3. Reception of Ministers from Another Denomination
From Wesleyan Discipline
3. Reception of Ministers from Another Denomination
3104. Reception of a Minister from Another Denomination. An ordained minister from another denomination, or a minister from another denomination who has been ordained to deacon’s orders or who has been licensed or authorized in some manner equivalent to the commissioning or licensing of a Wesleyan minister by a district conference, may seek reception into The Wesleyan Church as an ordained minister or commissioned or licensed minister, as the case may justify (1233:34), according to the following procedure:
- (1) The applicant shall complete a written application for transfer provided by the Executive Director of Communication and Administration office and present it, along with a valid letter of standing or photocopy of ministerial credentials and photocopies of transcripts or other records of ministerial training, to the district superintendent (1310:26), who shall research the applicant’s background, check references, and verify his or her current credential status and good standing.
- (2) If favorable to the transfer, the district superintendent shall so recommend in writing and request approval by the General Superintendent with copies of the application, credentials, and educational records submitted by the applicant.
- (3) If approval is granted by the General Superintendent, the applicant shall be examined by the district board of ministerial development relative to Christian experience, call, and qualifications for the ministry as given in 3000-3006 (3059:1; 3070:4), and to the nature of ordination, commission, or license.
- (4) If the district board of ministerial development so recommends (1390:3), the district conference may appoint the applicant as an ordained minister in process of transfer (1180:27a; 1240:1:G; 3390; 3067), a commissioned minister in process of transfer (1240:2:E; 3059; 3391), or a licensed minister in process of transfer (1240:3:D; 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 (1090:2-3), may serve as a supply pastor (3260), and shall seek to satisfy any requirements of the district board of ministerial development 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 relationship, they may by majority vote terminate the relationship 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 (3260:2).
- (5) If the year of service is satisfactory and all requirements in ministerial training have been met, 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 (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 (3059).