APPRENTICE MINISTER
Authority and Duties.--1. An apprentice minister is one who is in preparation for representative ministry through study and experience. A credential as an apprentice minister may be approved annually by the district Committee on Ordained Ministry and granted by the bishop to perform all the duties of a particular licensed field (koinonia, kerygma, didache, leiturgia, diakonia) under the conditions of ¶ 308. Credentialed persons whose appointment is as the pastor of a local church may administer the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion and receive members into the church. Credentialed persons appointed to serve in other functions may teach confirmation classes and officiate at the service of marriage (where state law allows) and at burials.
2. Such authorization granted by the credential may be renewed annually by the district Committee on Ordained Ministry and extends only within the appointment to which the apprentice minister is deployed.
3. The credential shall remain valid only so long as the appointment continues and must be renewed by the bishop when appointments change between sessions of the annual conference.
4. An apprentice minister shall be under the supervision of a district superintendent and a mentor who shall supervise the apprentice minister's work in the course of study for ordained ministry and give counsel on matters of ministerial responsibility.
5. Apprentice ministers shall be amenable to the annual conference in the performance of their ministerial duties and shall attend the sessions of the annual conference.
6. The membership of apprentice ministers under appointment is in the annual conference where they shall have the right to vote on all matters except constitutional amendments, election of delegates to General, jurisdictional, or central conferences, and matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy.
7. All apprentice ministers shall receive written communication about decisions made regarding their relationship to the annual conference.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22976-MN-307-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference