Manual 430.3 and 431.3

[Hans Deventer]

These articles are a mess. The sentences don't flow and the 3 year requirement is quite confusing. Man, I wish I could get my hands on such an article.

430.3. One who is called of God to this ministry who currently
holds a district license, and who has at one time held
a license for not less than three consecutive years and recommended
for renewal of district license by the church
board of the local church in which he or she holds membership
or by the District Advisory Board. Further the candidate
has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the
same, has successfully completed a validated course of study
prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination
as deacon, and has been carefully considered and favorably
reported by the Ministerial Credentials Board to the
district assembly. The candidate may be elected to the order
of deacon by two-thirds vote of the district assembly; provided
he or she has been an assigned minister not less than
three consecutive years; and provided further that the candidate
must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In
the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood
that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of
in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in
local church ministry, and that their testimony and service
demonstrate that their call to ministry is primary to all other
pursuits. Further, any disqualification that may have
been imposed by a district assembly has been removed in
writing by the district superintendent and District Advisory
Board of said district; and provided further that his or her
marriage relationship does not render him or her ineligible
for ordination. (35.1-35.3, 203.6, 320, 426)

I guess, in the translation, I can

[Dave McClung]

These articles are a mess. The sentences don't flow and the 3 year requirement is quite confusing. Man, I wish I could get my hands on such an article.

430.3. One who is called of God to this ministry who currently
holds a district license, and who has at one time held
a license for not less than three consecutive years and recommended
for renewal of district license by the church
board of the local church in which he or she holds membership
or by the District Advisory Board. Further the candidate
has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the
same, has successfully completed a validated course of study
prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination
as deacon, and has been carefully considered and favorably
reported by the Ministerial Credentials Board to the
district assembly. The candidate may be elected to the order
of deacon by two-thirds vote of the district assembly; provided
he or she has been an assigned minister not less than
three consecutive years; and provided further that the candidate
must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In
the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood
that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of
in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in
local church ministry, and that their testimony and service
demonstrate that their call to ministry is primary to all other
pursuits. Further, any disqualification that may have
been imposed by a district assembly has been removed in
writing by the district superintendent and District Advisory
Board of said district; and provided further that his or her
marriage relationship does not render him or her ineligible
for ordination. (35.1-35.3, 203.6, 320, 426)

I guess, in the translation, I can

While I agree that the paragraph could be written a lot better (hopefully the Commission on the Nazarene Future will do so), the meaning seems clear. We consider it important that a person's service inculde a period of service of at least three years in length without interruption. A person who has started an run the first 1/3 of 3 marathons doesn't have the same experience as a person who has stated and completed a marathon.

[Shea Zellweger]

While I agree that the paragraph could be written a lot better (hopefully the Commission on the Nazarene Future will do so), the meaning seems clear. We consider it important that a person's service inculde a period of service of at least three years in length without interruption. A person who has started an run the first 1/3 of 3 marathons doesn't have the same experience as a person who has stated and completed a marathon.

Yet it would appear that a person who runs that same first 1/3 3 times in quick succession is doing just fine. I'm just wondering how long it will take before some argues that the experience will have to be three years in the same assignment.

[Hans Deventer]

Yet it would appear that a person who runs that same first 1/3 3 times in quick succession is doing just fine. I'm just wondering how long it will take before some argues that the experience will have to be three years in the same assignment.

How long will it be before we realise that no number of rules can guarantee a good outcome, and that the issue is really only the quality of the Board of Ministerial Credentials?

[Hans Deventer]

It's always interesting to read the Manual. I remember elders are ordained as clergy in "The Church of Christ", not merely the Church of the Nazarene. Then read on what happens if they take that seriously:

435.11. No ordained minister shall regularly conduct independent church activities that are not under the direction of the Church of the Nazarene, or carry on independent missions or unauthorized church activities, or be connected with the operating staff of an independent church or other religious group or denomination, without the annual written approval of the District Advisory Board or the written approval of the Board of General Superintendents. When the said activities are to be conducted on more than one district, or a district other than the district on which said minister holds ministerial membership, the written approval of the Board of General Superintendents must be obtained prior to the participation in said activities. The Board of General Superintendents shall notify the respective District Advisory Boards that a request for said approval is pending before their board.
Should an ordained minister fail to comply with these requirements, he or she may, on recommendation by a twothirds vote of the entire membership of the Ministerial Credentials Board, and by action of the district assembly, be dropped from the membership of the Church of the Nazarene. The final determination as to whether any specific activity constitutes “an independent mission” or “an unauthorized church activity” shall rest with the Board of General Superintendents. (112-12.1)

And when you realise that many a Nazarene forefather started mission work which frustrated the Methodist bishops because they could not control it so well, it's even a little ironic.

[David Troxler]

Yet it would appear that a person who runs that same first 1/3 3 times in quick succession is doing just fine. I'm just wondering how long it will take before some argues that the experience will have to be three years in the same assignment.

I have had one DS speak about a candidate who had five years of experience listed on his resume. However, on further inspection the DS determined that his five years were at 5 different churches, causing this DS to say, "He didn't have 5 years of experience. He had 1 year of experience repeated five times."

Taking a church deeper in relationships takes time, and the issues a church will deal over time requires consistency in the pastoral leader.

Right now, I know of no requirement to have 3 years in the same assignment as the norm, but frequent moves without explanation is suspect, at least in the eyes of some DS's.

[Hans Deventer]

These articles are a mess. The sentences don't flow and the 3 year requirement is quite confusing. Man, I wish I could get my hands on such an article.

Let me give it try by just reorganising it.

430.3. A candidate may be elected to the order of deacon by two-thirds vote of the district assembly; provided one

1. is called of God to this ministry;
2. has a testimony and service that demonstrates that his or her call to ministry is primary to all other pursuits;
3. currently holds a district license;
4. is currently serving in an assigned ministry;
5. held a license one time for not less than three consecutive years;
6. has been an assigned minister for not less than three consecutive years;
7. is recommended for renewal of district license by the church board of the local church in which he or she holds membership or by the District Advisory Board;
8. has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the same;
9. has successfully completed a validated course of study prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination as deacon;
10. had any disqualification that may have been imposed by a district assembly removed in writing by the district superintendent and District Advisory Board of said district;
11. does not have a marriage relationship that renders him or her ineligible for ordination; and
12. has been carefully considered and favorably reported by the Ministerial Credentials Board to the district assembly.

In the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in local church ministry. (35.1-35.3, 203.6, 320, 426)

[Ryan Scott]

I know this is a change this year so that the three consecutive years did not have to be current. I suppose there is a good explanation for this (perhaps someone leaving an active assignment for full-time schooling), but it also seems like district boards should (and often do, in practice) have a lot more freedom in this.