2016 Wesleyan Discipline: District Board of Ministerial Development Duties Related to Ordination, Commissions, Licenses and Ministerial Students

Related to Ordination, Commissions, Licenses and Ministerial Students

(1) To examine carefully (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1935:34) each candidate for election by the district conference to ordination or election to a commissioned minister’s status, the granting of a district ministerial license, a license as a ministerial student, a commission or license as special worker, a commission as a lay missionary, and any other commission or license as may be authorized by The Discipline. The examination shall include an interview with each candidate, making such investigation as is deemed necessary to affirm the individual’s:

(a) Personal experience of salvation and entire sanctification;

(b) Full commitment to the Articles of Religion, Membership Commitments, Elementary Principles, and polity of The Wesleyan Church and acceptance of its authority;

(c) Evidence of having the qualifications for the ministry to which the candidate feels called as set forth in The Discipline. The examination shall result in recommendations to the district conference for those whom the district board of ministerial development judges to be qualified for said ministry (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1381; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:5).

(2) To consider each person recommended by a local church conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:8) or circuit conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:528:2) or local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:8) for the granting of a license as a ministerial student (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:IV; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1) and to recommend to the district conference for such license those who are deemed worthy (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:29b, c; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350:2); to encourage all such ministerial students to enroll for ministerial training in an approved school of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2365; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2382); to supervise and counsel them, keeping a record of their ministerial studies (1387:2) and cooperating with the director of the Ministerial Study Course Agency in supervising those enrolled in courses under the Agency (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2388; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3170-3210).

(3) To consider and examine any person who desires to be received into the district from another denomination, and to be recognized as an ordained, commissioned or licensed minister or commissioned special worker and to recommend to the district conference for reception as in process of transfer, and subsequently for recognition as in full standing, only such a person as it deems properly qualified according to The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3470); and, in the interim of district conference sessions, to make such recommendation to the district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:37).

(4) To consider and examine any person applying for reinstatement or restoration of ordination, commission or license and to recommend to the district conference only such a person as it deems properly qualified according to The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3120-3124; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5230-5248).

(5) To present to the district conference, as a separate report, a recommendation for the election of a candidate to ordination as an ordained minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:28; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3070:5) or commission as a minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059) or the reinstatement or restoration of ministerial credentials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3120-3124; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5230-5248), and to present to the district conference a combined report of all other recommendations concerning the commissioning, licensing, and recognition of ministers and special workers, and the licensing of ministerial students (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:29; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1).

(6) To serve, with the exception of the lay members, and when so designated by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:34; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:38), as a council of ordination (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1405); and to perform such other duties as may be assigned by the district conference.