616.6

A minister or layperson shall not be required to answer charges for any act that occurred more than five years before the filing of such charges, and no evidence will be considered at any hearing for any matter that occurred more than five years before the charges were filed. Provided, however, that if the person aggrieved by any such act was under the age of 18 or found to be mentally incompetent of making an accusation or filing a charge, such five-year limitation periods would not begin to run until the aggrieved person reached age 18 or became mentally competent. In the case of the sexual abuse of a minor, no time limit shall apply. A minor is defined as any human being under the age of 18, unless the age of majority is attained later under a state’s or country’s own domestic legislation.

If a minister is convicted of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction, he or she shall surrender his or her credential to the district superintendent. At the request of such minister, and if the Board of Discipline has not previously been involved, the District Advisory Board shall investigate the circumstances of the conviction and may restore the credential if it deems appropriate.

616.7

A minister or layperson shall not be twice placed in jeopardy for the same offense. It shall not be considered, however, that such person was placed in jeopardy at any hearing or proceeding where the court of appeals discovers reversible error committed in the original proceeding before a Board of Discipline.