Section III. Transitional Provisions.
1. Any candidate in process under the ordering of ministry as defined in the Book of Discipline, 1992, shall continue under the system in which they entered candidacy. Those already ordained deacon shall be certified in the areas of koinonia, kerygma, and leiturgia.
2. The ordering of ministry adopted in 1996 shall take effect July 1, 2001. In the years prior to that, the current divisions of Ordained and Diaconal Ministry shall develop and write appropriate structural procedures for the new General and annual conference boards of Ordained Ministry. The divisions of Ordained and Diaconal Ministry shall also propose the appropriate changes necessary for the Book of Discipline to bring all paragraphs into compliance with these changes.
a) All current diaconal and ordained ministers serving either in local churches or in ministries beyond the local church may be ordained and/or licensed to any of the functions for which they qualify. The existing conference Boards of Diaconal and Ordained Ministry shall determine the licenses to be granted to those already serving under the current system. These determinations shall be made by January 1, 2001, to allow the appointive cabinets and bishops to make their respective appointments.
b) Current diaconal ministers may choose to remain diaconal ministers in their current status under the provisions of the 1992 Book of Discipline.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22972-MN-303-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference