2623. Chargeable Offenses--1. A bishop, clergy member of an annual conference (412), local pastor, clergy on honorable or administrative location, or diaconal minister may choose a trial when charged with one or more of the following offenses: (a) immorality; (b) practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings; (c) crime; (d) failure to perform the work of the ministry; (e) disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church; (f) dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standards of doctrine of the Church; (g) relationships and/or behavior which undermines the ministry of another pastor; (h) racial harassment; (i) sexual abuse or harassment; (j) misrepresentation of credentials.
2. A bishop, clergy member of an annual conference, or diaconal minister may choose a trial when the appropriate body (317, 453, 513) recommends involuntary termination.
3. A lay member of a local Church may be charged with the following offenses and, if so, may choose a trial: (a) immorality; (b) crime; (c) disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church; (d) dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standards of doctrine of the Church; (e) racial harassment; (f) sexual abuse or harassment.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2623
1996 United Methodist General Conference