2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Pastors General Duties and Powers

General

(1) To diligently study the Scriptures, pray, and do the work assigned.

(2) To seek, by all means, the conversion of sinners, the sanctification of believers, and the upbuilding of God’s people in the most holy faith.

(3) To pray to God for and with the flock.

(4) To feed the flock by reading, expounding, teaching, and preaching the Word.

(5) To have the general guidance, under the Holy Spirit, of the religious services, including the midweek service, appointing musicians (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:870) and cultivating the practice of corporate worship.

(6) To administer, if an ordained (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1), commissioned (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059:2a) or licensed minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3044:1), the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each pastor is encouraged to provide for the observance of the Lord’s Supper at least once each month, but is required to do so at least once every three months (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:293). A supply pastor shall secure the services of an ordained (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1), commissioned (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059:2) or licensed minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3044:1) who is a pastor, for such observance (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260:2), except when authorization has been granted by a district superintendent as provided in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260:2.

(7) To solemnize, if an ordained (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1), commissioned (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059:2a) or licensed minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3044:1), the rite of matrimony, in keeping with the Scriptures and The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:265:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3111-3112); to counsel with those being married and those already married, emphasizing the spiritual values in all phases of marital and parental life, seeking to develop the spiritual ideals and resources necessary to build permanent unions and godly homes (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:410:6).

(8) To comfort the bereaved and to bury the dead.

(9) To provide pastoral guidance and oversight through visitation and counsel to the members of the church and to others in need of a pastor’s help. The minister, as counselor, has the right to protect the conversation with a counselee as privileged communication.

(10) To keep all members fully conversant with the Christian life-style set forth in the Membership Commitments and the biblical basis for the same, and to maintain with diligence and love adherence to these membership requirements (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268).

(11) To be responsible for the instruction of all prospective members in the Articles of Religion, Membership Commitments and polity of The Wesleyan Church, and in the meaning and purpose of church membership, holding or arranging for membership classes for all members (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:566-570; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:8; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:11).

(12) To administer the ritual of membership and to give the right hand of fellowship on behalf of the church to new members (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:553:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5550-5595).

(13) To report the names and addresses of members who have moved away to the Executive Director of Communication and Administration of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:598).

(14) To grant, in conjunction with the local church secretary, letters of transfer, recommendation or withdrawal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:575; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:590; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:592; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6000-6040).

(15) To receive any complaint or accusation against any member of a church under personal care, and to give such prompt and careful attention as required under the Judiciary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5000-5008) and the General Board Policy on Church Discipline and Ministerial Restoration, and to refer any matter requiring official investigation or judicial proceedings to the local board of administration for disposition (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:12).