2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Rights: Ministers

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

(1) To 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) To be eligible, in the case of ordained ministers, for election to any office in the Church for which ordained ministers are eligible.

(3) To contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the other provisions of this Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1-2).

(4) To 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) To serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church.

(6) To 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 supervising the area which includes the district into which the transfer is sought.

(7) To 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 Licensed Minister. As long as a minister qualifies for and receives a district ministerial license, the minister shall have the right (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313):

(1) To preach the gospel (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1), and, when appointed as a pastor or full-time associate or 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) To contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the approval of the district conference and other regulations of The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1–2).

(3) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:4); and to serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:5; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3114–3117).

(4) To be a voting member of the district conference if an ordained minister-elect or if the pastor, an associate pastor or assistant pastor of a Wesleyan church in that district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:2–4). To be a nonvoting member if otherwise classified or appointed (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:3). To be eligible for election to any office not restricted to ordained ministers or lay persons.

(5) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3055:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3097; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1).

(6) 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 court (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5200; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline: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 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313):

(1) To preach the gospel and to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to perform all parts of divine worship and to solemnize the rite of matrimony (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:1).

(2) To be eligible for election to any office in the Church for which ordained ministers are eligible (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:2).

(3) To contract the pastoral relationship with local Wesleyan churches subject to the other provisions of The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:3).

(4) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:4); and to serve the assigned pastoral charge without interference by unauthorized activities of another minister of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:5; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3114–3117).

(5) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:A-D) and a nonvoting member if without appointment or in the process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1090:1–2); and to have these conference relations changed only after careful investigation by the district board of administration, and interview if possible (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:9c).

(6) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1).

(7) 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 court (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5200; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206–5212).