Section: The Restoration of Members of the Clergy

540.10

The District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry or committee of the same, having considered an application for restoration to good standing submitted within the time frame allowed, may recommend to the district superintendent and appropriate district boards any one of the following:

  1. that the minister be restored to good standing and his or her credential returned;
  2. that the minister continue in a recovery process for a specified length of time before reapplying for restoration to good standing;
  3. that the recovery period be extended and the recovery plan revised (such as monitored re-engagement in ministry, assigning a new recovery team, or addressing personal, marital, or family concerns);
  4. that the minister continue under discipline;
  5. that the minister not be restored to good standing, but evidence of recovery be appropriately acknowledged and celebrated, and permission granted for the minister to resign his or her credential;
  6. that the minister be expelled from the membership and ministry of the Church of the Nazarene. (539.5, 540.7, 540.12)

540.11

Should two applications for reinstatement by a minister under discipline be denied, a request may be granted by the Board of General Superintendents to transfer responsibility for the recovery and possible restoration to good standing of the minister in question to another district where the application may be considered. If a third application for restoration to good standing and reinstatement to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy is denied, the minister may become a layperson upon approval of the District Advisory Board. (538.13, 539.6)

540.12

Reinstatement to the Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities of Being a Member of the Clergy. A member of the clergy who has lost good standing and whose application for restoration to good standing has resulted in a recommendation for reinstatement to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy, may be restored to good standing and have his or her credential returned only by the following process:

  1. approval of the district superintendent;
  2. approval of the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry;
  3. a two-thirds approval of the District Advisory Board;
  4. approval of the Board of General Superintendents; and
  5. approval of the district assembly where good standing was lost. (606.1–606.2, 606.5, 606.11–606.12)