408. Categories of Local Pastor--Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of 407, the district committee on ordained ministry shall certify the completion of the prescribed studies to the candidates and the board of ordained ministry, and they shall be listed in the journal as eligible to be appointed as local pastors. Award of the license shall not be made until an appointment to a pastoral charge is made in accordance with 436. In recommending to the annual conference those who have met the requirements to serve as local pastors for the ensuing year, the board of ordained ministry shall classify them in three categories with educational and other requirements of their category. Any person who fails to meet these requirements shall be discontinued as a local pastor. The categories shall be defined as follows:
1. Full-time Local Pastors--Those eligible to be appointed full-time local pastors are persons (a) who may devote their entire time to the church in the charge to which they are appointed and its outreach in ministry and mission to the community; (b) who receive in cash support per annum from all Church sources a sum equal to or larger than the minimum base compensation established by the annual conference for full-time local pastors; (c) who, unless they have completed the course of study for ordained ministry, shall complete two courses per year in a course of study school or the correspondence curriculum prescribed by the Division of Ordained Ministry (1529.2); (d) who, when they have completed educational requirements for associate membership, are involved in continuing education (445);6 (e) who shall not be enrolled as a full-time student in any school.
2. Part-time Local Pastors--Those eligible to be appointed as part-time local pastors are lay persons (a) who have met the provisions of 407; (b) who do not devote their entire time to the charge to which they are appointed; or (c) do not receive in cash support per annum from all church sources a sum equal to or larger than the minimum base compensation established by the annual conference for full-time local pastors; and (d) who, unless they have completed the course of study for ordained ministry, shall complete two courses per year in a course of study school or the correspondence curriculum prescribed by the Division of Ordained Ministry.3. Student Local Pastors--Those eligible to be appointed as student local pastors shall be enrolled as pretheological or theological students in a college, university, or school of theology listed by the University Senate (a) who have met the provisions of 407; and (b) who shall make appropriate progress in their educational program as determined by the board of ordained ministry.
4. Upon recommendation of the board of ordained ministry, the clergy members in full connection may vote approval annually for students of other denominations enrolled in a school of theology listed by the University Senate to serve as local pastors for the ensuing year under the direction of the district superintendent; provided that they shall indicate to the satisfaction of the board of ordained ministry their agreement to support and maintain the doctrine and polity of The United Methodist Church while under appointment.
5. Full-time local pastors may serve on any board, commission, or committee except the board of ordained ministry and board of trustees (733.1, 2513.1). They shall not be eligible for election as delegates to the General, jurisdictional, or central conference.
6See Judicial Council Decisions 343, 572.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 408
1996 United Methodist General Conference