmity, and who was on either the appointed list, on reserve or on educational leave at the time of retirement or incapacitation, shall be placed on the retired list (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:B). A retired ordained minister shall be a voting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:1). When special circumstances are present, the district conference may place an ordained minister without appointment on the retired list.

3371. Commissioned Ministers. A commissioned minister who is retired shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059).

4. Ministers Without Appointment

3380. An ordained or commissioned minister in active service outside The Wesleyan Church with the consent of the district conference but who is not eligible for inclusion in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3345 or 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350:1, or an ordained or commissioned minister who is not available for appointment, or an ordained or commissioned minister who is not otherwise provided for in the appointed, reserve, educational leave or retired lists shall be placed on the appropriate list of ordained or commissioned ministers without appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:E; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:II:C). An ordained or commissioned minister without appointment shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:1, 3).

5. Ministers in Process of Transfer From Another Denomination

3390. Ordained Ministers. An ordained minister seeking to be received into The Wesleyan Church from another denomination shall be listed by the district conference for the first year and until all deficiencies in educational or service requirements are cared for as an ordained minister in process of transfer (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:G; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3170:4). An ordained minister in process of transfer shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:2).

3391. Other Ministers. A commissioned or licensed minister or ordained deacon seeking to be received into The Wesleyan Church from another denomination shall be listed by the district conference for the first year and until all deficiencies in educational requirements are cared for as a commissioned or licensed minister in process of transfer (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104). A commissioned or licensed minister in process of transfer shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:3).