The call of a pastor who is a licensed minister (elder track) will terminate at the end of the district assembly if the minister’s license is not renewed.
Index: call
120
The pastor desiring to resign from a pastoral assignment shall:
- First consult with the district superintendent;
- Provide a written resignation to the church board at least 30 days prior to termination of the pastorate; and
- Send a copy to the district superintendent.
When the resignation is received by the church board and approved in writing by the district superintendent, the termination date shall be finalized within 30 days.
120.1
The pastor who resigns shall, in cooperation with the secretary of the church board, prepare a correct list of the church membership roll with current addresses. This roll must correspond numerically with the last published district minutes showing deletions and additions for the current year.
121
Upon the recommendation of the church board an approval of the district superintendent, a congregation may elect co-pastors to serve. In this case, the following stipulations will apply:
- The co-pastors shall work with the church board, under the direction of the district superintendent, to develop a plan for shared responsibility and authority.
- Co-pastors are equals in the pastoral office. If required by law, one person shall be officially designated by the church board as the presiding officer, serving as president of the corporation and chairperson of the church board.
- The pastoral review process shall be conducted as provided for in paragraph 123.
121.1
Upon the resignation or termination of a co-pastor a remaining co-pastor may be appointed by the district superintendent to serve as pastor of the church; provided, however, that within 60 days, the question of the pastoral relationship shall be presented to the church board, at which time the church shall follow the process outlined in paragraph 115.
500
The Church of the Nazarene recognizes all believers are called to minister to all people.
We also recognize Christ calls some men and women to a specific and public ministry. As our Lord chose and ordained His 12 apostles He still calls and sends ministers. The church, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, recognizes God calls individuals to a lifetime of ministry.
When the church discovers a divine call, the church should recognize, endorse, and assist the candidate’s entry into ministry.
513
529.1
Any member of the Church of the Nazarene who feels called of God to preach or to pursue lifetime ministry through the church may be licensed as a local minister for one year by the church board of a local church having an ordained minister as pastor, upon the pastor’s recommendation; or by the church board of a local church not having an ordained minister as pastor, if the granting of license is recommended by the pastor and approved by the district superintendent. The candidate must first be examined as to his or her personal experience of salvation, knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible, and the order of the church; he or she must also demonstrate that the call is evidenced by grace, gifts, and usefulness. A local minister shall make a report to the local church at its annual church meetings. (113.9, 129.12, 208.12)
530.1
When members of the Church of the Nazarene acknowledge a call to a lifetime of ministry, they may be licensed as ministers by the district assembly provided they:
- have held a local minister’s license for one full year;
- have completed one-fourth of a validated course of study for ministers, or have passed the Nazarene history and polity courses and five additional courses in a validated course of study for ministers;
- have been recommended for such work by the church board of the local church of which they are members, to which recommendation shall be attached the Application for Minister’s License carefully filled in;
- have given evidence of grace, gifts, and usefulness;
- have been carefully examined, under the direction of the district assembly of the district within the bounds of which they hold their church membership, regarding their spiritual, intellectual, and other fitness for such work, including appropriate background checks as determined by the District Advisory Board;
- have promised to pursue immediately a validated course of study prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination;
- have had any disqualification, which may have been imposed by a district assembly, removed by an explanation in writing by the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board of the district where the disqualification was imposed; and provided further that their marriage relationship does not render them ineligible for a district license; and
- in case of a previous divorce, the recommendation of the District Ministerial Credentials Board along with supporting documents will be given to the Board of General Superintendents, which may remove this as a barrier to pursuing a license. (30.1–30.3, 129.14, 205.6, 529.5)
If enrolled in a Nazarene college/university or seminary, the minister must have completed one-fourth of a validated college/university or college/university-seminary course of study for ministry, or have completed one-fourth of a validated district or regional training center curriculum. Exceptions to this requirement may be made by the District Ministerial Credentials Board provided the candidate is pastoring an organized church and is registered in a system of approved studies, and provided the candidate annually fulfills the minimum amount of studies required by the Manual for the renewal of a license, and provided the district superintendent approves the exception.
In the case where a background check reveals criminal misconduct prior to one’s salvation, this fact should not be interpreted by the District Ministerial Credentials Board as automatically excluding the applicant from credentialed ministry, except under the provisions of paragraph 538.9.
Index
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