2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Special lay ministries: Lay minister

A. Lay Minister

3400. Identification. A lay minister is a lay member of The Wesleyan Church whom the local church conference, or the local board of administration if so delegated, has licensed to preach or serve (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:7), under the pastor’s direction and as opportunity affords (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:28), thus providing for the employment and development of gifts and usefulness.

3410. Granting a Lay Minister’s License. A local Wesleyan church member, who meets the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558), and who applies for a license as a lay minister or who is presented as a candidate for such license by the pastor shall be examined by the local board of administration. If the local board of administration is satisfied that the candidate shows promise of the proper gifts and usefulness, it shall recommend to the local church conference the granting of a license (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:20), unless the local church conference has delegated such authority to the local board of administration. When the license has been authorized (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:650:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:7), the pastor and local church secretary shall issue the license on the approved form (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6200; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:28; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:830:3).

3420. Renewing a Lay Minister’s License. A lay minister’s license is effective for one year only, and authority to preach or serve under such a license shall cease unless it is renewed annually by the authorized body. The authorized body may renew the license if its holder has served satisfactorily under the pastor’s direction, if personal gifts and graces give promise of continued usefulness, and if the annual report of the Ministerial Study Course Agency shows that the lay minister has completed two courses in the study course for lay ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3210:4) during the year, or if the lay minister holds a certificate from the Ministerial Study Course Agency showing that the study course has been completed.

3430. Duties of a Lay Minister. A person holding a lay minister’s license shall be responsible:

(1) To enroll in the course of study for lay ministers under the Ministerial Study Course Agency (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3210:4), and to pursue it with all diligence until completed, either through a program of ministerial training at one of the Wesleyan educational institutions or through correspondence courses from the Ministerial Study Course Agency. Any training taken outside The Wesleyan Church shall be carefully evaluated by the Ministerial Study Course Agency which shall have authority to determine to what extent it may be credited toward the prescribed study course (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3170:4).

(2) To assist the pastor as directed (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:28), preaching as often as opportunity affords, including the holding of evangelistic services in neighboring churches with the pastor’s approval or serving in other ways befitting the lay minister’s gifts and local needs.

(3) To report the progress of studies and the nature and extent of labors to the pastor and the local board of administration as they shall require (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:5) and to the local church conference annually (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:650:5; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:5).

3440. Regulations for a Lay Minister.

(1) A lay minister has no authority to solemnize marriages or to administer the sacraments, except as provided for in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260:2, nor any vote in the local board of administration nor in the district conference unless elected thereto.

(2) A lay minister is amenable to the local church conference, and the license may be revoked by the authorized body for cause or when the best interests of the church so require (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:20).

(3) A lay minister who transfers membership may also ask for a letter of standing as a lay minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6220), and present it to the pastor of the church to which transfer is sought for consideration by the local board of administration there in issuing a new license.