2016 Wesleyan Discipline: 3015

3015. Those pursuing ministerial studies under the direction of the district board of ministerial development shall include those licensed as ministerial students as follows:

(1) Ministerial Student. A member who meets the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) of The Wesleyan Church who confesses a call to be a minister (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3000–3006) may be granted a license as a ministerial student by meeting the following requirements in order:

(a) Membership in a local Wesleyan church within the district granting the license.

(b) Recommendation from the local church conference or the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:8) to the district conference for license as a ministerial student.

(c) Readiness to pursue studies with all diligence until completed, to prepare for ordination, and to give oneself wholly to the ministry in The Wesleyan Church when studies are completed.

(d) Examination by the district board of ministerial development (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:2) relative to qualifications for ministry (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3000–3006) including a personal religious experience, ministerial call, and evidence thereof, and its recommendation to the district conference for the granting of the license (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:5).

(e) Enrollment in the Ministerial Study Course Agency and in a program of ministerial education approved by the district board of ministerial development.

(f) Recommendation by the district board of administration for appointment as a ministerial student (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350:2) and its adoption by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:2).

(g) Issuance and signing of the license by the district superintendent and the district secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6260).

(2) Renewing a License for a Ministerial Student. The license for a ministerial student may be renewed annually by meeting the following requirements:

(a) The reports from both the ministerial student and the Ministerial Study Course Agency show that progress has been made in the course of study.

(b) The ministerial student shows readiness to continue studies in preparation for ordination in The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350:2) or, for one having just completed the course of study, to take an appointment within the coming year.

(c) The proper reports have been made (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:4).

(3) Rights of a Ministerial Student. As long as a ministerial student qualifies for and receives a license the student shall have the right:

(a) To preach the gospel.

(b) To be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:4).

(c) To transfer from one district to another (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:5d); the district superintendent shall send a letter directly to the district superintendent of the district to which the student is transferring and the student shall continue to be considered a member of the former district until a reply has been received from the latter district that the student has been duly received as a member of a local church within the district and has been duly enrolled as a ministerial student by the district.

(d) To 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 a court (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:302:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5200; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206–5212).

(4) Duties of a Ministerial Student. A person holding a license as a ministerial student shall be responsible to report annually to the district board of ministerial development concerning progress in studies (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:2) and service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:7); and to report to the district superintendent and the board of ministerial development at other times as required.

(5) Regulations for a Ministerial Student.

(a) A ministerial student is amenable to the district which grants the license, and the license may be revoked between sessions of the district conference by judicial process as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206–5212.

(b) A ministerial student’s credentials shall consist of the license, signed annually by the district superintendent and the district secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6260), and an annual pocket certificate of standing, issued and signed by the district secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6430).

(c) A ministerial student from another denomination will need to qualify for such license in The Wesleyan Church as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1.

(d) A ministerial student, when transferring district membership (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:3c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1), in addition to a letter of transfer, shall be supplied by the district superintendent and the district board of ministerial development with a properly attested statement of standing in the ministerial study course.