Rights Authority and Responsibilities of
an Elder in Full Connection.--An elder in full connection is
authorized to give spiritual and temporal servant leadership in the Church in
the following manner:
1. Of Full Members.--Members Elders in full
connection shall have the right to vote on all matters in the Annual Conference
except in the election of lay delegates to the General and Jurisdictional or
Central Conferences (¶ 701.1a
702.1a) and shall have sole share with
deacons in full connection responsibility for all matters...by the Board of
Ordained Ministry, notwithstanding such provisions of Chapter
3 which grant...Every effective member elder
in full connection who is in good standing shall receive an
annual be continued under appointment by the bishop.19
2. There are professional responsibilities which clergy
members elders are expected to fulfill and which represent a
fundamental part of their accountability and a primary basis of their
guaranteed continued eligibility for appointment. These
shall include:
d b) Growth in vocational
competence and effectiveness through continuing education
formation is expected of conference members. The Board of Ordained
Ministry (¶ 733.2n) shall set minimal standards and specific
guidelines for continuing education programs formation
for members of their conference and ensure their availability. Further
specificity of priorities for current appointments shall be arranged in
consultations with appropriate bodies in that setting.
b c) Annual participation in a
process of evaluation with Committees on Pastor-Parish Relations or a
comparable body for use in an ongoing effective ministry and for
identifying continuing education and spiritual growth needs and
plans.
c d) Annual participation in evaluation
with his or her district superintendents to determine the
pastor' gifts, health and effectiveness for ministry (270.2f, 520.2,
733.2n, o) both within the current appointment and for future
appointments.
e) Willingness to assume supervisory and mentoring responsibilities within the connection.
3. If a clergy member an elder fails to meet these
professional responsibilities, the provisions of ¶ 454.3
357.3 may be invoked.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21845-MN-423-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference