Ministerial rights

313. The constitutional rights of ministers in The Wesleyan Church, if not under discipline, shall include the right to:

(1) Preach the gospel, and in the case of ordained ministers, to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship, and to solemnize the rite of matrimony.

(2) Be eligible, in the case of ordained ministers, for election to any office in the Church for which ordained ministers are eligible.

(3) Contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the other provisions of this Constitution (313:6; 323:1-2).

(4) Enjoy the use for religious meetings of the church building or buildings of the pastoral charge to which appointment has been made by the district conference.

(5) Serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church.

(6) Transfer in the manner prescribed by The Discipline from one district to another, subject to the approval of the district superintendent and the General Superintendent.

(7) Have recourse, even if under discipline, to a proper court of jurisdiction in any matters involving complaint against the minister’s character or ministerial conduct and to appeal the decision of such court.

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

(1) Preach the gospel (313:1) and, when appointed as a pastor or full- time 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) Contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the approval of the district conference and other regulations of The Discipline (313:3; 323:1-2).

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

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

(5) 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 (313:6; 3055:3; 3097; 3100:1).

(6) 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 (313:7; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5200; 5206-5212).

3075. Rights of an Ordained Minister. An ordained minister who maintains spiritual life, moral character, and faithful ministry, and is neither under discipline nor expelled from the ministry shall have the right (313) to:

(1) Preach the gospel and administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship, and to solemnize the rite of matrimony (313:1).

(2) Be eligible for election to any office in the Church for which ordained ministers are eligible (313:2).

(3) Contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the other provisions of The Discipline (313:3).

(4) 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 (313:4); and to serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church (313:5; 3114).

(5) Be a voting member of the district conference if under appointment, retired, on reserve, on educational leave, or a member of the district board of administration (317; 1083:1; 1240:1:A-D), and a nonvoting member if without appointment or in the process of transfer (1090:1-2); and to have these conference relations changed only after careful investigation by the district board of administration, and interview if possible (1233:10).

(6) Transfer in the manner prescribed by The Discipline from one district to another, subject to the concurrence of the district superintendent over the district into which transfer is sought (313:6; 3100:1).

(7) 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 (313:7; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5200; 5206-5212).