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)

536.5

The candidate elected to the order of elder or order of deacon shall be ordained by the laying on of the hands of the general superintendent and ordained ministers with appropriate religious exercises, under the direction of the presiding general superintendent. (307.4)

536.6

The general superintendent having jurisdiction shall issue to the person ordained a certificate of ordination, bearing the signature of the general superintendent in jurisdiction, district superintendent, and district secretary. (533.1)

536.7

In case the credential of an elder or deacon has been misplaced, mutilated, or destroyed, a duplicate certificate may be issued upon the recommendation of the District Advisory Board. Such recommendation shall be made directly to the general superintendent in jurisdiction, and upon the authority of that approval, the general secretary shall issue a duplicate certificate. On the back of the certificate, the original number should be identified along with the word DUPLICATE. If the general superintendent or the district secretary signing the original certificate is not available, the general superintendent having jurisdiction, district superintendent, and district secretary of the district requesting the duplicate certificate shall sign the certificate. On the reverse side thereof shall be the following statement inscribed in writing or printing, or both writing and printing, and signed by the general superintendent having jurisdiction, district superintendent, and district secretary.

This certificate is given to take the place of former certificate of ordination given to (name) , on the _________ day of (month) , A.D. (year) , by the (ordaining organization) , at which date ___he was ordained and h____ former ordination certificate signed by ________________________ and ________________________.

The former certificate was (misplaced, mutilated, destroyed).

__________________________, General Superintendent

__________________________, District Superintendent

__________________________, District Secretary

536.8

All elders and deacons (assigned and unassigned) shall be active members in a local Church of the Nazarene where they will be faithful in attendance, in tithe, and in participation in the ministries of the church. Exceptions to this requirement may be granted only by approval of the District Advisory Board. If an elder or deacon does not hold membership in a local Church of the Nazarene on the district where his or her credential is held, he or she can be dropped from the roll of elders or deacons. (521)

536.9

All elders and deacons shall hold their ministerial membership in the district assembly of the district wherein their church membership is held, to which body they shall report annually. Any elder or deacon who for two consecutive years does not report to his or her district assembly either in person or by letter shall, if the district assembly so elect, cease to be a member thereof. (30, 201, 203.3, 520, 534.1)