409. Continuance as a Local Pastor--1. Persons licensed as local pastors shall continue in the course of study for ordained ministry, in college or in seminary as outlined in 408, until they have completed the educational requirements for associate or probationary membership.
2. Upon completing each year's education and other qualifications, a local pastor may be recommended for continuance by the district committee on ordained ministry. The clergy members in full connection of the annual conference may approve continuance of a local pastor after reference to and recommendation by its board of ordained ministry.
3. A full-time local pastor shall complete the educational requirements within eight years and a part-time local pastor within ten unless a family situation or other circumstance precludes the local pastor's opportunity to meet said requirements. The local pastor may be granted an annual extension beyond the prescribed limit upon a three-fourths vote of the district committee on ordained ministry, recommendation by the conference board of ordained ministry, and the vote of the clergy members in full connection.7
4. A local pastor may choose to remain in a local relationship with the annual conference upon having completed a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours toward the Bachelor of Arts or an equivalent degree in a college or university listed by the University Senate, or competency equivalence through an external degree program at a college or university listed by the University Senate, and the five-year course of study for ordained ministry.
5. An annual conference may permit a local pastor to move from associate to full conference membership under the provisions of 416 and 424.
6. None of the provisions in this legislation shall be interpreted to change or limit authorizations to local pastors ordained as deacon and elder prior to 1976 or enrolled in the second year of the ministerial course of study prior to January 1, 1977.8
7See Judicial Council Decisions 436, 439.
8See Judicial Council Decisions 436, 439.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 409
1996 United Methodist General Conference