410. Exiting, Reinstatement, and Retirement of Local Pastors--1. Discontinuance of Local Pastor--Whenever a local pastor retires or is no longer approved for appointment by the annual conference as required in 408, or whenever any local pastor severs relationship with The United Methodist Church, or whenever the appointment of a local pastor is discontinued by the bishop, license and credentials shall be surrendered to the district superintendent for deposit with the secretary of the conference. This does not apply to persons who were licensed to preach prior to 1950. After consultation with the pastor, the former local pastor shall designate the local church in which membership shall be held. The board of ordained ministry shall file with the resident bishop a permanent record of the circumstances relating to the discontinuance of local pastor status as required in 733.3d.
2. Withdrawal Under Complaints and Charges--When a local pastor is accused of an offense under 2623 and desires to withdraw from the Church, the procedures described in 2628.2 shall apply.
3. Trial of Local Pastor--When a local pastor is accused of an offense under 2623, the procedures described in 2625-2626 shall apply.
4. Reinstatement of Local Pastor Status--Local pastors whose approved status has been discontinued from an annual conference of The United Methodist Church or one of its legal predecessors may be reinstated by the annual conference which previously approved them, or its legal successor, or the annual conference of which the major portion of their former conference is a part, only upon recommendation by the district committee on ordained ministry from which their license was discontinued, the board of ordained ministry, and the Cabinet. When approved by the clergy members in full connection as provided in 436, their license and credentials shall be restored, and they shall be eligible for appointment as pastors of a charge. They shall complete current studies and meet requirements as provided in 407, 408.
Whenever persons whose approval as local pastors has been discontinued by an annual conference are being considered for appointment or temporary employment in another annual conference, the board of ordained ministry where these persons are being considered shall obtain from the board of ordained ministry of the conference where approval has been discontinued certification of their qualifications and information about the circumstances relating to the termination of their approval as local pastors. Before such persons shall be appointed, they shall be recommended by the board and approved by the annual conference. A district superintendent may arrange for them to serve temporarily when the board and the Cabinet agree and when the board certifies that they are enrolled for those studies which they have not completed previously.9
5. Retirement of Local Pastor--On recommendation of the board of ordained ministry and by vote of the clergy members in full connection, a local pastor who has completed the course of study and served not less than four years as a local pastor may be recognized as a retired local pastor. Retirement provisions for local pastors shall be the same as those for clergy members in 452.1, .2, .4, .6 with pensions payable in accordance with 1606.5a.
9See Judicial Council Decision 412.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 410
1996 United Methodist General Conference