448. Leave of Absence--1. This relationship is granted to clergy who are probationary, associate, and full members who because of sufficient reason, are unable to or who chose temporarily to cease to perform the duties of full-time itinerant ministry. This relationship may be initiated by the minister as a voluntary leave of absence or the district superintendents as an involuntary leave of absence through the board of ordained ministry, and granted or renewed by the vote of the executive session of clergy members in full connection of the annual conference upon the board's recommendation. The fair process as set forth in 2622 shall be followed in any involuntary leave of absence procedure. Between sessions of the annual conference, leave of absence may be granted or terminated, with the approval of the bishop and district superintendents, by the executive committee of the board of ordained ministry. This interim action shall be subject to the approval of the executive session of clergy members in full connection with the annual conference at its next session. This leave shall be counted as a part of the eight-year limit for probationary members unless the eight-year limit is extended by the executive session of the clergy members in full connection with the annual conference upon the recommendation of the board of ordained ministry. Should there be grievances, complaints, or charges pending at the time of a request for leave of absence, they should be placed in the file of the clergy member. All subsequent actions concerning such entries should be duly noted and placed in the file. Clergy members on leaves of absence shall have no claim on the conference funds. However, in exceptional circumstances, on the recommendation of the district superintendents, salary and/or other benefits may be granted by vote of the executive session of the clergy members in full connection with the annual conference. In an interim between sessions of the annual conference, by vote of the bishop, Cabinet, and executive committee of the board of ordained ministry, salary and/or benefits may be granted. Clergy members on leaves of absence shall not be eligible for membership on annual, jurisdictional, central, or General conference agencies and may not be elected or serve as delegates to General or jurisdictional conferences. Involuntary leaves of absence shall be approved by two-thirds vote of the clergy members in full connection at a session of the annual conference.
a) Voluntary Leave of Absence--The written request for this relationship should be made at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual conference session, giving specific reasons for the request. Representatives of the annual conference board of ordained ministry may interview the clergy member to determine sufficient cause. This relationship shall be approved annually upon written request of the clergy member and shall not be granted for more than five years in succession except by a two-thirds (O) vote of the clergy members in full connection.39
b) Involuntary Leave of Absence--The district superintendents may request an involuntary leave of absence without the consent of the clergy member, at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual conference session. They shall give to the clergy member and the board of ordained ministry in writing specific reasons for the request. The clergy member has the right to a hearing before the bishop, district superintendents, and executive committee of the board of ordained ministry prior to being placed on involuntary leave of absence. By two-thirds vote of the executive session of clergy members in full connection with the annual conference, upon recommendation of the bishop, district superintendents, and board of ordained ministry, the ninety-day notice requirement may be waived. This relation shall be approved annually upon written request of the district superintendents and shall not be approved for more than three years in succession.
There will be an administrative review committee composed of three members and one alternate in full connection who are not members of the Cabinet, board of ordained ministry, or joint review committee. This committee shall be nominated by the bishop and elected quadrennially by the executive session of clergy members in full connection with the annual conference. Its purpose shall be to ensure that the disciplinary procedures for involuntary leave of absence were properly followed. The entire process leading to the recommendation for involuntary leave of absence shall be reviewed by the administrative review committee and it shall report its findings to the executive session of clergy members in full connection with the annual conference.
2. After consultation with the pastor in charge of a local Church, clergy members on leave of absence shall designate a charge conference within the bounds of the annual conference in which they shall hold membership and to which they shall submit an annual report. The exercise of their ministry shall be limited to the charge conference in which their membership is held and under the supervision of the pastor in charge, to whom they shall report all marriages performed, baptisms administered, and funerals conducted, and shall be held amenable to the annual conference for their conduct and the continuation of their ordination rights. In case of failure to report to the charge conference, the annual conference may place the clergy members on administrative location (454.3).
3. Clergy members on voluntary leave of absence may, with the permission of the charge conference in which membership is held and with the approval of the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries, continue to hold an existing reserve commission as an armed forces chaplain but may not voluntarily serve on extended active duty.
4. When an end to the leave of absence is requested by the clergy member in the case of a voluntary leave of absence, and by the district superintendents in the case of an involuntary leave of absence, it shall be by written request at least six (6) months prior to the session of annual conference. The board of ordained ministry shall review the circumstances surrounding the granting of the relationship for the purpose of determining whether those circumstances have been alleviated or resolved.
5. When clergy members on voluntary leave of absence do not request an extension of the leave of absence annually during the five-year period, or do not indicate willingness to return to the itinerant ministry at the end of the five-year period following documented efforts to make contact with the member, the board of ordained ministry may recommend to the executive session of the clergy members in full connection with the annual conference that the clergy member be located or terminated without further process. If the district superintendents do not intend to extend the involuntary leave of absence, they shall notify both the board of ordained ministry and the clergy member at least six (6) months prior to the session of the annual conference to permit clergy members to exercise their options. The clergy member shall have the right to request a change to a voluntary leave of absence or termination of leave of absence. Any consecutive combination of voluntary and involuntary leaves of absence shall be counted in the total of five (5) years for purposes of 448, 454.40
6. This paragraph, as it relates to the process for nomination, appointment, or election of individuals, officers, courts, administrative bodies, review bodies, or committees, shall become effective immediately upon the conclusion of the 1992 General Conference.
39See Judicial Council Decision 581.
40See Judicial Council Decisions 450, 459, 473, 508, 524, 530.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 448
1996 United Methodist General Conference