Probationary Service of a Deacon. All persons who are ordained deacons shall be appointed by a bishop (¶ 323) and serve a minimum of three (3) years as a probationary member of the Annual Conference. During the probationary period, arrangements shall be offered by the Board of Ordained Ministry for all ordained deacons to be involved in a curriculum that extends theological education by using covenant groups to support the practice and work of the diaconate in ministry as servant leaders, to contemplate the grounding of ordained ministry, and to understand covenant ministry in the life of the conference.
1. The deacons planning to give their lives as deacons in full connection shall be in ministries of service the entire probationary period.
2. The deacons planning to give their lives as elders shall be in ministries of service at least half of their probationary period. A deacon serving as pastor of a local church shall exemplify and be held accountable for leading the congregation in servant ministry. The District Superintendent and the Board of Ordained Ministry will evaluate the deacon's ability to express his/her ordination as deacon in the congregational context.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21836-MN-319-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference