Guidance on ministers who are not circuit staff

With the exception of those who are in formally agreed appointments in other circuits (when sometimes they can appear twice on the stations), supernumeraries are stationed in the circuit in which they reside. Since, as outlined in SO 792(1), they remain in the covenant relationship with the Conference they will expect and be expected to continue to exercise the ministry of a presbyter or deacon and for that reason it is common to list them on the Plan below the circuit staff (sometimes without any division from those in the active work). Presbyters and deacons will agree with the Superintendent an appropriate number of appointments on each quarter’s Plan. The agreed number of services of Holy Communion taken by each supernumerary presbyter should be included in any calculation relating to an application for an authorisation for a lay person, deacon or probationer under SO 011.

The current guidelines on circuits and the ministry of supernumeraries outline ways in which an appointment can be agreed (the guidelines can be found here). Within this agreement, the supernumerary will undertake to perform certain tasks on behalf of the circuit for which they may or may not receive payment and for which they will be accountable to the Superintendent and the Circuit Meeting. As a general rule, such appointments should not be for more than six sessions per week (i.e., they should be understood to be less than half-time). Any supernumerary wishing to serve in an appointment that is half-time or more or for which they would receive a stipend needs to apply to the Stationing Advisory Committee (SAC) to return to the active work. The convenor of SAC panels can be contacted for guidance on that process.

SO 774(10) makes it clear that ministers without appointment are expected to play an appropriate role in the life of the circuit in which they are stationed. What an appropriate role is will vary from situation to situation and from minister to minister and therefore it is important that Superintendents have a pastoral conversation with the minister concerned - early in the period without appointment and at regular intervals - to review what the level of their engagement might be. This will include a number of services on the Plan; as with supernumeraries, presbyters without appointment presiding at Holy Communion should be included in any calculation for an application for an authorisation under SO 011.

Superintendents need to be aware of the pastoral needs of those without appointment, of the length of time for which permission to be without appointment has been granted, and of the importance of providing regular reviews. Ministers without appointment should be invited to the Circuit Meeting, the circuit staff meeting, and (if appropriate) the Local Preachers’ Meeting,

These ministers should be listed on the Plan below the circuit staff and with the designation (WA) or (without appointment) after their name.

A number of presbyters and deacons are not in circuit appointments but minister in other contexts. Some of these are in chaplaincy appointments (SO 780(1)(iv)) whilst others are in appointments outside the control of the Church (SO 780(1)(v)) with the permission of the Stationing Advisory Committee.

These presbyters and deacons will wish and should be expected to see their engagement with the circuit in which they live and/or worship as a part of their ministry. Each minister should consult with both the Superintendent and their supervisor or colleagues in their work context about an appropriate level of engagement in the life of the circuit (e.g., how many appointments a quarter they should offer or whether or not they can take any office within the circuit) depending on the needs of the circuit and the demands on the minister.

In general terms, Superintendents should be aware:

1. that these presbyters and deacons are entitled, if they wish, to be members of the Circuit Meeting (see SO 510(1)(ii));
2. that presbyters and deacons should be invited to serve on the Plan and that presbyters should have opportunity to preside at Holy Communion;
3. that it is appropriate (especially for those stationed under SO 780(1)(iv)) for the ministry to be seen as part of the mission of the circuit and therefore for the minister to be invited to share their experiences with colleagues and others in the circuit in order to receive encouragement and prayer. It is particularly important that if a probationer is ‘in another appointment’ there are reports (to the District Probationers’ Committee) both on their contribution to the life of the circuit and from their work context and that within supervision and support the probationer is enabled to integrate the different dimensions of their ministry.

Circuits have varied in their approaches to the listing of these ministers on the Plan. Whilst Standing Orders are silent on the subject, the ministry of these presbyters and deacons is best owned by their circuits if their names appear prominently, either under the heading of ‘Other Ministers Residing in the Circuit’ or ‘Ministers in Other Appointments’, immediately before the list of the supernumeraries. It might be appropriate to indicate the particular appointment after or above the name of the minister (e.g., Deacon Owen Gownenhood (Chaplain to Cleverville University)).

There is now a number of members of the Connexional Team residing in circuits and, since the advent of the Learning Network, over a broader geographical area than used to be the case (when most connexional appointments were in London or Manchester). These presbyters and deacons will wish and should be expected to see their engagement with the circuit in which they live and/or worship as a part of their ministry. Each minister should consult with both the Superintendent and their supervisor or colleagues in the Connexional Team about an appropriate level of engagement in the life of the circuit (e.g., how many appointments a quarter they should offer, whether or not they can take any office within the circuit) depending on the needs of the circuit and the demands on the minister.

In general terms, Superintendents should be aware:

1. that these presbyters and deacons are entitled, if they wish, to be members of the Circuit Meeting (see SO 510(1)(ii)); and
2. that they should be invited to serve on the Plan as appropriate and that presbyters should have opportunity to preside at the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Circuits have varied in their approaches to the listing of these ministers on the Plan. Whilst Standing Orders are silent on the subject, the ministry of these presbyters and deacons is best owned by their circuits if their names appear prominently under the heading of ‘Members of the Connexional Team’, immediately before the list of the supernumeraries.

For a number of reasons there has been a growth in recent years in the number of ordained ministers not in Full Connexion (or recognized and regarded as being in Full Connexion) with the British Methodist Conference worshipping in our churches or otherwise involved in their life and mission. It is impossible fully to categorise all these persons (who may be of other denominations or from other Methodist Conferences) but common examples are:

• A minister of one of the historic Free Churches retires and lives at a distance from the nearest church of their own denomination. They therefore begin to worship at a Methodist chapel within walking distance of their home.
• A minister of an overseas Conference is granted a year’s study leave to pursue a course at a British university.
• An ordained person’s spouse’s career brings the family to Britain.
• A group of Methodists from another part of the world worshipping (often in another language) within a circuit is supported by the sending from their home Church of an ordained minister for a period of time. (These arrangements might appropriately be part of a Fellowship Group, and where they are not, Superintendents are invited to contact the Conference Office to explore this possibility.)

Any of these people might ask or be asked to serve on the Plan and can properly be listed under ‘Preachers from other Circuits and Churches’. If this becomes a frequent practice, however, and it becomes clear that their service is likely to be offered over several quarters and/or for an indefinite period, or if they wish to exercise other forms of ministry, it is appropriate that they be authorised to serve (SO 733) or granted associate status (SO 733A).

It is also possible that these persons might look or be invited to undertake pastoral work within the life of the circuit (e.g., to lead the equivalent of a class meeting or even to be placed in a role that might have otherwise been that of a paid lay worker). It is important that unless they are authorised or associate the minister avoid giving the impression (e.g., by wearing a clerical collar) that they are engaged in this work as a presbyter or deacon of the British Methodist Church.

Authorisation has three benefits to the circuit and to the Connexion:

1. It offers clear accountability. An authorised minister (whilst remaining under the full oversight of their own Church or Conference) is accountable to the Conference for specific tasks and is expected to act under the direction of the Superintendent (SO 733(6)).
2. It offers assurance about the minister. The process of seeking authorisation requires the connexional officer to seek from the minister’s own denomination or Conference an assurance that they have been ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands with permanent intent, are in good standing with their own Church, and have permission of that Church to seek authorisation from us. It also requires from the minister an assurance that during the period of authorisation they will preach nothing contrary to our doctrines and will abide by our discipline (SO 733(2)).

• It enables fuller participation by the minister in the life of the circuit. An authorised presbyter or deacon is a member of the Circuit Meeting (SO 552) and (though noting the exception of some deacons in SO 560(1)(iA)) of the Local Preachers’ Meeting.

Applications for the status of authorised minister should be made using the form available on the Methodist Church website: www.methodist.org.uk/ministers-and-office-holders/leadership-and-ministry/ministers-of-other-churches/authorised-to-serve 

Associate status has three similar benefits to the circuit:

1. It offers clear accountability. An associate minister is accountable to their own Church (denomination) for all their ministerial practice, including that undertaken in or on behalf of the Methodist Church, and that Church (denomination) shall ensure that in so far as the minister is affecting or representing local Methodist churches or institutions they shall act in ways acceptable to the Conference and in consultation with the appropriate Superintendent or Chair of District (SO 733A(4)).
2. It offers assurance about the minister. The process of seeking associate status requires the connexional officer to seek from the minister’s own denomination or Conference an assurance that they have been ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands with permanent intent, are in good standing with their own Church, and have permission of that Church to seek associate status from us. It also requires from the minister an assurance that during the period of authorisation they will preach nothing contrary to our doctrines and will abide by our discipline (SO 733A(2)).

• It enables fuller participation by the minister in the life of a local Methodist church. In certain circumstances, an associate presbyter or deacon is a member of the Church Council (SO 610(4)).

Applications for the status of associate minister should be made using the form available on the Methodist Church website: www.methodist.org.uk/for-ministers-and-office-holders/ministry/ministers-of-other-churches/associate

It occasionally happens that a minister transfers to another denomination within these islands and offers themselves to serve occasionally in the circuit in which they reside. Superintendents will want to foster good ecumenical relationships with a minister of another church who is in good standing with their own denomination, particularly if he or she holds some pastoral responsibility. However, it is advisable to check with the District Chair and the Conference Office to enquire if there was anything in the transfer that would raise concerns about the minister exercising ministry. Such checks are, of course, a matter of course when application for authorised or associate status is made.

Another category (which has grown in recent years) is of ministers who have resigned from our ministry and subsequently been received as ministers of another denomination (much more rarely, though occasionally, of a partner Methodist Conference). It is not appropriate for these ministers to be considered for authorised or associate status as that would be to minister under the authority of the Conference; in resigning (for whatever reason) the ministers indicate that they no longer wish to live and work under the Conference’s authority. Neither does it seem appropriate for these ministers to exercise even an occasional ministry (as a visiting preacher) until some time has passed following their resignation. Should there be any suggestion that a former minister preach on the Plan, the Superintendent is advised to consult the District Chair who will, if necessary, seek the guidance of the Conference Office.

The Ministries Committee has approved a more general guidance document on ministers who have resigned (Pdf).