5. Rights.--a) Retired ordained ministers shall be eligible for membership on conference and district comittees, commissions, and boards. They shall be eligible to vote for and be elected to General and jurisdictional conferences. They shall be eligible to vote on constitutional amendments.
b) Ministers shall seek charge conference membership in a local church after consultation with and the permission of the pastor. Such a membership shall be held in the minister's conference. Should the minister live outside the conference, he/she shall also seek membership in a charge conference in his/her conference of residence. His/her membership shall be in the charge conference, and he/she shall not be counted as a member of either local church. After consultation with and approval of the pastor in charge, he/she may have membership and vote on committees and boards and all other privileges of membership, but in only one of those churches.
c) Ministers may perform functions of ministry anywhere, provided they do so with the consent of the minister in charge where they have their charge conference membership in their conference of residence.
d) Ordained ministers living outside the conference may apply for affiliate membership to the Board of Ordained Ministry in the conference of their residence. If that relationship is granted, they may belong to conference and district committees, commissions, and boards. They shall be counted as clergy members. They may vote only in their home conference on constitutional amendments and for delegates to or be elected to General or jurisdictional conference from their home conference.
e) Should retired ministers serve full-time in a church under ¶ 426, they shall be given pension credit for that period of service in the conference where the church is. Should the minister serve part-time, the pension credit shall be given on a prorated basis unless raised by annual conference vote.
6. Responsibilities.--Retired ordained ministers must report annually to the charge conference(s) (if they reside outside their conference) all of the pastoral functions they perform. The reports shall be forwarded to the Board of Ordained Ministry of their conference. Failure to report shall be grounds for the district superintendent to seek involuntary termination following due process.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22373-MN-452.5-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference