A retired minister is one who has been placed in the retired relation by the district assembly in which he or she holds ministerial membership, upon recommendation by the District Ministerial Credentials Board. Any change in status must be approved by the district assembly, upon recommendation by the District Ministerial Credentials Board.
Section: Credentials and Ministerial Regulations
534.1
Retirement shall not compel cessation from ministerial labors or in itself deprive of membership in the district assembly. A minister who was serving in an “assigned” role at the time of requesting retired relation or at the age for normal retirement may be placed in a “retired assigned” relation. A “retired assigned” minister is a member of the district assembly. However, a minister in an “unassigned” status in either of the above situations will be placed in a “retired unassigned” relation. A “retired unassigned” minister is not a member of the district assembly. (201, 536.9)
535
When a member of the clergy desires to transfer to another district, transfer of ministerial membership may be issued by vote of the district assembly, or by the District Advisory Board in the interim of assemblies, in which his or her ministerial membership is held. Such transfer may be received by the District Advisory Board in the interim before the district assembly meets, granting to said minister full rights and privileges of membership on the district on which it is received, subject to final approval of the Ministerial Credentials Board and the district assembly. (203.8–203.9, 223, 228.9–228.10)
535.1
The transfer of a licensed minister shall be valid only when a detailed record of the licensee’s grades in a validated course of study for licensed ministers, properly certified by the secretary of the District Ministerial Studies Board of the issuing district assembly, has been sent to the secretary of the District Ministerial Studies Board of the receiving district. The secretary of the District Ministerial Studies Board of the receiving district shall notify his or her district secretary that the licensee’s record of grades has been received. The minister being transferred shall actively pursue the matter of the reporting of his or her grades in a validated course of study to the receiving district. (230.1–230.2)
535.2
The district assembly receiving a transfer shall notify the district assembly issuing said transfer of the reception of the transferred person’s membership. Until the transfer is received by vote of the district assembly to which addressed, the person thus transferred shall be a member of the issuing district assembly. Such transfer is valid only until the close of the next session following the date of issue of the district assembly to which addressed. (203.8, 223, 228.10)
536
The following definitions are of terms relating to general regulations for ministers of the Church of the Nazarene:
Members of the Clergy—elders, deacons and licensed ministers.
Laity—Members of the Church of the Nazarene who are not members of the clergy.
Active—fulfilling an assigned role.
Assigned—The status of a member of the clergy who is active in one of the roles listed in paragraphs 505-526.
Unassigned—The status of a member of the clergy who is in good standing but not presently active in one of the roles listed in paragraphs 505-526.
Retired Assigned—The status of a retired member of the clergy who was assigned at the time retirement was requested.
Retired Unassigned—The status of a retired member of the clergy who was not assigned at the time retirement was requested.
Disciplined—The status of a member of the clergy who has been deprived of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy by disciplinary action.
Filed Credential—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy in good standing who, because of inactivity in the ministry, has voluntarily temporarily given up the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy by filing his or her credential with the general secretary. A person who files his or her credential remains a member of the clergy and may have the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy reinstated by requesting that his or her credential be returned, in accordance with 538.2. (537, 537.2, 537.8)
Surrendered Credential—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy who, because of misconduct, accusations, confessions, result of action by a board of discipline, or voluntary action for any reason other than inactivity in the ministry has been deprived of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy. The person who surrenders his or her credential is still a member of the clergy, under discipline. The rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the member of the clergy may be restored.
Resigned—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy in good standing who, for personal reasons, has decided that he or she no longer wishes to be considered as a minister, and gives up the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy to become a layperson on a permanent basis.
A member of the clergy who is not in good standing may also resign his or her credential according to the provisions outlined in paragraph 537.4. (537.1, 537.8)
Removed—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy whose name has been removed from the roll of ministers in accordance with the provisions of 537.3.
Return of Credential—The reinstatement to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy to one who has filed his or her credential.
Restoration of Credential—The reinstatement to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy to one whose credential is surrendered or removed.
Rehabilitation—The process of seeking to bring a minister who has been disciplined or has voluntarily surrendered the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy to a place of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and to a place of usefulness and constructive activity. Rehabilitation does not necessarily include the restoration of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy.
Accusation—A written document signed by at least two members of the Church of the Nazarene accusing a member of the Church of the Nazarene of conduct which if proven would cause the member to be subject to discipline under the terms of the Manual.
Knowledge—The awareness of facts learned by the exercise of one’s own senses.
Information—Facts learned from others.
Belief—A conclusion reached in good faith based upon knowledge and information.
Investigating Committee—A committee appointed in accordance with the Manual to gather information with regard to alleged or suspected misconduct.
Charges—A written document describing specifically the conduct of a member of the Church of the Nazarene which if proven would be the basis of discipline under the terms of the Manual.
Suspension—A type of disciplinary action which temporarily denies a member of the clergy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy.
Good Standing—The status of a member of the clergy who has no unresolved accusations pending, is not currently under discipline, and whose credential is not surrendered or removed.
536.1
A member of the clergy shall be subject to discipline if regularly conducting independent church activities with another religious group without the written approval of the District Advisory Board of the assembly district in which he or she holds ministerial membership, and the written approval of the Board of General Superintendents. (536.11, 605.1)
536.2
A member of the clergy shall always show due regard for the united advice of the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board. (518)
536.3
Any claim to participation by a member of the clergy, and/or his or her dependents in any plan or fund that the church may have now or hereafter for the assistance or support of its disabled or aged ministers shall be based only upon regular, active service rendered by the minister as an assigned pastor or evangelist or other recognized role, under the sanction of the district assembly. This rule shall exclude from such participation all those in part-time and occasional service.
536.4
A licensed minister actively assigned as pastor or associate pastor of a Church of the Nazarene shall be a voting member of the district assembly. (201)