2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Withdrawal: Of minister

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(29) To approve in writing the temporary service of an ordained minister in a district other than the one in which membership is held (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:2); to grant a letter of transfer or standing to any ordained, licensed or commissioned worker in good standing of the district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6440; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6460); to instruct the district secretary to enroll as a member of the district a minister who transfers from another district in the manner prescribed by The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6440-6450), and to order the enrollment of a ministerial student or special worker so transferring (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:3c, 5d; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3480; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6440-6450); to guide a minister or special worker from another denomination seeking recognition and membership in The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3470; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3117); and to provide oversight for the restoration of ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5230).

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(3) If a minister so requests, the district superintendent may grant a letter of standing (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6460; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:29), which shall immediately terminate ministerial membership in The Wesleyan Church. Such a letter of standing shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance in the case of an ordained minister, or until the next session of the district conference from which withdrawn in the case of a commissioned or licensed minister (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3124).

(4) If a minister joins another denomination or, in writing, declares withdrawal from the Church, said action shall immediately terminate ministerial membership in The Wesleyan Church (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3124), upon recommendation of the district superintendent to the district board of administration.

(5) If a minister leaves for parts unknown or fails to submit the annual service report (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1402; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059:4c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3089:3), the district board of administration may recommend and the district conference may order that the minister be declared withdrawn (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3040; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3120; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3124).

5048. Whenever in the course of an investigation or hearing, the accused person shall request a letter of withdrawal from the Church, the same shall be granted and the matter shall end. It shall be noted on the membership records of the local church, and, when the accused is a minister, on the membership record of the district, as “withdrawn under accusation” whenever such request is during the investigation, and “withdrawn under charges” when such request is during the hearing (cf. Disc. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:592). 6460. District Letter of Standing (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3480).

This certifies that ____________ has been up to this date a(n) _______________* in good standing in the ______________ District of The Wesleyan Church, and being desirous of removing from The Wesleyan Church, is hereby released and cordially recommended to the Christian confidence of those to whom this letter may be presented.

By the authority and in behalf of _________________ District of The Wesleyan Church, this ______ day of __________, A.D. ________.

________________________ District Superintendent

It is understood that this letter terminates immediately any relationship the bearer may have had to The Wesleyan Church as a minister or special worker. (*Insert the proper term, namely ordained minister, commissioned minister, licensed minister, ministerial student, commissioned special worker 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.)