The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
committee changes in plain type
committee amended according to petition #22932-mn-320-d
Add a new ¶ 320:
Eligibility and Rights of Probationary Membership.--Probationary members are
on trial in preparation for membership in full connection in the Annual
Conference as deacons or elders. They are on probation as to character, servant
leadership, and effectiveness in ministry. The Annual Conference, through the
clergy session, has jurisdiction over probationary members. Annually, the Board
of Ordained Ministry shall review and evaluate their relationship and make
recommendation to the clergy members in full connection regarding their
continuance. No member shall be continued on probation beyond the sixth regular
session following their admission to probationary membership and
commissioning unless extended, upon recommendation of the Board of Ordained
Ministry by a three-fourths vote, by the clergy session on
recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry. Such extensions
shall not be granted beyond three additional years.
1. Probationary members who are preparing for deacons or elder's orders may be ordained deacons or elders when they qualify for membership in full connection in the Annual Conference.
2. Probationary members shall have the right to vote in the Annual Conference on all matters except the following:
a) constitutional amendments;
b) election of delegates to the General and Jurisdictional or Central Conferences;
c) all matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy.
3. Probationary members may serve on any board, commission, or committee of the Annual Conference except the Board of Ordained Ministry (¶ 733.1). They shall not be eligible for election as delegates to the General, Central, or Jurisdictional Conferences.
4. Probationary members shall be amenable to the Annual Conference in the performance of their ministry and are subject to the provisions of The Book of Discipline in the performance of their duties. They shall be supervised by the district superintendent under whom they are appointed. They shall also be assigned a deacon or elder as mentor by the Board of Ordained Ministry. Probationary members preparing to become elders shall be eligible for appointment by meeting disciplinary provisions (¶ 340).
5. Probationary members in appointments beyond the local church shall relate themselves to the district superintendent in the area where their work is done. The district superintendent shall give them supervision and report annually to their Board of Ordained Ministry.
6. Discontinuance from Probationary Membership. Probationary members
may request discontinuance of this relationship or may be discontinued by the
Annual Conference, upon recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry. When
Probationary Members in good standing withdraw to unite with another
denomination or to terminate their membership in The United Methodist Church,
their action shall be considered a request for discontinuance of their
relationship and their credentials shall be surrendered to a district
superintendent. Prior to any final recommendation of discontinuance without
consent, a probationary member will an be advised of the right
to a hearing before the executive committee of the conference Board of Ordained
Ministry. A report of the hearing will be made to the full board. The
provisions of Fair Process (¶ 2622) shall be observed. When this
relationship is discontinued, they shall no longer be permitted to exercise
ministerial functions and shall return their credentials to the district
superintendent for deposit with the secretary of the conference, and their
membership transferred by the district superintendent to the local church which
they designate after consultation with the pastor. The Board of Ordained
Ministry shall file with the resident bishop and the secretary of the
conference a permanent record of the circumstances relating to discontinuance
as a probationary member as required in ¶ 733.3d. After discontinuance,
probationary members may be classified and approved as local pastors in
accordance with the provision of ¶ 339.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 555-3201996 United Methodist General Conference