2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Ministry, The: Ministerial student

1240===IV. Ministerial Students=== Those approved by the district conference to be licensed as ministerial students as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1. 3015

(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).

3350

(2) Ministerial Student. A student engaged in full-time study in preparation for ordination, either by enrolling in the four-year or five-year ministerial or pre-ministerial course of a Wesleyan educational institution, or in an approved theological seminary or other approved graduate-level program of theological education, or by pursuing full-time study in the Ministerial Study Course Agency either by correspondence or by work in a college along with correspondence, if the student meets all other qualifications (3015:1), may be granted a license and appointed by the district conference as a ministerial student (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1). The ministerial student shall be a nonvoting member of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:4).

6260. District License (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1, 5b; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3033:9).

This certifies that ___________________, having been duly examined concerning _____________ gifts, graces, and usefulness, and being deemed qualified for such service, is hereby made a _____________* according to the usages of The Wesleyan Church, for one year, provided that ____________ spirit, practice, and ministry are in keeping with the Scriptures and The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church.

By order and on behalf of the district conference of the _____________ District of The Wesleyan Church, this ______ day of __________, A.D. ________.

________________________ District Superintendent ________________________ District Secretary

(*Insert the proper term, namely licensed minister or ministerial student. This license may be renewed annually; and when so renewed notation shall be made on the reverse side of this form on which such renewal was ordered, and the same shall be attested by the signature of the district superintendent and the district secretary.) 6420. Recommendation for District License (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3033:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3410; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3460).

This certifies that _____________, a member with leadership qualifications in good standing of the _____________________ Wesleyan Church, is hereby recommended by ____________ local church conference to the _____________ District Conference of The Wesleyan Church as having the gifts, graces, usefulness, and other qualifications necessary for district authorization to serve as a __________*.

By order and in behalf of the local church conference of the ____________ Wesleyan Church, this ______ day of ________, A.D. ______.

________________________ Pastor ________________________ Local Church Secretary

(*Insert the proper term, namely ministerial student, licensed minister or licensed special worker. If licensed special worker, add the particular type of service, such as licensed special worker—director of music, director of spiritual formation, youth director, song evangelist, children’s worker, spouse in ministry, lay evangelist or social worker.)