PASTORAL MINISTRY HANDBOOK | CHAPTER 16
Exemption from Assignment
All national conference ministers and elders are assumed to be available for assignment. The Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, recognizes that life situations may warrant a time of unavailability and establishes the following exemptions.
¶111 Ministry-Related Service
1. Ministers serving in ministry-related positions, such as chaplaincy, educational positions, or other ministries in which ministerial credentials are helpful, may request Ministry-Related Service status from the bishop.
2. This status exempts a minister from assignment during the tenure of this service.
3. Ministerial credentials are considered to be in good standing with this status.
4. Ministers are expected to submit an annual minister’s report.
¶112 Retired Status
1. At age 65, ministers may request Retired Status from the bishop.
2. This status exempts a minister from assignment and does not need to be renewed.
3. Ministerial credentials are considered to be in good standing with this status.
4. Retired ministers are free to engage in ministry roles at their discretion without compromising their retired status.
5. Ministers who retire with a National license retain the level of license held at the time of retirement as long as the minister continues to be in good standing. No further renewal is needed.
¶113 Leave of Absence
1. Ministers may request Leave of Absence from the bishop while actively pursuing further education or for other personal reasons.
2. This status exempts a minister from assignment for the period of one year.
3. Ministerial credentials are considered to be in good standing during this exemption period.
4. A leave of absence may be renewed annually for up to three consecutive years, after which the minister shall be assigned to Inactive status.
5. Ministers are expected to submit a request for status renewal and rationale along with their annual minister’s report.
¶114 Medical Leave
1. Ministers who cannot perform their duties because of a physician-certified medical condition may request Medical Leave status from the bishop.
2. This status exempts a minister from assignment for the duration of this status.
3. Ministerial credentials are considered to be in good standing during this exemption period.
4. Ministers will enjoy all rights and privileges of their credentials, and are expected to submit an annual minister’s report.
¶115 Inactive
1. Ministers who desire and/or require exemption from assignment for a period beyond the Leave of Absence may request Inactive status from the bishop.
2. During this period, such ministers shall not perform any of the duties of the ministry except at the discretion of the bishop.
3. After remaining in this status for two years, ministers shall surrender their credentials to the bishop to be held in trust until such time as they re-enter ministry.
4. Ministers are expected to submit an annual minister’s report.
¶116 Probation
1. Ministers who are living inconsistently with the expectations and obligations of ministers as described in the Discipline, or who are under investigation for such, will be assigned Probation status by the bishop in consultation with the PMLT.
2. Ministerial credentials shall be suspended during this exemption period.
3. During this period, ministers shall not perform any of the duties of the ministry, and must surrender their credentials to the bishop to be held in trust until such time as the full restoration process is completed (as detailed in the chapter “Restoration of Ministers”).
