700 Qualifications. (1) A candidate for the ministry in the Methodist Church shall have been baptized and shall be a member of the Church and a local preacher, except that a person on trial to become a local preacher and expecting to be admitted as such by the 31st December in the year of candidature may offer for the ministry, and the candidature of such a person may continue subject to his or her being admitted as a local preacher by that date. As to the procedure for becoming a local preacher see S.O. 563-567. (2) Before nomination a candidate shall satisfy the Superintendent that he or she assents to the doctrinal standards set out in clause 4 of the Deed of Union. See Book II, Part 1. (2A)(a) Unless an exemption is granted in accordance with sub-clause (c) below an offer will not be accepted unless the candidate can be stationed for the minimum period specified in sub- clause (b) below before normal Pension Date as defined by the rules of the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme. (b) The minimum period is five years, plus two years for each prescribed year of full-time training or its equivalent. (c) The connexional Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee shall make recommendations to the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee as to exemptions from the requirements of sub-clause (a) above. (2B) Every candidate must be prepared to accept the form and length of training prescribed by the Conference. (3)(a) Candidates who for the purposes of the training of local preachers have been subject to the requirements of Standing Order 566 in the form adopted in or current since 1990 must have successfully completed the training course prescribed under that Standing Order or (where applicable) another training procedure accepted under clause (7) of that Standing Order. (b) Every other candidate must, unless exemption has been granted, have taken the Biblical, Christian Doctrine and Worship and Preaching Papers in the Connexional Local Preachers written examinations or have completed studies in these subjects under Method 2 or 3. If he or she has failed to obtain at least 50% or grade A, B or C in each of these papers, in the case of the written examinations or an equivalent standard in the case of Method 2 or 3, the Circuit Meeting must give special reasons for its recommendations and these must be entered on the candidate's nomination form. For these examinations see S.O. 576, as expressed in and before 1989. (4)(a) All candidates who have attempted the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level ( G.C.E'), General Certificate of Secondary Education ( G.C.S.E.') or Scottish Certificate of Education ( S.C.E.') must have achieved the following result in each of four subjects, including English Language (G.C.E, G.C.S.E.) or English (S.C.E.): G.C.E. before 1975 pass or above; G.C.E. from 1975 and G.C.S.E. grade A, B or C; S.C.E. standard grade pass, grade 3 or above. Candidates from the Cymru District are required to have Welsh as one of their GCE/GSE subjects. (b) [. . .] Candidates who have not attempted one of the above certificates are expected to have achieved corresponding results in public examinations regarded by the Candidates Ministerial and Probationers Oversight Committee as of suitable standard. [. . .] (c) Notwithstanding sub- clauses (a) and (b) above the committee may exercise its discretion in respect of any candidates who do not possess such results.[. . .] (5) [. . .] (6) A former candidate may not re-offer in the year following the Conference at which his or her offer was declined. In adopting this clause the Conference directed that it should apply only to candidates offering for the first time in or after 1997. (7) If a former candidate re-offers within two years the connexional Candidates Committee may at the meeting referred to in clause (5) above grant exemption from such of the requirements of Standing Orders 702, 703 (1) and 703 (2) as it considers in its discretion to be sufficiently satisfied in the light of the candidate's earlier results.
701 Nomination. (1) The members of the Circuit Meeting shall be informed by the Superintendent of the intention of any candidate to offer for the ministry. Such an intimation by the Superintendent is not to be regarded as a declaration of his or her own intention to nominate the candidate. Notice may be given at a meeting or in writing either to members individually or in the circuit plan and in any case not less than eight weeks before the meeting to which the candidate is to be presented, which shall be called for a date which will enable clause (6) below to be met. (2) At the same time or no later than the 15th July the Superintendent shall send one completed copy of Form C.IA (Form of Application as a Candidate for the Ministry) to the district candidates secretary and one to a connexional Team member responsible for candidates. For the district candidates secretary see S.O. 482. For the responsibility of the connexional Team see S.O. 302 (ix). (3) Candidates shall be nominated at and presented to the Circuit Meeting. The Superintendent or any other member of the meeting who has given to the Superintendent at least seven days' prior notice in writing may nominate. The nomination must be made to the Circuit Meeting of the Circuit in which the candidate is a member and local preacher. (4) If a candidate has not resided for two years continuously in the Circuit from which he or she is recommended the Superintendent of that Circuit shall obtain a written report from his or her former Superintendent to cover the previous two years and shall present that report to the Circuit meeting and the Synod. (5) The Circuit Meeting shall vote by ballot on the recommendation of the candidate to the Synod and a record shall be taken of the number of persons who are present and entitled to vote and of the numbers voting for and against. The candidate shall proceed further only if recommended by the Circuit Meeting, and the following provisions of this Section relate only to candidates so recommended. For each such candidate the Circuit Meeting shall appoint a lay assessor (or assessors) who shall prepare a written report. (6) Immediately after the Circuit Meeting, and in any event so as to arrive by 30th September, the Superintendent shall send one completed copy of Form C.5A (Superintendent Ministers' form of Nomination) to the district candidates secretary. If the candidate is the son or daughter of the Superintendent this shall be done by a colleague (being a minister) or, where there is no colleague who is a minister, by the Chairman of the District. The nomination form shall provide for personal details and include assurances about baptism, membership and assent to our doctrinal standards, details of local preachers examinations and accreditation, marital status and family responsibilities, details (if the candidate is married or to be married before entry into college) of present and future financial obligations and resources, the Superintendent's own report on the candidate in consultation with the minister who has pastoral charge of the candidate, the report of the assessor(s) appointed under clause (5) above and the voting in the Circuit Meeting. For the district candidates secretary see S.O. 482. (7) Every candidate shall see that a medical report signed by a qualified medical practitioner is sent to a doctor specified by a Team member responsible for candidates [. . .] not later than the 31st October. (8) The Circuit Meeting in voting upon a candidate for ministry in a local appointment shall whenever possible have placed before it an outline scheme of the way in which the candidate's ministry will be exercised in that or another Circuit.
702 Examination. (1) All candidates for the ministry shall, in the first week in November, take written examinations, consisting of a general paper and a Biblical Texts paper. The marks obtained in each paper shall be reported to the district Candidates Committee responsible for examining that candidate, together with information on the average connexional marks for that year. The candidate's achievements in the examinations shall form part of the material used for assessing the candidate's suitability by the district Candidates Committee and at all subsequent stages of candidature. (2) All candidates are required to write two essays (1,500 words), one on a theological subject and one on a pastoral subject, using any resources that are necessary. Full details of these and all other examinations are obtainable from the connexional Team at 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.
703 District Committee. (1) The district candidates secretary shall arrange for each candidate to conduct two services, at least one of which shall be in a Circuit other than his or her own. The Superintendent of the Circuit in which each service is conducted shall arrange for two ministers and two lay persons to hear and report on the service. The report and the suggested marks shall be sent to the secretary not later than the 31st December. (2) The district Candidates Committee shall appoint a suitably qualified person to undertake an initial personality assessment of each candidate. The full assessment shall be sent to the connexional psychologist and the assessor shall make a brief report of his or her conclusions to the committee. For the connexional psychologist see S.O. 705 (2). (3) The district Candidates Committee shall meet not later than the 31st January, shall consider all the records pertaining to each candidate, shall interview him or her and shall fix a mark for this interview. The judgment of the committee shall be forwarded to the Synod and to the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee together with the committee's vote, recorded thus: A unanimously recommended; B three fourths or more in favour on a divided vote; C less than three fourths in favour on a divided vote; D none in favour. When a candidate receives less than a unanimous vote, the report to the Synod and the connexional committee shall include a brief statement agreed by the district candidates secretary and the chairman of the district Candidates Committee of any particular issues that gave rise to concern in the committee. (4) The district Candidates Committee in voting upon a candidate for ministry in a local appointment shall whenever possible receive the comments of the relevant district Policy Committee on the proposed scheme for the exercise of the candidate's ministry in a Circuit.
704 Synod. All candidates for the ministry shall appear before the Synod in a Ministerial Session after the meeting of the district committee and not later than the 15th February and shall speak of their Christian experience and call to the ministry. They may be further examined by the Synod, if it so desires, in order to satisfy its own judgment of each candidate. The Synod shall also consider all records, including the report of the district Candidates Committee. The recommendation of the candidate to the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall be by a majority of those present and voting. A record shall be taken and entered on the district candidates schedule of the numbers of persons who are present and entitled to vote and of the numbers voting for and against.
705 Connexional Committee. (1) The Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall examine all candidates for the ministry who have been recommended by the Synods and shall report directly to the Ministerial Session of the Conference. For the constitution of the committee see S.O. 320. (1A) The committee shall meet on or before the 1st May as a whole or in two or more sections, each of which may act on behalf of the whole committee. (2) The committee shall consider all records of the candidates and the medical reports of the appointed doctors and shall further examine the candidates orally. The committee shall at all times give careful attention to the judgments of the district Candidates Committee, especially in those cases where their own assessment differs. This will be particularly necessary in the case of candidates for ministry in local appointments. There shall be a connexional psychologist, who shall consider the assessments received from district assessors, undertake such further observations or assessments as the committee may require and report fully to the committee. A mark shall be assigned to each candidate for the oral examination and the committee shall report to the Conference under the categories specified in clause (3) below, the votes for each category being recorded and no neutrals being allowed. Clause (2) includes material from what were previously clauses (2) and (2A). (2B) Each section of the committee may be further divided into panels of not less than seven members to consider each candidate, conduct the oral examination and make recommendations to the full section. The panel shall not include any person who has previously voted upon the candidate in a Circuit Meeting or district committee. Where the panel s recommendation is not a unanimous and unconditional recommendation for acceptance the case shall be further considered in detail by the full section. (3) The committee shall have four categories by which it may report on candidates to the Conference: (i) Recommended: those candidates who if accepted on that basis may proceed to college or other form of initial training; (ii) Conditionally Recommended: those candidates who if accepted on that basis must first fulfil a condition but who, provided that condition is fulfilled within three years, may then proceed to initial training; (iii) Not Yet Recommended: those candidates whom the committee encourages to re-offer in future; (iv) Not Recommended: those candidates whom the committee judges to be unsuitable. (3A) Unless the report by the appointed doctor on a candidate states that there is no medical objection to acceptance the committee shall not recommend that candidate, conditionally or unconditionally, except subject to there being a report by the medical committee of the Methodist Council (which shall investigate every such case) that there is no medical objection to the acceptance of the candidate. In all cases a report shall be made to the Conference. (4) The committee may also make a judgment on the desirable length of initial training for all candidates who are Recommended or Conditionally Recommended and shall make a judgment on any applications for deferment of initial training. As to deferment of initial training see S.O. 711 (3). (5) If the committee recommends any candidate who wishes to serve, after training, as a minister in sector or other appointments a reasoned case for the recommendation shall be brought to the Conference. (6) The committee in voting upon a candidate for ministry in a local appointment shall have placed before it the proposed scheme for the exercise of the candidate's ministry in a Circuit.
706 Overseas Candidates. (1) A candidate who wishes to be received for service based on the home Districts and who has been recommended by the appropriate committee of an autonomous Conference shall appear before the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee in Britain without first having been examined by the Candidates Committee of a home District. For bases of service see S.O. 721. (2) Any such candidate who has been recommended by the Synod or appropriate committee of an Overseas District shall appear before the district Candidates Committee and Synod of a home District specified by a connexional Team member responsible for candidates, having previously been required to undergo such testing as the Team member deems necessary.
706A Appeals. (1) The candidate, the candidates s Superintendent or Chairman, or a Co-ordinating Secretary [. . .] may, by notice given in writing to the secretary of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee on or before the 15th May and specifying the ground(s) of appeal, apply for a review of the recommendation of the committee, on one or more of the following grounds: (i) that the procedural provisions of this Section have not been correctly followed; (ii) that there are facts which were not available to the committee and which are such as to make its recommendation inappropriate; (iii) that the judgment of the committee, as conveyed to the candidate in the official letter [. . .] informing the candidate that his or her offer has been declined, is questioned in writing by both the Superintendent and the Chairman of the candidate. A reasoned statement to support the appeal shall be supplied by the appellant(s). For (iii) above to be a ground of appeal, both the district Candidates Committee and the Ministerial Session of the Synod must have recorded a majority in favour of the candidate of 85% of those present and entitled to vote. (2) Every such case shall be considered by the Appeals Committee appointed by the Methodist Council under Standing Order 320(3). (3) The committee shall be supplied at its meeting with copies of the papers considered by the Selection Committee and the secretary of the section of that committee which dealt with the case shall expound its case for its recommendation. (4) The candidate and any other appellant specified in clause (1) above shall have the right to attend the committee, to be present for the presentation of the Selection Committee s case and to reply. The candidate may be accompanied by a minister of his or her own choice. (5) The candidate may be questioned with reference to the Selection Committee s recommendation and the grounds of the appeal,but there shall be no general re-hearing of the case or repetition of the examination procedures of the Selection Committee. (6) After the appellants and the secretary of the Selection Committee have withdrawn, the Appeals Committee shall decide whether or not to uphold the appeal. (7) Subject to the above the Appeals Committee shall regulate its own procedure. (8) The Appeals Committee shall report to the Conference with the number of votes cast for and against its recommendation, no neutrals being allowed. Any recommendation at variance with that of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall require a majority of three fourths of the members of the Appeals Committee present and entitled to vote. (9) Unless the report by the appointed doctor has stated that there is no medical objection to acceptance the medical committee of the Methodist Council shall also investigate every case which was neither recommended nor conditionally recommended by the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee and concerning which an appeal is made under this Standing Order and shall report whether there is any medical objection. In all cases a report shall be made to the Conference.
707 The Conference Ministerial Session. (1) The Conference in its Ministerial Session shall consider candidates for the ministry in three categories: candidates for itinerant ministry, candidates for ministry in sector or other appointments, and candidates for ministry in local appointments, and in the following order in each category: (i) notice shall be given of those cases due to be considered under sub-clause (v) below; (ii) in presenting the candidates in lists A and B in accordance with sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) below the Team member responsible for candidates shall report the judgment of the medical committee of the Methodist Council on those cases ( M ) concerning which the appointed doctor reported a medical objection in accordance with Standing Order 705 (3A) or 706A (9), and if the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee s recommendation is at variance with that of the medical committee the case shall be considered individually by the Conference; (iii) subject to sub-clause (ii) above those candidates ( A ) who are unanimously recommended or conditionally recommended by the committee and in whose case no notice has been given under sub-clause (i) above shall be proposed en bloc; (iv) candidates ( B ) who are recommended or conditionally recommended by a three fourths vote or more on a divided vote in the connexional committee or in whose case at least three fourths of the committee voted for one or other of those categories and in whose cases no notice has been given under sub-clause (i) above shall be considered individually by the Conference. (v) the report of the Appeals Committee shall be presented by its convener on those cases ( N ) in which an appeal has been made against the recommendation of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee in accordance with Standing Order 706A; (vi) the Team member shall propose en bloc that the offer of those candidates who have not been dealt with under sub- clauses (i) to (v) above shall be declined. As to changes of category see S.O. 709. (2) (4) [Revoked] (5) No candidate shall be recommended or conditionally recommended to the Representative Session for the ministry save by a vote of three fourths of the members of the Conference present and voting. (6) If the Conference in its Ministerial Session recommends or conditionally recommends a candidate as to whom the medical committee of the Methodist Council has reported that there is a medical objection any such recommendation shall be subject to the adoption by the Conference in its Representative Session of a scheme quantifying the additional actuarial and other liabilities on the funds of the Church or of the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme thereby entailed and making full provision to meet those liabilities, and no such candidate shall be accepted by the Representative Session unless such a scheme has been so adopted.
708 The Conference Representative Session. (1) The Conference in its Representative Session shall first deal with any schemes requiring to be adopted under Standing Order 707 (6). (2) Subject to compliance with Standing Order 707 (6) and clause (1) above the candidates for the ministry recommended or conditionally recommended by the Ministerial Session shall be proposed en bloc for acceptance or conditional acceptance respectively by the Conference in its Representative Session. No candidate can be accepted without the recommendation of the Ministerial Session (Deed of Union, clause 23(g) Book II, Part 1). (3) No candidate shall be accepted or conditionally accepted for the ministry save by a vote of three fourths of the members of the Conference present and voting.
709 Changes of Category. (1) This Standing Order applies when a student minister or probationer considered as a candidate for the ministry by the Conference in its Ministerial Session in one of the three categories specified in Standing Order 707(1) wishes to change to another of those categories and when a probationer in a sector or other appointment wishes to change to such an appointment in a different area of community life. (2) A student minister wishing to make such a change shall apply to the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, which shall deal with the matters required by clause (4), (5) or (6) below, obtain such other advice and information as it thinks fit and consult the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments. The Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee shall reach a decision on each such application and report it to the Conference. (3) A probationer wishing to make such a change, whether it will take effect before or after reception into full connexion, shall apply to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, which shall deal with the matters required by clause (4), (5) or (6) below, obtain such other advice and information as it thinks fit and consult the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. The Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments shall make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee and so inform the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, which shall report that recommendation to the Conference. (4) In the case of an application for a change to itinerant ministry the responsible committee shall obtain a report from the medical committee of the Methodist Council. (5) In the case of an application for a change to ministry in a local appointment the responsible committee shall require that there be a scheme for the exercise of the applicant s ministry in a specified Circuit complying, so far as may be appropriate in the circumstances, with clause (5A) or (7) of Standing Order 746. (6) In the case of an application for a change to ministry in a sector or other appointment or for a change by a probationer to such an appointment in a different area of community life, the responsible committee shall obtain and consider information on the matters specified in clauses (1), (2) and (5) of Standing Order 743.
710 [. . .]
711 Length of Training. (1) Subject to clauses (1A) to (5) below every person in training for the ministry shall before reception into full connexion complete a period beginning with acceptance as a candidate and of the following length (taking age as at 31st August next after the accepting Conference): Under 30 years old 5 years 30 and over 4 years (1A) Every such person shall spend at least two years as a probationer and the period specified in clause (1) above shall if necessary be extended to that end. (2) Notwithstanding Standing Order 714(3) candidates who are accepted for training on courses shall without exception spend their required period as a probationer in circuit appointments. (2A) In the case of probationers who are in part-time circuit appointments the date for reception into full connexion shall be determined by the Conference on the recommendation of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, taking into account clause (1A) above. (3) Candidates who are permitted to continue their studies for a degree or to engage in some other activity or who (in the case of older or married candidates) are granted time to arrange their personal affairs after acceptance by the Conference shall defer commencement of the period specified in clause (1) above for one or more years and it shall begin on a date to be determined by the Conference next following the accepting Conference. (4) In the case of candidates accepted on the basis that no further training or less than two years' training is required the date for reception into full connexion shall be determined by the Conference on the recommendation of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, taking into account clause (1A) above. (4A) The period arrived at in accordance with the above clauses shall be extended by any period during which the candidate's probation is deferred or suspended under Standing Order 762A. (5) All the foregoing regulations are subject to satisfactory yearly reports both in college and during probation. (6) Probation shall not be considered as completed until the probationer has actually been received into full connexion with the Conference. (7) In this Standing Order and in Standing Order 746(5B) there shall qualify as a year, where appropriate, the period from one annual Conference until the next or the period from the 1st September preceding reception into full connexion until such reception.
712 Circuit Work by Student ministers. (1) The principal of each college shall arrange for every student minister to spend a period or periods in circuit work, and shall so arrange them that under the guidance of a senior minister the student minister may gain experience of both town and country Methodism and become acquainted with the problems and methods of different kinds of circuit life. (2) Should the available number of college-trained probationers be insufficient the President, in consultation with the principals of the colleges, has authority to call out as supplies so many student ministers as may be found necessary in order to carry on the work of the Circuits. If such student ministers are called out from the first year they shall normally afterwards return to the college to resume their course. As to travelling and removal expenses see S.O. 528 (2). (3) Before calling out as a supply any student minister who has not completed his or her college course the President of the Conference shall also consult the staff of the college involved.
713 Training on Courses. (1) The Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee shall make recommendations to the Conference as to the acceptance of individual candidates for training on courses, which will be restricted to candidates, normally aged 30 years and over, whose financial and domestic situations warrant such training and who are otherwise suitable. (2) The course of training followed by candidates accepted on that basis shall be one, normally of three years, approved by the committee. (3) There shall be a tutor or tutors (being ministers) appointed by the Conference on the nomination of the Methodist Council to have oversight, under the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, of each course of student ministers. They shall report to the [. . .] committee and shall have such authority to act on its behalf as the committee may from time to time delegate. (4) [. . .]
714 Probationers Appointments Conditions. (1) A probationer shall not normally be required to serve more than three years in circuit work, but the application of this principle shall always be subject to the consideration of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. (2) In general no probationer shall be appointed to a single- minister station. Under no circumstances shall a pre- collegiate probationer be appointed to such a station. Where a post-collegiate probationer is so appointed he or she shall have had previous experience of circuit work and shall be under the special charge and direction of the Chairman of the District. (3) [. . .] (4) - (7) [Revoked] (8) A probationer shall be appointed to a Circuit only when the Stationing Committee is satisfied, on the basis of a description of the appointment furnished by the Circuit, approved by the district Policy Committee and forwarded by the Chairman before the 1st November in the calendar year before that in which the appointment is to take effect, that the appointment is suitable for a probationer and that there is a reasonable expectation that it will be maintained without alteration until the probationer is received into full connexion. Once a probationer has been appointed the nature of the appointment shall not be altered by the Circuit before the end of probation without the consent of the Chairman, who shall normally consult the district Policy Committee and the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers' Oversight Committee.
715 Probationers Appointments Other Matters. (1) Whenever a probationer enters upon a first appointment the Chairman shall arrange for a dedicatory service to be held within the District, if possible in the probationer's Circuit, early in the connexional year. The service shall include appropriate exhortation and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. (2) When an authorisation to preside at the Lord's Supper is granted to a probationer it shall be sent to the Superintendent of the Circuit in which it is to be exercised for presentation to the probationer at the induction service or on some other appropriate occasion. (3) In every Circuit in which a probationer is stationed without such an authorisation the Superintendent shall arrange for the probationer to assist in the conduct of the Lord's Supper at least once in each quarter.
716 Probation. (1) At the beginning of each connexional year the Chairmen of Districts in which probationers are stationed shall ascertain from the Superintendents of the Circuits concerned that adequate provision has been made for guidance and instruction in the pastoral duties of the ministry. (2) Probation studies shall be arranged by the connexional committee in consultation initially with the staff of the college in which the probationer has been trained, or with the tutor of a probationer who has been trained on a course, and subsequently with the district Probationers Committee. These studies shall be in the care of the district Probationers Committee, who shall arrange for personal tutorial guidance and oversight within the District or, where necessary in the case of island Districts, within a nearby District. For the district committee see S.O. 484. (3) It shall be the duty of the district probationers secretary to make all necessary arrangements in the District for the examination of the probationers and to report the results to the district committee and to the Ministerial Session of the Synod. He or she shall afterwards send the reports, with the resolutions of the Synod upon them, to a connexional Team member responsible for ministerial training. (4) The Chairman shall arrange for each probationer and accepted senior candidate in the District to attend, in the course of the year, a retreat or refresher course or other informal meeting for fellowship and consideration of the work of the ministry.
717 Reports. (1) The Ministerial Session of the Synod shall every year by the procedure prescribed in clauses (2) to (5) below obtain full information concerning each probationer appointed to the District and report on his or her general fitness for the Methodist ministry. The report of the Synod is to be forwarded to the connexional committee. (2) A written statement concerning the character, work and general fitness of each probationer under his or her care shall be sent in March of each year by the Superintendent to the district probationers secretary. This statement shall take the form of answers to specific questions framed by the connexional committee and shall indicate what opportunities for study have been afforded, what oversight and guidance have been exercised and what fellowship has been available in the regular meetings of the circuit ministers. (3) Every probationer shall before the spring Synod in the first and also in the second year of probation preach before two ministers and two lay persons appointed by the Chairman. They shall forward to the district probationers secretary a signed report for presentation to the Synod. (4) If a probationer who has spent part of the probation overseas enters the home work the Team member responsible for probationers overseas shall forward to the Chairman of the District to which he or she is appointed a report on each year of probation spent abroad. This report shall be presented by the Chairman to the spring Synod. (5) The district committee shall interview each probationer in every year of probation and prepare a report on his or her ministerial life and work, studies and reading. This report shall be presented to the spring Synod. See Section 03 as to discontinuance. (6) The Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight committee shall meet each year after the spring Synod to review the reports from the Synods concerning probationers and prepare its report for presentation to the Conference in its Ministerial Session.
718 Reception into Full Connexion. (1) Before a probationer is recommended to be received into full connexion the several reports (or a summary of them) concerning him or her from acceptance as a candidate shall be presented to the Synod, together with the judgment upon them of the district Probationers Committee. This committee shall have power to recommend to the Synod either that a probationer's reception into full connexion be deferred or that it be made conditional upon his or her satisfying further tests. (2) He or she shall also undergo a careful oral examination in the district committee under the direction of the Chairman of the District respecting the doctrines of the Methodist Church, including his or her acquaintance with Wesley's Sermons and Notes on the New Testament, and also as to his or her knowledge of the constitution of Methodism and the administration of Circuits. (3) Unless any minister in the Synod wishes to ask supplementary questions the examination of ordinands on these matters in the Synod shall be confined to the asking of three questions: (i)Do you believe and preach our doctrines? (ii) Do you accept and will you administer our discipline? (iii) Are you still as convinced of your call to the ministry as you were when you were accepted? (4) In connection with the spring Synod the Chairman shall conduct or arrange for a service for the public testimony of all probationers in the District who are recommended to be received into full connexion with the Conference. (5) Before the Conference each year regional retreats for all ordinands shall be arranged by the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. (6) Preachers on trial who have completed their probation and have been accepted into Full Connexion by the Conference shall, unless already ordained or to be ordained elsewhere, be ordained in a service held during the meeting of the same Conference, at which the President or a deputy shall preside. See cl. 23 (h) of the Deed of Union (Book II. Part I) as to the respective functions of the two sessions of the Conference in relation to reception into full connexion and ordination. As to ordinands in the Welsh work see S.O. 495. (6A) Each ordinand shall be ordained by the laying-on of hands with prayer by the President or a deputy, assisted by two other ministers in accordance with Standing Order 719, one of whom may be nominated by the ordinand. (7) Only those may be received into full connexion with the Conference who are willing to baptize infants in appropriate circumstances.
719 Ministers assisting at Ordinations. (1) Anyone assisting at an ordination in accordance with Standing Order 495(2) or 718(6A) shall be either: (i) a minister in full connexion or a minister of the Irish or another autonomous conference; or (ii) a person ordained to the ministry of the word and sacraments in a church whose ministry is recognised by the Methodist Church. (2) No person shall be invited to assist under head (ii) of clause (1) above unless the connexional Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee is satisfied that he or she meets the requirements there laid down, has been made aware in writing of the view of the Methodist Church that to participate in the laying-on of hands in a Methodist ordination service implies the intention to ordain to the presbyterate in the Church of God, and has subsequently indicated that he or she is willing to participate. Where necessary the Faith and Order Committee shall be asked to investigate a particular case. For the Faith and Order Committee see S.O. 330.
720 Seniority. (1) Entry into the ministry for the purpose of seniority and years of travel shall, except as provided in these Standing Orders or as otherwise directed by the Conference on reception, date from the year of reception into full connexion or, if earlier, the year of first appointment as a probationer to a Circuit, or to another station within the control of the Church, or in an appointment approved under Standing Order 709, or in an overseas appointment within the purview of the Methodist Council. A specific direction shall be given whenever reception into full connexion has been deferred. (2) If first appointment as a probationer within clause (1) above occurs before completion of training any subsequent period as a student or while probation is suspended shall add no seniority and the year of entry shall be adjusted accordingly. (3) If a minister ceases to be in full connexion with the Conference, whether by transfer, resignation, exclusion or for any other reason, and is later reinstated, the intervening period shall add no seniority and the year of entry shall be adjusted accordingly. (4) The above provisions of this Standing Order apply to ministers accepted as candidates in and after 1985. The seniority of other ministers shall continue to be governed by the Standing Orders in force when they were accepted as candidates, except that clause (3) above shall apply to every minister reinstated in or after 1985.
721 Base of Ministry. (1) All ministers received into full connexion with the Conference shall be accepted for ministry based either on the home Districts or on a specified overseas District. They shall have equal status as ministers but their recruitment, training and terms of service shall be the subject of regulations appropriate to the territory on which their ministry is based. The Methodist Council shall act in association with the Synods of the overseas Districts of the Conference to frame regulations appropriate to local circumstances. Save under the provisions of Standing Order 722 a minister in full connexion serving in a District of the Methodist Church shall be stationed in the territory upon which his or her ministry is based. The home Districts' and overseas District' are defined in cl 1 (xiii), (xxv) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1, as applied by S.O. 002(1), 003 (iii). As to the power to make regulations for the overseas work see also S.O. 214 and Art. 10 of the Constitution of the Methodist Missionary Society (Book IVB, Part 3). (2) The following forms of entry shall be used in the Minutes and in the Journal of the Conference to indicate the territory upon which a minister received into full connexion is based: Ministers received into full connexion 1. For service based on the home Districts: (a) serving in the home Districts; (b) serving overseas. 2. For service based on an overseas District (as specified): (a) serving in that District; (b) serving elsewhere.' Under sections 1(b) and 2(b) shall be entered the names of all ministers who on reception into full connexion are serving elsewhere than in the territory upon which their ministry is to be based. (3) Membership of the Representative Session of the Conference shall be open to a minister in full connexion whose ministry is based on an overseas District only (i) by election as a representative of the Methodist Council under Standing Order 102 (1)(i), head (h) or (j), or (ii) while appointed to a station in a home District, upon the terms which apply to ministers whose ministry is based on the home Districts. Membership of the Ministerial Session of the Conference only is also open to such ministers by permission under the provisions of cl. 15(a)(ii) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1).
722 Interchange without Change of Base. (1) Subject to clause (3) below a minister in full connexion may, without changing the territory on which his or her ministry is based, be appointed to serve for a time in another territory, either in the home Districts or overseas. (2) The Methodist Council on the advice of the responsible Team member shall arrange such periods of service, whether in Districts overseas by ministers based on the home Districts or vice-versa or between one District overseas and another and for securing appropriate terms of service. For provisions relating to the appointment of missionaries outside the overseas Districts of the Conference see the Constitution of the M.M.S. (Book IVB, Part 3). (3) A minister in full connexion whose ministry is based on the home Districts but whose own home country is overseas and who desires to serve as a minister in that country shall not be appointed to do so under the above clauses of this Standing Order but shall apply to do so upon the terms which obtain for those whose ministry is based there. If Methodists in that country have formed an autonomous conference or become part of a united church he or she shall apply for transfer to the ministry of that conference or church, and this clause shall apply in respect of service in any part of the territory of that conference or church. (4) In clause (3) above home country' means the country in which the minister is domiciled for the purpose of English Law.
723 Change of Base. (1) Any minister in full connexion seeking to change the territory on which his or her ministry is based shall submit an application to the Ministerial Session of the Synod of which he or she is a member. It shall be forwarded, with the recommendation of the Synod, to the Secretary of the Conference. (2) The Secretary of the Conference shall invite the comments of the World Church Committee upon any such application. [. . .] If the application is for transfer to an overseas District the consent of the Synod of that District shall be necessary to its acceptance. (3) The application shall then be considered by [. . .] the Methodist Council, which shall have the right to prescribe any tests it may consider necessary and shall ensure that suitable arrangements regarding pension funds can be made and that any other obligations to connexional funds or to overseas district funds will be met. The council shall then make its recommendation to the Conference, which shall determine the matter.
724 The Welsh and English Work. (1) Any application by a minister in full connexion or probationer to transfer from the Welsh to the English work shall be considered by the Council for Methodism in Wales which, after consultation with the Chairman of the Cymru District, may recommend to the connexional Stationing Committee that the minister or probationer should be stationed in an English Circuit. The council shall take into consideration the implications of the proposed transfer for the Welsh stations. In the case of a probationer the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee shall also be consulted. For definitions of Welsh work and English work see S.O. 003(iv), (v). For the Council for Methodism in Wales see Section 49. (2) Any application by a minister in full connexion or probationer to transfer from the English to the Welsh work shall be considered by the Council for Methodism in Wales, which shall consult the Chairman of the Cymru District and satisfy itself as to the applicant s proficiency in the Welsh language, or progress in learning it, and his or her general awareness of Welsh culture and heritage. The Council may recommend to the Cymru district Stationing Committee that the minister or probationer should be stationed in a Circuit in that District. In the case of a probationer the Ministerial Candidates and connexional Probationers Oversight Committee shall also be consulted. (3) Where circumstances make it necessary or expedient a minister or probationer in either the English or the Welsh work may be appointed in the same year both to a Welsh and to an English Circuit. All such appointments shall be considered by the Council for Methodism in Wales, which shall make recommendations to the Cymru district Stationing Committee and the connexional Stationing Committee. Such ministers and probationers shall be members both of the Cymru Synod and the relevant English Synod, except that they shall be answerable in matters of discipline solely to the Cymru Synod if in the Welsh work and solely to the relevant English Synod if in the English work. As to bilingual Circuits see S.O. 497.
725 Transfers between Churches. (1) It shall be competent for the Conference to transfer ministers in full connexion to other conferences and to other churches with which we are in communion, when mutually approved, on the understanding that on the completion of such a transfer all financial arrangements hitherto existing between the minister and the British Conference shall come to an end. As to ministers recognised and regarded see S.O. 767 (6). (2) Ministers and probationers of other conferences, ministers of other Christian churches, ordained deacons of the United Methodist Church or of a church with a three-fold order of ministry and officers of the Salvation Army who wish to be admitted into full connexion with the Conference or as probationers shall apply in writing before 15th March to the President, who shall arrange for the application to be considered as set out in the following clauses. (2A) The requirements of Standing Order 700(2A) and (2B) shall apply as if the applicant were a candidate offering for the ministry, with the omission of at its meeting in February in Standing Order 700(2A)(c). (3) The secretary of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall obtain: (i) particulars of the applicant's ordination, if any, and ministry or service to date; (ii) references from two referees nominated by the applicant, one of whom shall be a lay person; (iii) reports by a responsible representative of the applicant's existing denomination and by a Methodist minister who knows the applicant, neither being one of the referees in (ii) above; (iv) a signed assurance by the applicant that he or she believes and will preach our doctrines and is willing to accept and administer our discipline; (v) a report from the Superintendent of the Circuit in which the applicant resides. (4) The secretary of the [. . .] committee shall: (i) procure a medical examination of the applicant and a report; (ii) appoint and obtain a report from an assessor, who shall meet the applicant and make such other enquiries as he or she thinks fit; (iii) arrange for the applicant to be interviewed by the connexional psychologist required by Standing Order 705(2) and obtain a report. (5) The application shall be considered by a section of the [. . .] committee, meeting specially, if necessary, for the purpose, which shall consider all records and reports obtained under clauses (3) and (4) above, and shall examine the applicant orally. A mark shall be assigned for the oral examination and the committee shall report to the Conference under the categories specified in Standing Order 705(3), as adapted in clause (6) below, the votes for each category being recorded and no neutrals being allowed. Clauses (3A), (5) and (6) of Standing Order 705 shall apply, substituting applicant for candidate throughout and omitting after training in clause (5). (6) In its operation under clause (5) above Standing Order 705 (3) shall be adapted as follows: (i) in line 2 and categories (iii) and (iv) for candidate substitute applicant ; (ii) in category (i) for the words after the colon substitute: cases where subject to Standing Order 725(8) the committee proposes the unconditional grant of the application; ; (iii) in category (ii) for the words after the colon substitute: cases where the committee proposes that the application be granted subject to the fulfilment within a specified period of a specified course of training and/or some other specified condition; . (7) The committee shall not recommend that an application be granted unless the applicant has given the signed assurance required in clause (3) (iv) above and has satisfied the committee of adherence to our doctrines and discipline. (8) If the committee recommends that an application be granted or conditionally granted it shall also recommend: (i) whether the applicant should be admitted by the Conference forthwith or at some future specified date; (ii) whether he or she should be admitted into full connexion or upon probation, and if the latter the number of years to be spent as a probationer; (iii) whether on admission into full connexion he or she should be so admitted as a person ordained to the ministry of the word and sacraments in a church whose ministry is recognised by the Methodist Church or should be ordained by the Conference. (9) [Revoked] (10) The applicant may, by notice in writing to the secretary of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee [. . .] specifying the grounds of appeal, apply for a review of the recommendation of the committee. The notice shall be given so as to reach the secretary within seven days of notification to the applicant of the decision of the committee or by the 8th June, whichever is the earlier. The appeal shall be dealt with under Standing Order 706A clauses (2) to (9) except that there shall be no other appellant than the applicant. (11), (12) [Revoked] (13) (a) In the case of an application by a minister in full connexion with another autonomous conference the secretary of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall obtain (i) the consent of and a report from that conference, including particulars of the applicant's ordination and ministry to date, and (ii) the assurance required in clause (3) (iv) above, but clauses (3) and (8) above shall not otherwise apply; if accepted such a minister shall be admitted by the Conference into full connexion as a person already ordained. (b) In the case of any other application from a person connected with another autonomous conference the secretary of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall obtain (i) the consent of and a report from that conference including particulars of the applicant s training and ministry to date, and (ii) the assurance required in clause (3)(iv) above, but clauses (3) and (8) above shall not otherwise apply. The committee shall recommend whether the applicant should be admitted by the Conference into full connexion and ordained or be received as a probationer. As to what are other autonomous conferences see the definition in clause 2 of the Deed of Union (Book II Part I) and the list in S.O. 002 (2). (14) In the case of an application by a person resident outside the home Districts, whether or not within clause (13) above, the Methodist Council may direct such variations of procedure as may, in its judgment, be necessitated by difficulty or expense of travel or communication. (15) (a) Notwithstanding clause (13) above, if the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee recommends that an application be accepted even though the applicant's own conference or equivalent authority refuses its consent to a transfer, the recommendation shall be reported to the Methodist Council, which shall consider the implications of the case for the relations between the Conference and the other conference or church, and shall advise the Conference whether the committee's recommendation be accepted. [. . .] (b) The Conference, if it agrees to accept the application, shall record that the applicant is received into full connexion but shall not refer to transfer. (16) The Conference in its Ministerial Session shall consider the reports of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee and (if applicable) the Appeal Committee on all applications for transfer into the ministry or on probation under this Standing Order. No applicant shall be recommended or conditionally recommended to the Representative Session for acceptance except by a vote of three fourths of the members of the Conference present and voting. A similar majority shall be required for acceptance or conditional acceptance by the Conference in its Representative Session.
726 Residence Abroad. (1) No minister in full connexion [. . .] whose ministry is based on the home Districts and no probationer in training for such a ministry shall reside abroad unless appointed to an overseas station or permitted to do so under this Standing Order. (2) Applications for permission to reside abroad in a sector or other appointment shall be dealt with under Section 74 and applications for the purposes of study under Standing Order 758. (3) All other applications under this Standing Order by ministers in the active work or without appointment or by probationers shall be considered by the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, which if it recommends that the application be accepted shall report its recommendation to the Stationing Committee which shall advise the Conference. Permission may be granted under this clause for an initial specified period not exceeding five years and may be continued for a further period or periods each not exceeding five years. (4) A minister in full connexion seeking to reside abroad as a supernumerary shall apply to the Stationing Committee through his or her Chairman or, after the stations have been adopted, to the President, and permission may be granted by the Conference or, after the stations have been adopted, by the President. (5) All ministers and probationers granted permission under this Standing Order shall be listed in the stations as permitted to serve, to study or to reside abroad, as the case may be, with a note of the country of residence. (6) Ministers permitted to reside in Ireland shall answer as to their continuing belief in the doctrines and observance of the discipline of the Methodist Church to the Synod of the District in Ireland in which they reside. All other persons permitted to reside abroad shall supply annually written assurance of their fidelity in those respects to the secretary of the World Church Committee.
727 Ministers formerly in Full Connexion. The names of ministers included in the alphabetical list in the Minutes of Conference at the time of the formation of a united church or establishment of an autonomous conference, and who became ministers of that church or conference, shall continue to be recorded in a list maintained by the connexional Team so long as they live and continue to be ministers in their respective churches.
728 Former Ministers of other Churches applying to be received into Full Connexion. (1) This Standing Order applies to persons who have been ordained to the ministry of the word and sacraments by an autonomous conference or in a church whose ministry is recognized by the Methodist Church but who are no longer recognized as ministers by that conference or church. (2) Where such a person applies to be received into full connexion then the procedures of Standing Order 725 shall apply with the following variations: (i) The Ministerial Candidates Selection Examination Committee shall inquire into the reasons why the applicant is no longer regarded as a minister, and shall be satisfied that, if he or she had been applying for reinstatement under Standing Order 788, the application would have been granted. (ii) The view of the applicant's previous conference or church as to the application shall be ascertained. (iii) In no case, whether the applicant is resident in the home Districts or elsewhere, shall the report of an assessor as under Standing Order 725 (4) (ii) be omitted, unless for good reason, stated in the Selection Committee's report to the Conference. (iv) If the applicant's conference or church formally registers its objection to the application the provisions of Standing Order 725 (15) shall apply. (3) Applications by persons not within clause (1) above or within Standing Order 725 (2) shall be dealt with under Section 70.
730 Preliminary. (1) Immediately after the first Circuit Meeting in the year, and in any event by the 1st October, the Superintendent of each Circuit shall supply to the Chairman, on a schedule supplied by the Conference Office, information about invitations for the extension of appointments issued to ministers by the Circuit, or accepted by ministers in the Circuit, and other necessary information in relation to stationing in the next two connexional years. As to invitations see Section 54. (2) Each Chairman shall forward to the Secretary of the Conference as soon as possible thereafter, on a schedule similarly provided, the details so supplied, together with other necessary information in relation to stationing in the next two connexional years. (3) A list of all ministers to be transferred from overseas to home stations, or from home to overseas stations, shall similarly be furnished by a connexional Team member responsible for personnel serving overseas to the Secretary of the Conference. See S.O. 304 (vi). (4) From the information so provided the Secretary of the Conference shall prepare a list of ministers available for invitation and Circuits seeking to invite a minister in relation to the next connexional year, and circulate it to members of the Stationing Committee. For the constitution of and general provisions relating to the Stationing Committee see S.O. 322. (5) No later than the 1st October each year, the Chairman of each District shall supply to the Secretary of the Conference a 50-word description and other factual details of each appointment for which a minister is sought, and a 50- word statement and other factual details concerning each minister seeking an appointment in the next connexional year. These statements shall be provided by the circuit stewards and ministers concerned respectively. The Secretary of the Conference shall send a compilation of these statements to each member of the Stationing Committee. (6) A copy of the list of ministers and Circuits available and the compilation of statements about ministers and Circuits prepared in accordance with clauses (4) and (5) above shall be supplied to circuit stewards and ministers by application to the Conference Office on payment of a reasonable charge. (7) The Secretary of the Conference in consultation with Chairmen shall revise the list of ministers and Circuits available from time to time. (7A) Not later than 14 days before the date fixed for the spring meeting of the Stationing Committee the Superintendent of each Circuit shall supply to the Chairman, on a schedule supplied by the Conference Office, information about initial invitations issued by the Circuit, or accepted by ministers in the Circuit for the next connexional year. Each Chairman shall forward to the Secretary of the Conference as soon as possible thereafter, on a schedule similarly provided, the details so supplied. (8) The Secretary of the Conference shall obtain from the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments its recommendations on opportunities for ministry in sector and other appointments and on applications from ministers and employing authorities together with its recommendations on applications by ministers to be without appointment or to become ministers in local appointment. He or she shall also obtain from other appropriate bodies all other relevant information. For applications to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments see S.O. 323 (2) (v), 741. The other relevant information will include particulars of student ministers leaving college, ministers becoming supernumeraries, ministers transferring to and from other churches, etc. (9) From the above lists, recommendations and information the Secretary shall prepare for use in the Stationing Committee and its sub- committees a draft of the stations. For the incorporation of the draft of the stations in the Cymru District see S.O. 496 (4).
731 Spring Meeting. In order that ministers, Circuit Meetings, Invitation Committees and Superintendents may be able to comply with Standing Orders 541(7), 542(2) and 730(7A), notice shall be given by the Secretary of the Conference to the Chairman of each District not later than the 10th September of the date fixed for the next spring meeting of the committee, and the Chairman shall forwith inform all Superintendents and circuit stewards in the District.
732 First Reading. (1) The committee shall meet in the Conference town on the day before the opening of the Conference. (2) The first reading of the stations shall be taken on the first day of the Ministerial Session of the Conference. See cl. 23(l) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1). (3) Except where Standing Order 746 (8) or 763 (3) applies the committee may refer the case of any minister for whom no appointment can be found to a district Consultative Committee appointed under Standing Order 040 and shall designate the minister without appointment until the Consultative Committee can resolve the matter. S. O. 746(8) concerns ministers in local appointment, S.O. 763(3) ministers married to each other and S.O. 040 failure by a minister to fulfil the obligations of his or her appointment.
733 Second Reading. (1) The committee shall meet between the two sessions of the Conference and shall prepare a revised draft for the second reading. (2) The second reading of the stations shall be taken in the Representative Session. (3) Any Circuit may make representation in writing to the Conference, which shall be received on the second reading. In cases of special difficulty, and with the consent of the Stationing Committee, a Circuit may communicate directly with the committee. (4) On the second reading any minister or probationer who is not a member of the Conference shall have the right to attend and to state his or her own case, but shall have no vote. (5) If any question should arise at the second reading, including any representation under clause (3) or (4) above, the Conference may refer it to a Committee of Reference for consideration and report. For Committees of Reference see S.O. 137.
734 Final Reading. (1) All changes made on the second reading shall be referred to the committee, which shall meet again to prepare the final draft for the third reading. (2) At the third and final reading of the stations, which shall be taken in the Representative Session, no change shall be made unless all parties are agreed. For this purpose all parties' means the representatives on the Stationing Committee of all the Districts involved in any proposed change. (3) The ministers, probationers and student ministers concerned in changes made to the first draft of the stations, the senior circuit stewards of the Circuits involved, the secretary of each Synod, and all the members of the Stationing Committee shall be entitled to receive a copy of the final list of changes.
736 Extended Appointments. No appointment to a Circuit shall be renewed beyond eleven years except by resolution of the Conference expressly authorising the renewal, made after compliance by the Circuit Meeting with Standing Order 546. For procedure in the Circuit Meeting on renewals of invitations beyond five years see S.O. 545. In some cases where an appointment began in or before 1981 this Standing Order, as amended in 1985, does not apply and the previous form of the Standing Order still governs the position; see the directions of the Conference printed at page xlvii of the Sixth Edition.
737 Arrangement and Effect. (1) The Stations shall be arranged under the home Districts, followed by the connexional Team, chaplains to the forces, the overseas Districts and ministers and probationers appointed to serve other conferences or churches. Within the home and overseas Districts each of the places mentioned in the stations and numbered is the name of a Circuit, and the minister first named is the Superintendent. In the event of his or her death, resignation, [. . .] incapacity or removal to another station the minister next named, if appointed to the Circuit, is the Superintendent, except that when that minister is a minister in a local appointment or a minister recognised and regarded as such under clause 44(b) or 45 of the Deed of Union or is permitted to serve part-time only or has at any time spent a period in local appointments or sector or other appointments or without appointment the Chairman shall have the discretion, after consultation with the ministers appointed to the Circuit and the circuit stewards, to appoint one of the other ministers appointed to the Circuit as Superintendent, or to be the Superintendent himself or herself. If there is no remaining minister appointed to the Circuit the Chairman is the Superintendent. For the meaning of appointed to see S.O. 005 (vi). (2) (a) In the circuit stations, after the name of the Superintendent, the names of other ministers in full work and probationers appointed to a Circuit shall be printed in strict order of seniority in the ministry and followed by those of ministers and probationers in sector or other appointments and supernumeraries stationed in the Circuit, then by those of persons residing in the Circuit for the purposes of the stations who are authorised to serve the Church as ministers under Standing Order 766 or are ministers without appointment or are ministers stationed under another circuit number who have elected so to reside under clause (6) (c) below and then by those of persons residing in the Circuit for the purposes of the stations who are authorised to serve the Church as deacons under Standing Order 766A. (b) Where ministers or probationers are appointed to stations in the home work but not to a Circuit, nor in the connexional Team, nor as chaplains to the forces, their names shall appear under the circuit number of a suitable Circuit, but under an appropriate heading following the names arranged in accordance with sub-clause (a) above. For the distinction between appointed to and stationed in see S.O. 005 (vi), (vii). For supernumeraries see S.O. 774. For the connexional Team ministers see clause (6)(d) below. For ministers without appointment see S.O. 762, 763. As to the listing of forces chaplains in the stations see S.O. 355 (3). (3) (a)The appointments of ministers and probationers shall take effect for one year from the first day of the month of September next following, and accordingly a minister or probationer moving to a new appointment shall not be expected to undertake any of the duties of that appointment until the 1st September. (b) Ministers and probationers removing to new appointments shall do so during the week beginning on the first Monday in August, unless alternative arrangements are concluded which are agreeable to all the parties concerned. Unless such arrangements are agreed by all the parties, removals shall not be delayed beyond the second Monday in August, whether in the case of a subsequent engagement in the Circuit or for any other reason. (c) Circuit stewards shall ensure that appropriate arrangements are made within the Circuit or with a neighbouring Circuit to cover the duties of the outgoing minister or probationer from the date of removal until the 1st September, including the availability of a person authorised to conduct marriages. (4) Immediately after the name of each Circuit and after each of the sub-headings referred to in clause (2)(b) above shall appear in brackets the ministerial establishment allotted by the Conference, that is to say the number of ministers and probationers expected to be appointed to that Circuit or other station, subject to availability of personnel and finance and to any other stationing considerations. (5) A direction in the terms of Standing Order 343(5) shall be inserted in the stations in relation to every school chaplain. (6) (a) Every minister and probationer whose name appears in the stations in accordance with clause (2) (b) above is a member of the Synod of the District in which he or she resides for the purpose of the stations, and for those purposes resides in the Circuit under the number of which his or her name so appears unless he or she is entitled and has elected in accordance with sub-clauses (b) and (c) below to reside elsewhere for those purposes. (b) The ministers and probationers entitled so to elect are those appointed to a station under [. . .] NCH Action for Children or Methodist Homes for the Aged. (c) A person so entitled may elect to reside for the purposes of the stations in another Circuit if he or she will be living in the area which it serves or be active in its life and work or if members of his or her household will be in membership there. He or she shall so elect before or during the preceding Conference by so informing the Chairman of the District containing that Circuit. (d) The stations of members of the connexional Team not also appointed to a Circuit shall specify the Circuits in which they are to reside for the purposes of the stations. A person within sub-clause (a) or (d) is a member of the Circuit Meeting and Local Preachers Meeting of the Circuit in which he or she so resides (S.O. 510 (l) (iii) and 560 (1)). As to eligibility for membership of church courts and office in the Local Church see S.O. 606(1)(i) and the S.O.s as to particular courts and offices. As to eligibility for circuit committees and offices see S.O. 503 (1)(i) and the S.O.s as to particular committees and offices. As to forces chaplains see S.O. 355 (3).
740 Ministry in Sector and Other Appointments. (1) Ministry in sector appointments includes full-time ministries in such areas of community life as education, industry and the social services and ministries exercised in organisations not directly controlled by the Methodist Church or by any other denominational or ecumenical body or agency. (2) Ministry in other appointments includes full-time ministries exercised in any denominational or ecumenical body or agency other than one directly controlled by the Methodist Church. (3) Appointments to the principalships and chaplaincies of Methodist schools and colleges, [. . .] industrial chaplaincies and appointments under Standing Order 313 are not within the scope of this Section.
741 Applications. (1) Ministers in full connexion [. . .] wishing to apply for an appointment within clause (1) or (2) of Standing Order 740, initial or otherwise, shall follow the procedure set out in clauses (2) to (5) of this Standing Order. As to probationers see S.O. 707(1) and 709. (2) They shall inform the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments of their desire and seek its approval before applying for any particular post. For the committee and its functions see S.O. 323. (3) They shall make themselves available for interview with a panel appointed by the committee. (4) If they obtain the approval of the committee they may then apply for the post but shall not accept appointment without the permission of the President on the recommendation of the committee. (5) If they accept appointment they shall report their acceptance to the committee. (6) Every applicant must be reminded by the committee that if stationed in such an appointment he or she will continue to be subject to the discipline of the Methodist Church as provided in Standing Order 744. As to the incorporation of ministries in sector and other appointments in the stations see S.O. 323 (2) (v), 730 (7) and 737 (2).
742 Notices. A minister applying for such an appointment and thereby seeking to be released before the termination of his or her invitation to a Circuit shall give notice to the Chairman, the Superintendent and the committee by the 1st January in the connexional year concerned. When an invitation to a new Circuit is affected see paragraph 10A of Guidance as to Invitations' (Book VI, Part 2).
743 Criteria. (1) In considering an initial application from a minister for a ministry in such an appointment the committee shall give particular attention to: (i) the rightness of the appointment for a full and proper exercise of calling of an ordained minister, such as the exercise of a pioneering or experimental ministry; (ii) the minister's personal qualifications for the appointment; (iii) his or her continued willingness to observe the discipline of the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church. (2) The committee shall be assured that the financial arrangements are satisfactory. If necessary it shall obtain full particulars from the organisation in question. Should the financial proposals appear unsatisfactory the committee shall request that they be reconsidered. (3) In considering an application from a minister in such an appointment to move to a similar appointment in the same area of community life the committee shall consult with the applicant's Chairman and the Chairman of the District in which the proposed new appointment is situated. The applicant shall not accept the new appointment without the permission of the President on the recommendation of the committee. (4) An application from a minister [. . .] in such an appointment to move to an appointment in a different area of community life shall be regarded as an initial application. As to probationers see S.O. 709. (5) In order to ensure that such appointments are not authorised at the expense of the essential needs of the Circuits the committee shall consult from year to year with the Stationing Committee as to the number of the appointments it should recommend.
744 Status. All ministers and probationers in such appointments shall continue to be subject to the discipline of the Methodist Church: (i) they shall be appointed in the first instance by the Conference on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments and the Stationing Committee; thereafter so long as they continue to observe the discipline of the Church they shall not while serving in such an appointment be subject to normal stationing, but shall be authorised by the Conference to continue in the same appointment until, after due consultation and by the authority of the Conference, they are stationed either in another such appointment or in an appointment wholly within the control of the Church or become supernumeraries; (ii) their names shall appear on the stations, each in a Circuit, according to the advice of the Chairman of the District concerned and of the committee, and following the name there shall appear the designation of the appointment; (iii) so far as the obligations and duties of their appointments permit they shall, at the discretion of the Superintendent, be appointed on the circuit plan to preach and (if in full connexion) to administer the sacraments and shall be given opportunity to share in the pastoral work of the Circuit. As to listing in the stations see also S.O. 737 (2). All ministers and probationers must attend Synod (S.O. 750). Ministers in sector and other appointments are members of the Circuit Meeting (S.O. 510 (l) (ii)) and Local Preachers' Meeting (S.O. 560 (1)) of the Circuit in which they are stationed, and attend the meetings of circuit ministers (S.O. 523). As to their eligibility for membership of church courts and office in the Local Church see S.O. 606 (1)(i) and the S.O.s as to particular courts and offices. As to eligibility for circuit committees and affairs see S.O. 503(1)(i) and the S.O.s as to particular committees and offices.
745 Transfer to Appointments within the Control of the Church. (1) A minister [. . .] in such an appointment who will become available for appointment to a station within the control of the Church or who wishes to be appointed to such a station shall so inform the secretary of the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments in writing as soon as possible, and in any event before the 1st February preceding the Conference at which the appointment would be made, and shall consult and give all relevant information to the Chairman of the District in which he or she is stationed and the secretary of the committee. As to probationers see S.O. 709. (2) The secretary of the committee shall obtain a report from the medical [. . .] committee of the Methodist Council. (3) The matter shall then be placed before the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments for its advice. That advice shall be given in writing to the Stationing Committee and copies sent to the minister [. . .] concerned and to the Chairman.
746 Ministry in Local Appointments. (1) There shall be a category of ministers in local appointments, who will not be required to be itinerant and will not normally be provided with allowances or accommodation by the Church. (2) A candidate for the ministry in this category shall meet the requirements of Standing Order 700. In addition, such a candidate will be expected to show such maturity and flexibility as to be able to exercise this ministry and also do justice to his or her secular employment and family commitments. Such a candidate shall normally be at least 30 years old. (3) Before nomination the Superintendent shall discuss with such a candidate the possibility of exercising his or her ministry in the Circuit, both at work and in the Church; such discussions shall, wherever possible, involve the circuit stewards and other appropriate circuit leaders. Should there be no suitable opportunity there, the Superintendent shall consult with the Chairman about the possibility of the candidate's exercising such a ministry in another Circuit or Circuits in that or a neighbouring District, such possibility being then discussed similarly between the candidate and any Circuits concerned. The candidate shall be nominated at the Circuit Meeting of the Circuit in which he or she is a member and Standing Order 701 shall apply, with the omission from clause (6) of the words (if the candidate is married or to be married before entry into college)'. The district Policy Committee shall by the 31st October either approve a draft scheme for the exercise of the candidate s ministry in a Circuit (which shall be prepared by the Circuit in which it is envisaged that the candidate will exercise a ministry, in consultation with the connexional Team member responsible for ministerial candidates) or undertake to prepare a draft scheme in consultation with the Circuits. (4) Standing Orders 702, 703, 704, 705, 706A and 707 clauses (1) to (5) shall apply, but not Standing Order 707 (6). A candidate in this category can be considered only for service based on the territory in which he or she is a member, and Standing Order 706 shall accordingly not apply. Such a candidate shall upon acceptance be based while a student minister in the Circuit in which it is proposed that his or her ministry shall be exercised or, if the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee so directs, in some other Circuit specified by that committee. For territorial base of ministry see in particular, S.O. 721-723. (5) Standing Orders 710, and 716 to 719 shall apply, but not Standing Orders 711 to 715. The Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee shall recommend in each case the nature of the training required. Training shall be under the general direction of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee in consultation with the Probationers Committee of the District in which the student minister is based under clause (4) above or, upon being stationed, is a probationer. (5A) If as a result of further discussions following nomination and during training as a student minister (which it shall be the responsibility of the a connexional Team member responsible for ministerial training to initiate, in consultation with the Chairman of the District in which the student minister is based under clause (4) above) a scheme for the exercise of his or her ministry in a Circuit, containing clear provisions as to the particular responsibilities of the proposed appointment, has been agreed between those concerned and approved by the Circuit Meeting and has received the necessary approval under Standing Order 438 then upon completion of such training the student minister shall be appointed as a probationer to that Circuit. (5B) Every person accepted as a candidate under this Standing Order who has completed training as a student minister shall be stationed as a probationer, and failing or until agreement and approval of a scheme under clause (5A) above shall be appointed to circuit work as appropriate as possible to the type of scheme proposed under clause (5) above. A person within this Standing Order shall spend at least two years as a probationer in circuit work before reception into full connexion. (5C) When the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee is satisfied that the requirements of training and probation have been fulfilled a person accepted as a candidate under this Standing Order shall be presented to the Conference for reception into full connexion and ordination on the recommendation of the Synod. (6) Standing Order 548 shall not apply. If a person has been appointed as a probationer under clause (5A) above then that appointment shall continue upon his or her reception into full connexion. If a probationer within this Standing Order has not been appointed under clause (5A) above but a scheme complying with that clause has been agreed and approved in time for him or her to be appointed to the Circuit specified in the scheme upon reception into full connexion then that shall be done. In either event the minister concerned shall be deemed for the purposes of Section 54 to have received an initial invitation to the Circuit for the period beginning with the first year of appointment there (whether as a probationer or as a minister), and Standing Orders 543 to 547, 549 and 736 shall apply accordingly. If no such scheme has been duly agreed and approved, clause (8) below shall apply as at the end of an appointment and it shall be the responsibility of the Chairman to continue to seek a suitable first appointment in which the above conditions as to agreement and approval of the scheme are fulfilled; when such an appointment has been found the minister shall at the next available opportunity be stationed accordingly under the provisions of this clause. (7) If the appointment of such a minister to a first or subsequent Circuit comes to an end, the minister shall not be appointed to a local appointment in any other Circuit unless (i) it is one in or near which the minister resides or intends to reside when the appointment takes effect, (ii) a scheme for the exercise of the minister's ministry in that Circuit, containing clear provisions as to the particular responsibilities in that appointment, has been agreed between those concerned and approved by the Circuit Meeting, and (iii) the necessary approval under Standing Order 438 has been obtained. Subject to these requirements the minister shall upon invitation in accordance with Standing Orders 540 to 542 be appointed by the Conference to that Circuit and Standing Orders 543 to 547, 549 and 736 shall apply to that appointment. (8) If the appointment of such a minister to a first or subsequent Circuit comes to an end and the minister is not immediately appointed to another Circuit in accordance with clause (7) above, the minister's name shall, until he or she is so appointed or becomes supernumerary, appear in the stations under the Circuit in which he or she resides as without appointment'. Such a minister shall then have the rights and privileges of a church member in that Circuit and shall be expected to give such help to that Circuit as he or she is able. (9) A minister in a local appointment who wishes to transfer to the itinerant ministry, thereby becoming subject to normal stationing and entitled to the normal allowances and benefits, shall consult and give all relevant information to the Chairman of the District, who shall be responsible for obtaining a report from the medical [. . .] committee of the Methodist Council and for supplying all necessary information to the Secretary of the Conference for the consideration of the Stationing Committee, which may grant or refuse the application. As to probationers see S.O. 709. (10) An itinerant minister may apply to become a minister in a local appointment. The application shall be made to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments and that committee shall make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee, which may grant or refuse the application. Consideration shall be given to the scheme by which the local ministry will be exercised, and no application shall be granted unless an appointment complying with clause (7) above can and will be made. It shall also be considered, in any event, whether taking account of all the circumstances it would be more appropriate for the applicant to apply to be without appointment under Standing Order 762. As to probationers see S.O. 709. (11) Except where expressly excluded above the Standing Orders otherwise in force apply to persons who are or wish to become ministers in local appointments.
750 Attendance at Synod. Except as provided by Standing Orders 355(3) and 774(4) every minister and probationer, unless excused by dispensation of the Chairman, is required to attend the Synod of which he or she is a member and to remain throughout its sessions. A dispensation of absence is to be given only upon compelling grounds. The Chairman shall report to the Synod all dispensations for its approval. By direction of the Conference this Standing Order is to be reprinted year by year in the Chairman's note summoning the ministers and probationers to the Synod. S.O. 355(3) provides for forces chaplains to attend the Synods of the Districts in which they are serving, although they are all members of the Synod specified for that purpose in the stations. S.O. 774 (4) provides that supernumeraries need attend only the Ministerial Session of the spring Synod. As to the Synod of which a minister or probationer is a member see S.O. 410 (l) (ii) and 737 (6).
751 Stipends. (1) Circuit ministers, other ministers in full work appointed to stations within the control of the Church, probationers, deaconesses and deacons shall receive stipends at not less than the appropriate rate on the scale of minimum stipends from time to time prescribed by the Conference, provided that a minister or probationer who is duly permitted to serve part-time may receive an appropriate proportion of the full-time rate, the amount of such proportion being determined by the Chairman of the District in which he or she is stationed after consultation with the circuit stewards or other responsible officers of the Circuit or other responsible body respectively. (2) In addition all essential expenses incurred by ministers, probationers, deaconesses and deacons in the discharge of the responsibilities of their appointments shall be defrayed in full by the Circuits or other bodies responsible for provision of their stipends. For travel allowances see S.O. 433. For furnishing allowance see S.O. 754 (2). (3) So far as possible there shall be throughout the Connexion a uniform method in the payment of stipends, namely that upon entry into a Circuit a full quarter's stipend shall be paid on the 1st September to each newly-appointed minister, probationer, deaconess and deacon, and similarly in each subsequent quarter, payment being made in advance. Stipends shall be paid by the connexional Team, which shall collect the sums required for that purpose by direct debit from the Circuits and other responsible bodies four working days before the beginning of each quarter. See S.O. 532(1)(ii). (4) Ministers or probationers within the scope of clause (1) above who are unable by reason of illness or injury to discharge the responsibilities of their appointments shall continue to receive their stipends and all expense allowances [. . .] which are of a continuing nature, but not those for expenses which cease during the incapacity. They shall, however, give credit for any Social Security benefits and statutory sickness pay to which they may be entitled by reason of the incapacity, the amount of all such benefits receivable during any quarter being deducted from the next quarter's payment of stipend and (if there has been a change of station meanwhile) remitted to the Circuit or other body entitled to the refund. As to reimbursement from the Methodist Church Fund see S.O. 365. (5) (a) On the death of a minister or probationer within the scope of clause (1) above the deceased's spouse and/or any dependants of the deceased then resident in the manse shall be entitled to remain there until the end of the current connexional year. (b) Subject to sub-clause (c) below there shall be paid as from the date of death into the fund of the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme, with a view to the augmentation of the lump sum payable from the scheme, the amounts which would, had the deceased survived, have been paid to him or her in stipend in respect of the next six months or until the end of the current connexional year, whichever period is the longer. (c) Sub-clause (b) above shall not apply when the deceased leaves a spouse in full-time employment at the date of death, except that the President may, after consultation with the Chairman, direct in cases which seem to him or her to be cases of need that all or part of the sums specified in sub-clause (b) shall be paid. As to reimbursement or grant from the connexional Methodist Church Fund see S.O. 365. (6) The widow of a minister in full connexion who dies while in full work or of a probationer shall be entitled to receive from the Methodist Church Fund a removal grant on the same basis as that payable when a minister becomes a supernumerary. The entitlement of the widower of a woman minister or probationer in like case shall be determined by the President in consultation with the Chairman. See S.O. 773. (7) The above clauses of this Standing Order shall not apply to ministers or probationers in appointments under Standing Order 746, except that they shall be entitled in accordance with clause (2) above to have all essential expenses incurred in the discharge of their responsibilities defrayed in full by the Circuits to which they are appointed. S.O. 746 concerns ministry in local appointments.
752 Part-time Appointments. (1) This Standing Order relates to the engagement of circuit ministers or probationers in part-time chaplaincy, teaching or other work. It does not apply to supernumeraries, ministers in local appointments, ministers in sector or other appointments, ministers without appointment or ministers who are permitted to serve part-time only and whose stipends are adjusted accordingly. In this Standing Order the connexional committee' means the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments. For the connexional committee see S.O. 323. As to part-time service see S.O. 751 (1). (2) No minister or probationer shall engage in work to which this Standing Order applies without first consulting the Superintendent and Chairman. A probationer must also obtain the permission of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. (3) If the remuneration from such work will exceed one quarter of the minister's or probationer's minimum stipend or the time spent will exceed ten hours per week then the Superintendent, the other ministers and probationers appointed to the Circuit and the circuit stewards shall consult in order to arrive at a just and amicable agreement which shall then, except where clause (5) below applies, be put into effect. If the work will affect the minister's or probationer's circuit duties or cause extra work to a ministerial colleague an arrangement shall be made for some recompense to be paid to the Circuit or colleague. (4) Where agreement is not reached locally the Chairman, who will already have been consulted, shall be asked to decide (subject to clause (5) below) whether the work shall be undertaken, and if so on what terms. (5) If the remuneration will exceed one half of the minister's or probationer's minimum stipend or time spent will exceed 20 hours per week, then after proposals have been formulated under clause (3) or (4) above they shall be referred, in the form of an application, to the Chairman and the connexional committee, who shall in consultation with the Stationing Committee together consider them as the connexional committee does those for full-time work in other appointments and give a decision. See Section 74. (6) If the remuneration rises or falls the arrangements shall be reviewed and, if necessary, revised. (7) Superintendents shall by the 31st March in each year report in writing to the Chairman on all arrangements made or revised under this Standing Order.
753 Accommodation and Furnishing. (1) Subject to clause (1A) below the Circuit or other body responsible for provision of the stipend of a circuit minister or other minister in full work or probationer appointed to a station within the control of the Church shall provide a manse [. . .]. The basis of manse accommodation shall be a four-bedroomed house giving sleeping accommodation for a mixed family and visitors. One bedroom should serve as a study if desired. The house must also provide adequate living accommodation comprising at least two reception rooms and kitchen. In the case of smaller modern properties care should be taken that there is adequate accommodation for interviews when the study itself is not large enough for that purpose. Adequate garage and or parking facilities should also be provided. The loft should be insulated up to present-day specifications. Wall insulation may be considered but only adopted if so advised by an independent professional other than the contractor. In cases of very large windows double glazing may also be considered. This Standing Order does not apply to ministers in local appointments (cl. (6) below). As to deaconesses and deacons see S.O. 792. For inspection of manses to ensure compliance with this Standing Order see S.O. 965. (1A) Where two ministers married to each other are appointed to the same Circuit or to nearby Circuits they shall be entitled to one manse only and shall choose which of the available manses they will occupy. Where two Circuits are involved any question as to the financial arrangements between them not resolved by consultation shall be referred to a special committee appointed by the Synod under Standing Order 402(3) and its decision shall be final. See also the guidance in Book VI, Part 2, Section 3. (2) The Circuit or other such body shall also provide all carpets, curtains and other floor covering, lamp shades and light fittings, fixed fires (where fitted), study furniture, cooker and kitchen cupboards, as specified in clauses (3) to (5) below. (3) The schedule of minimum requirements for the furnishing of manses is as follows: (i) Dining Room: Carpet and underfelt; rug. (ii) Lounge: Carpet and underfelt; rug. (iii) Study: Desk of adequate size; chair; two additional chairs; foolscap filing cabinet; plenty of cupboard and drawer room; 30 yards bookshelves; telephone; carpet and underfelt; waste paper basket. (iv) Kitchen: Modern sink unit with adequate draining facilities; efficient and economic gas or electric cooker; adequate shelf and cupboard room and good working surfaces; proper provision for food storage and kitchen utensils, preferably enclosed; suitable floor covering. (v) Bedrooms: These should be carpeted. (vi) Toilet: Bath; wash basin; W.C.; hot and cold water; towel rail; toilet cupboard or shelf; suitable floor covering. (vii) Hall: Suitable floor covering where necessary; stair carpet; carpet on landings. (viii) General: Study furniture should be free from woodworm, and springs and upholstery in good state of repair. Curtains for all windows (to be renewed after fair wear and tear). Electric light bulbs and properly fitting shades throughout. An adequate supply of 13 amp electric points. A suitable TV aerial. The water heating system should be such as to provide constant hot water at minimum cost, with immersion heater for summer use. The provision of a shower for use with the bath should be considered. If possible, plumbing for an automatic washing machine should be installed as necessary. Draught excluders should be provided where required. Adequate locks for external doors and windows should be provided. A lawn mower should be provided adequate to the needs of the garden. (4) Commonsense and flexibility should be exercised in applying the above schedule. It is the clear duty of the Circuit or other responsible body to see that each manse contains the items in the schedule, but if a minister or probationer has any of these items and is willing that they should be used then it should be noted that these items may be required when there is a new appointment but are not needed now. (5) A minister or probationer bringing study furniture, cooker, carpets or curtains into a manse so as to render surplus manse furniture or furnishings (not considered inadequate by the district Manses Committee by reference to the schedule of minimum requirements) is responsible with the Circuit or other responsible body for the proper storage of such surplus furniture or furnishings and the cost of such storage shall be shared equally by the Circuit or other responsible body and the minister or probationer. He or she should consult the circuit stewards or other responsible officers so that an approved arrangement can be made for storage of this and any other manse furniture or furnishings which it is considered will not be used, to the extent that the stewards or other officers cannot find an alternative use for it or cannot themselves store it safely and economically. The Circuit Meeting shall receive and record the details for future use. (6) This Standing Order and clause (2) of Standing Order 754 shall not apply to ministers or probationers subject to Standing Order 746, who shall be wholly responsible for the provision of their own accommodation and furniture. S.O. 746 concerns ministry in local appointments.
754 Ministers' Furniture. (1) A minister or probationer within the terms of Standing Order 753 (1) shall be responsible for supplying all furniture, with the exception of that provided under Standing Order 753 (2). (2) Every minister or probationer on being appointed for the first time to a station in the home work within the control of the Church shall receive from connexional sources an initial payment of a sum specified from time to time by the Conference. The payment shall be made by the connexional Team which shall also deal with any related administrative matters which may arise. This clause shall not apply to any minister or probationer aged 55 or more (taking age as at 31st August next following acceptance as a candidate) unless the Methodist Council judges it necessary to make the grant in the light of [. . .] special circumstances. This clause does not apply to ministers in local appointments (S.O. 753 (6)). (3) The needs of missionaries returning from overseas to home service shall be a charge upon the Fund for World Mission. For this fund see S.O. 362(2)
755 Accompanied Self-Appraisal. (1) Subject to clause (5) below, every minister in full connexion and in full work, deaconess or deacon appointed to a station within the control of the Church shall engage annually in a process of Accompanied Self-Appraisal in accordance with this Standing Order. (2) Each such minister, deaconess or deacon shall, as part of that process: (i) seek the views of people in her or his station or affected by her or his work upon her or his ministry, and (ii) work with an accompanist, who shall support him or her throughout the self-appraisal. (3) Accompanists shall be authorised by the Synod. The district Appraisal Group is responsible for their selection and training and for recommending them to the Synod for authorisation. (4) Each Synod shall appoint a district Appraisal Group, which shall include the district Appraisal Officer and the district Appraisal Trainer, and which shall oversee all aspects of the appraisal scheme. The group shall be chaired by the Chairman of the District or his or her appointee. (5) The district Appraisal Group may grant exemptions from the process to any minister, deaconess or deacon whom it deems to be engaged in a comparable scheme of review or appraisal. (6) No minister, deaconess or deacon shall be required to disclose the findings of his/her self-appraisal. (7) Accompanists shall inform the district Appraisal Group whether a satisfactory process of self-appraisal has been undertaken but shall not [. . .] report on the work of any minister, deaconess or deacon. (8) The district Appraisal Group shall report annually to the Synod on the progress of the scheme. (9) The connexional Team shall support and monitor the scheme of accompanied Self-Appraisal and the Methodist Council shall report annually to the Conference on its operation. (10) Where there is any dispute under clause (5) above, the district Appraisal Group shall report to a member of the connexional Team responsible for the scheme, who shall consider the matter and judge accordingly. The Conference of 1994, which adopted this Standing Order, directed that until the 1st September 2001 the district Synods might limit the application of Standing Order 755 to specified ministers or members of the Diaconal Order, with a view to the progressive introduction of the accompanied self- appraisal scheme and its full implementation from the 1st September 2001.
756 Supplies. (1) - (3) [Revoked] (4) If a circuit minister or probationer is unable by reason of illness or injury to discharge the responsibilities of the appointment the cost of pulpit supplies shall be borne by the Circuit. As to reimbursement from the Methodist Church Fund see S.O. 365. For the appointment of student ministers as supplies see S.O. 712(2), (3).
757 Sabbaticals. (1) Subject to the following clauses of this Standing Order a minister in full connexion, deaconess or deacon appointed to a station within the control of the Church shall be entitled at intervals to a sabbatical, that is a period of release from the duties of the appointment, in addition to normal holidays, for the purpose of undertaking an approved programme of study, research, work or experience. (2) Normally the length of the sabbatical shall be three months. Special permission is required for any longer period. (3) The years in which sabbaticals may be taken shall normally be the tenth and each seventh year of travel after it, but sabbaticals may for good reason be taken one year earlier or later and in particular shall not be taken in the first year of a new appointment. Special permission shall be required for any greater departure from the normal dates. (4) Before a sabbatical is taken, the following require approval: (i) the dates of release and return; (ii) the programme; (iii) arrangements for covering the duties of the appointment; (iv) arrangements for the pastoral support of the participant's partner and dependants. (5) In relation to prospective sabbaticals the district Policy Committee shall appoint a Sabbaticals Advisory Group to identify those eligible for sabbaticals; to consider, advise upon and monitor items (i) and (ii) of clause (4) above; to provide advice in the preparation and execution of programmes; and to ensure that any fruits are appropriately shared. This group shall check whether a Sabbatical Support Group is established by each participant in accordance with clause (6). The district associate officer for ministerial sabbaticals is the convener (S.O. 456 A). (6) Each participant shall, with the advice of the district Sabbaticals Advisory Group, form a Sabbatical Support Group to consider, advise upon and monitor items (iii) and (iv) of clause (4) above; to provide support in the preparation and execution of the programme; and to ensure that the fruits of the programme are properly shared. It shall include representatives of the relevant Local Church(es), and the Circuit (or other body responsible for the payment of stipend), and probably the participant's partner. The participant will be a member, but will not chair it. The relevant Circuit Meeting shall appoint the convener. (7) Approval under clause (4) shall be by the Synod unless special permission is required or there is a dispute. The district Sabbaticals Advisory Group shall report to the Synod through the district Policy Committee. [. . .] Where special permission is required, it shall be given or withheld by a connexional Team member responsible for sabbaticals. Where there is a dispute it shall be considered and determined by the Methodist Council or by a committee appointed by the council for the purpose. (8) The Sabbatical Support Group shall report to the district Sabbaticals Advisory Group and to the relevant Circuit Meeting or corresponding church court. (9) [. . .] (10) The Circuit or other responsible body shall continue during a sabbatical to provide a manse and the minister's stipend and to pay all expense allowances [. . .] which are of a continuing nature, but not those for expenses which cease to be incurred or to be related to the appointment, including mileage allowance. (11) Each minister, deaconess or deacon taking a sabbatical shall receive from the fund levied by the Methodist Council under Standing Order 364(2) a grant of an amount from time to time prescribed by the Conference. (12) The provision of sabbaticals for full-time connexional staff and college tutors shall be under the jurisdiction of the Methodist Council or other responsible body and clauses (5) to (8) above shall not apply.
758 Permission to Study. A minister or probationer who wishes to be without appointment for the purpose of undertaking a course of study shall apply to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, and that committee shall make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee, which may grant or refuse the application. Such a recommendation shall specify the course of study to be undertaken and its duration. In the case of a probationer the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee shall be consulted.
760 Women Ministers. Women who offer themselves for the ministry shall do so under the same conditions as men in relation to candidature, training, probation, reception into full connexion, ordination, seniority, stationing, terms of service and retirement, except as provided in this Section or elsewhere in Standing Orders. The eligibility of women ministers for pension is a matter for the Rules of the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme, which can be amended by the Conference (see the note to S.O. 770 (1)).
760A Diaconal Candidates. (1) When ordained deaconesses or deacons offer themselves as candidates for the ministry they shall take the written examinations as in Standing Order 702. They shall conduct two services as in Standing Order 703(1). If they are accepted their period of college training shall be decided in each case according to individual needs. Their period of probation shall be determined by the Conference when they are accepted. (2) When probationer deaconesses or deacons offer themselves as candidates for the ministry they shall take the written examinations as in Standing Order 702. They shall conduct two services as in Standing Order 703 (1). If they are accepted their period of college training shall be decided in each case according to individual needs. The date of their reception into full connexion shall be determined by the Conference when they are accepted.
761 Maternity Leave. (1) A circuit minister, or other minister in full work appointed to a station within the control of the Church, who becomes pregnant but who does not wish to be exempt from normal stationing, or whose confinement is expected to occur before or within six weeks after she ceases to be stationed, shall as soon as possible so inform the Superintendent, the circuit stewards or other responsible officers, [. . .] and, if she is herself a Superintendent or is not a circuit minister, the Chairman or [. . .] other appropriate person. (2) She shall be entitled to four months' maternity leave, of which one month shall be taken before and three after the expected date of birth unless in an emergency or on two months' prior notice to the circuit stewards or other responsible officers she elects to commence it at some earlier or later date. (3) During maternity leave she shall be paid her stipend less any Social Security benefits to which she may be entitled, and shall also be paid expense allowances [. . .] which are of a continuing nature, but not those for expenses which cease during leave. As to reimbursement from the Methodist Church Fund see S.O. 365. (4) Further unpaid leave may be taken by agreement with the circuit stewards or other responsible officers and, if the minister is a circuit minister, the Superintendent. (5) Time taken off by a pregnant minister by reason of threatened miscarriage or other illness before the commencement of maternity leave as specified above shall be treated as absence for sickness and not counted towards maternity leave. (6) Any failure to agree under clause (4) above and any disagreement as to the application of any other part of this Standing Order shall be referred in the case of a circuit minister to the Chairman and in other cases to the President and shall be resolved by his or her decision.
762 Ministers without Appointment. (1) A minister may be without appointment by permission obtained under clause (2), (3), or (4) below on the grounds specified in clause (5) below, or by direction of the Stationing Committee or the President under clause (9) below. (2) A minister shall apply to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, and that committee shall make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee, which may grant or refuse the application. (3) A student minister or probationer who wishes to be without appointment on being received into full connexion shall apply to the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee and that committee, if satisfied of the applicant's intention both to complete training (where incomplete) and probation and, in due course, to enter full work, shall make a recommendation to the Conference, which may grant or refuse the application. (4) A minister, probationer or student minister may, on any grounds not arising or discovered until after the last meeting (before the Conference) of the committee to which application would have been made under the above clauses, make a similar application to the President at any time before the opening of the Conference, and the President may grant or refuse the application, but shall not grant an application by a probationer or student minister unless satisfied of the applicant's intentions as described in clause (3) above. (5) An application may be granted under clauses (2), (3) or (4) above on compassionate or domestic grounds which in the judgment of the committee or the President, as the case may be, make it impossible or undesirable for the applicant to be subject to normal stationing. (6) A minister who has been granted exemption under clauses (1) to (5) above shall normally be at no cost to the Connexion, but in exceptional circumstances the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments or the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, as appropriate, may recommend a payment under Standing Order 365(7). (7) Permission may be granted under clauses (1) to (5) above for five years or for a specified shorter period. In the year before the end of the period for which permission has been granted the minister shall make application to continue to be without appointment for a further period, to return to or commence full work in the same category of appointment under clause (8) below or to transfer to another category under Standing Order 741, 745, 746(9) or 746(10). (8) A minister without appointment under the above clauses may by permission of the Stationing Committee, granted on application made through the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, return to or commence full work in the category of appointment in which he or she was serving or about to serve when made exempt from normal stationing. In exceptional cases a minister without appointment may be appointed to a station by the President. (9) The Stationing Committee, or exceptionally the President, may require a minister or probationer for whom no appointment can be found to be without appointment and shall in each case determine what sums (if any) should be paid under Standing Order 365(6), and what other arrangements should be made. A minister or probationer without appointment under this clause may be appointed to a station during the year by the President. Only in exceptional circumstances shall a minister or probationer be without appointment in this category for more than one year. (10) The names of persons exempt from normal stationing under the above clauses shall in the stations be printed in the Circuit in which they reside as without appointment'; they shall be expected to give such help to the Circuit as they are able, in appropriate cases shall be entitled to receive remuneration by the decision of the Circuit Meeting, and shall have all the rights and privileges of church members in that Circuit. They are members of the Circuit Meeting (S.O. 510 (1) (iii)) and Local Preachers' Meeting (S.O. 560 (1)) of the Circuit in which they reside and attend the meetings of circuit ministers (S.O. 523 (1)). As to eligibility for circuit and local committees and offices see S.O. 503 (1)(i) and 606(1)(i) and the Standing Orders relating to specific committees and offices. (11) This Standing Order shall not apply to a minister who is without appointment by the operation of Standing Order 746(6) or (8) or Standing Order 763 (3). S.O. 746 concerns ministry in local appointments and S.O. 763 ministers married to each other.
762A Deferment or suspension of probation. (1) A student minister or probationer may, on any of the grounds specified in clause (3) below, apply to the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee for deferment or suspension of probation and that committee, if satisfied of the applicant's intention to complete training (if incomplete) and, in due course, to undergo or complete probation and enter full work, shall make a recommendation to the Conference, which may grant or refuse the application. A candidate shall not during any deferment or suspension of probation be at any cost to the Connexion, except as provided in clause (4) below. (2) If the grounds for an application do not arise or are not discovered until after the last meeting (before the Conference) of the committee a student or probationer may make a similar application to the President at any time before the opening of the Conference, and the President may grant or refuse the application but shall not grant an application unless satisfied of the applicant's intentions as described in clause (1) above. (3) An application may be granted under clauses (1) or (2) above on compassionate or domestic grounds which in the judgment of the committee or the President, as the case may be, make it impossible or undesirable for probation to commence or continue for the present. (4) The names of probationers granted deferment or suspension under the above clauses shall in the stations be printed in the Circuit in which they reside as without appointment'; they shall be expected to give such help to the Circuit as they are able, in appropriate cases shall be entitled to receive remuneration by the decision of the Circuit Meeting, and shall have all the rights and privileges of church members in that Circuit. They retain their status as local preachers and are members of the Circuit Meeting. (S.O. 510(1)(iii)). (5) Student ministers or probationers who do not wish to apply to be without appointment under Standing Order 762 or for deferment or suspension of probation under this Standing Order, or whose applications do not proceed or are not granted, and who will not be able to complete their ministerial probation and then to be stationed annually, shall withdraw from training for the ministry. If subsequently they apply for reinstatement by the Conference, regard shall be had to the training they had received when they withdrew. If they are reinstated the calculation of their year of entry into the ministry under Standing Order 720 shall disregard any earlier period of probation except to the extent that the Conference may otherwise direct upon their reception into full connexion, as empowered by Standing Order 720 (1). As to reinstatement see S.O. 788(10). (6) A person granted deferment or suspension of ministerial probation as above shall in due course, with the permission of the Conference, granted on application made through the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, commence or resume probation.
763 Married Couples. (1) When two ministers are married to each other they shall both be subject to normal stationing except as provided in the following clauses of this Standing Order. As to the terms of service of married couples see also S.O. 753 (1A). For guidance as to the stationing of ministers married to each other see Book VI, Part 2, Section 3. (2) When two persons who are both either ministers, probationers or student ministers are married to each other one, but not both, may if thought fit receive exemption, deferment or suspension under clauses (1) to (5) of Standing Order 762. (3) If each of two ministers married to each other wishes to be stationed but no suitable arrangement can be made to station them together the Conference may designate one of them to be without appointment'. The names of ministers so designated shall be printed in the Circuits in which they reside and they shall be expected to give such help in the Circuit as they are able, and in appropriate cases shall be entitled to receive remuneration by the decision of the Circuit Meeting. They shall have all the rights and privileges of church members in the Circuits in which they reside. See the note to S.O. 762 (10) above. (4) Ministers designated without appointment' under clause (3) above shall, unless they subsequently apply for exemption under clause (2) above, be liable and eligible to be stationed whenever suitable arrangements can be made to station them with their husbands or wives and in exceptional circumstances such a minister may be appointed separately to a Circuit by the President. (5) The Conference may, if it thinks fit, approve applications by ministers married to each other, submitted through the appropriate Synod for permission to enter into arrangements with a Circuit under which one or both of them serve part-time and stipends are adjusted accordingly.
764 Senior Candidates. (1) In the case of candidates accepted in and before 1988 there was a special category of senior candidates for men and women who had retired or would within 12 months of acceptance retire from business or profession on pension or with other adequate financial provision. Ministers and probationers accepted as senior candidates are not required to become members of the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme. If they are not members of the pension scheme and do not contribute their Circuits should not contribute either. The normal provisions as to the Ministers' Children's Fund (S.O. 366) and as to accommodation and furnishing (S.O. 753, 754) apply, except that no initial payment was made under S.O. 754 (2). (2) (11) [Revoked] (12) All candidates, of whatever age, not accepted specifically as senior candidates under the above provisions of this Standing Order shall comply with the provision of Sections 70 and 71. As to ministers in local appointment see S.O. 746(2) (5).
765 Persons recognised and regarded as Ministers. (1) The persons to be recognised and regarded as ministers of the Methodist Church admitted into full connexion by virtue of clause 45 of the Deed of Union shall be specified annually by the Conference for the ensuing year, and their names shall be printed in the Minutes. For cl. 45 of the Deed see Book II, Part I. As to the proposal of names to the Conference see S.O. 334 (4) (vi). (2) Such persons shall be required before being so specified to make a declaration that during the period of their appointment by the Conference to the stations they will not so preach or expound God's holy word or perform any act as to deny or repudiate the doctrinal standards of the Methodist Church. (3) The Conference shall seek to enter into mutually acceptable arrangements with conferences and churches in other countries as to the well-being and terms of service of and their respective responsibilities for ordained and lay workers of one conference or church serving for the time being under another. Without prejudice to the unfettered nature of its discretion the Conference shall in exercising its powers under clause (1) of this Standing Order have regard to whether the persons in question are within a conference or church with whom such arrangements subsist.
766 Persons authorised to serve as Ministers. (1) The Conference shall be entitled to authorise persons who are not ministers in full connexion nor recognised or regarded as such to serve the Methodist Church during the ensuing connexional year to the extent specified in clause (5) below, and in these Standing Orders and in the stations such a person is referred to as being authorised to serve the Church as a minister'. A person so authorised does not thereby become eligible for funds held under trust or otherwise for Methodist ministers. (2) A person seeking to be so authorised must have been ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacraments in a church whose ministry is recognised by the Methodist Church, must be exercising pastoral care of members in one or more Local Churches or, if retired, must be worshipping regularly in a Local Church, must make a declaration that he or she will not during the period of authorisation so preach or expound God's holy word or perform any act as to deny or repudiate the doctrinal standards of the Methodist Church, and must have the permission of the appropriate authority in his or her own church for the application. (3) All such applications shall be made by the Circuit Meeting, through the district Policy Committee, to the [. . .] Committee for Local Ecumenical Development, which shall bring them to the Conference with its recommendations. For this committee see S.O. 334. (3A) In cases arising after the meeting of the Conference where the President judges that the urgency of the situation demands it, he or she may, if requested by the Circuit Meeting, grant to an eligible person an authorisation having immediate effect and continuing until the 31st August following the next meeting of Conference. (4) In giving its authorisation under this Standing Order the Conference or, as the case may be, the President shall specify the Circuit in which each person so authorised shall reside for the purpose of the stations and his or her name shall appear under that Circuit accordingly. See also S.O. 737 (2). (5) The authorisation given under this Standing Order shall be to administer the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to conduct services, to preach and to exercise pastoral responsibility in Local Churches, all under the direction of the Superintendent of the Circuit in which the person so authorised resides. (6) [. . .] Authorised persons are, ex officio, members of the Circuit Meeting (S.O. 510 (1) (ii)) and of the relevant Church Councils (S.O. 610 (1) (ii)). As to circuit and local committees and offices see S.O. 503(1)(i), 552, 606(1)(i), 643(1) and the S.O.s dealing with particular committees and offices.
766A Persons authorised to serve as Deacons. (1) The Conference shall be entitled to authorise persons who have been ordained deacons in a church with a three-fold order of ministry (whether or not they are in training or on trial for the priesthood of that church) to serve the Methodist Church during the ensuing year to the extent specified in clause (5) below, and in these Standing Orders and in the stations such a person is referred to as being authorised to serve the Church as a deacon'. (2) A person seeking to be so authorised must be exercising pastoral care of members in one or more Local Churches, must make a declaration that he or she will not during the period of authorisation so preach or expound God's Holy word or perform any act as to deny or repudiate the doctrinal standards of the Methodist Church, and must have the permission of the appropriate authority in his or her own church for the application. (3) All such applications shall be made by the Circuit Meeting, through the district Policy Committee, to the [. . .] Committee for Local Ecumenical Development, which shall bring them to the Conference with its recommendations. (4) In giving its authorisation under this Standing Order the Conference shall specify the Circuit in which each person so authorised shall reside for the purposes of the stations and his or her name shall appear under that Circuit accordingly. (5) The authorisation given under this Standing Order shall be to administer the sacrament of Baptism, to conduct services, to preach and to exercise pastoral responsibility in Local Churches, all under the direction of the Superintendent of the Circuit in which the person so authorised resides. Persons so authorised are, ex officio, members of the Circuit Meeting (S.O. 510(1)(ii)) and of the relevant Church Councils (S.O. 610(1)(ii)). As to the circuit and local committees and offices see the note to S.O. 766 above.
767 Ministers of other Conferences and Churches. (1) This Standing Order applies to persons who by virtue of clauses 43(b), 44(b) and 45 of the Deed of Union are for the time being recognised and regarded as ministers of the Methodist Church admitted into full connexion and subject to the rules and discipline of the Conference, and they are here referred to as ministers, whatever may be their title by the usage of their own church. For clauses 43(b),44(b) and 45 of the Deed of Union see Book II, Part 1. As to cl. 45 see also S.O. 765 above. (2) - (5) [Revoked] Clauses (2) to (5) of the Standing Order formerly contained provisions as to disciplinary proceedings relating to ministers within this Standing Order, which are now to be found in S.O. 026(3). (6) The Conference or the appropriate connexional committee may make recommendations to a minister's own conference or church as to supernumeraryship, permission to serve in an appointment within the scope of Standing Order 740, transfer to another conference or church, resignation from the ministry or any corresponding or similar subject, but the authority on any such subject shall remain with the minister's own conference or church. For supernumeraryship see Section 77, for transfers S.O. 725 and for resignation S.O. 786.
768 Probationers and Deacons of other Conferences and Churches. (1) In relation to probationers and deacons in training for the ordained ministry of other conferences serving under the Conference such of the procedure prescribed by Standing Orders 715 to 717, 718 (1) to (5) and 022 to 026 or by the corresponding regulations of their own conferences shall be carried out by the Synods and connexional committees and with such modifications as may be agreed between the Conference and the other conference concerned in each case. (2) Probationers and deacons in training for the ordained ministry received into full connexion by their own conferences while serving under the Conference may be ordained in their own conferences when that proves possible, but otherwise shall be ordained at the next convenient ordination service appointed by the Conference. (3) If the Conference accepts for a period of service a person (whether or not authorised under Standing Order 766A) who has been ordained deacon in a church with a three-fold order of ministry and is in training or on trial for the presbyterate of that church then the Conference shall make arrangements with that church as to the regulations and discipline under which that person shall work, as to the supervision of studies and, if appropriate, as to ordination to the presbyterate.
770 General. (1) Any minister in full connexion who has or who, at or before the end of the current connexional year, will have: (i) travelled for forty years; or (ii) paid contributions to the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme for forty years; or (iii) reached his or her normal Pension Date', as defined by the rules of that scheme; may seek permission to become a supernumerary with effect from the end of that year. The request shall be submitted through the Ministerial Session of the Synod. As to calculation of years of travel see S.O. 720. The Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme is a pension scheme registered under Chapter 2, Part 2, Finance Act 1970, governed by Rules promulgated by the Conference and administered by the corporate managing trustee prescribed by the Rules, the directors of which are to be appointed annually by the Conference. (2) (a) Any minister seeking to become a supernumerary on the grounds of ill health who is not within the scope of clause (1) above shall, after giving notice to his or her Chairman, apply to the convener of the medical committee of the Methodist Council, who shall arrange for a medical examination. The medical committee shall recommend to the Conference whether the minister should be permitted to become a supernumerary on medical grounds. Where the minister desires to receive an enhanced pension from the Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme a report shall be made available by the medical committee to the managing trustee of the scheme. The level of pension, if any, to be paid in such cases is determined by the rules of the Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme (see note to cl. (1) above). (b) All expenses in connection with such a medical examination shall be borne by the medical committee. (2A) A minister who is not within the scope of clause (1) or (2) above may apply for permission to become a supernumerary on compassionate grounds. Any such minister shall, after giving notice to the Chairman, apply to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments, stating the grounds on which the application is made. The committee shall make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee which shall in turn make a recommendation to the Conference. (2B) All recommendations under clauses (2) and (2A) above made prior to the Ministerial Session of the spring Synod shall be reported to it. (3) The Agenda of the Conference shall include a list of the names of ministers asking permission to become supernumeraries, showing also the number of years each has travelled.
771 [Revoked]
772 [. . .]
773 Cost of Removals. Ministers in full connexion becoming supernumeraries, other than ministers in local appointments, shall be entitled to receive from the Methodist Church Fund a removal grant, the maximum amount of which will be fixed from time to time by the Methodist Council, and in addition the cost of travelling to their places of permanent residence. In the case of removals between the mainland of Great Britain on the one hand and the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Isles of Scilly on the other there shall be paid, in addition to the removal grant, the cost of removal between the mainland port and the manse of departure or residence of arrival in the island. As to removals generally see S.O. 528. As to the widows and widowers of deceased ministers see S.O. 751 (6).
774 Status. (1) The President of the Conference has power at the request of a supernumerary to authorise the placing of his or her name in the stations printed in the Minutes of Conference in a different Circuit from that in which it appeared in the stations as adopted by the Conference, and he or she shall then be regarded for all purposes as stationed in the Circuit in which he or she appears in the Minutes. A supernumerary is a member of the Circuit Meeting (S.O. 5l0 (l) (ii)) and Local Preachers' Meeting (S.O. 560 (1)) of the Circuit and, if appointed by the Circuit Meeting to the pastoral charge of any Local Church in the Circuit, of all the Church Councils in the Circuit (S.O. 610 (1) (ii)) and of all official meetings and committees of the Circuit and its Local Churches (S.O. 552, 643). As to the eligibility of supernumeraries without pastoral charge for membership of church courts and office in the Circuit and Local Church see S.O. 503(1)(i), 505(1A), 530, 541(3), 551(4), 606(1)(i), 610(2A), 620, 630(1A), 632(1), 635(1), 637(1A), 642(4). (1A) A supernumerary who was a minister in the Welsh work and has not been transferred to the English work may be stationed in an English Circuit but shall remain a member of the Cymru Synod. (2) [. . .] (3) Supernumeraries moving into other Districts after the publication of the Minutes of Conference may, by arrangement with their own Chairmen, attend the Synods of the Districts to which they have moved. They shall previously give notice to the Chairmen of those Districts of their intention of so doing. They shall, nevertheless, continue to be responsible in matters of doctrine and discipline each to the Synod of his or her own District. All supernumeraries except those with permission to reside abroad are members of the Synods of the Districts in which they are stationed (S.O. 410 (1) (ii)). (4) Supernumeraries shall attend the Ministerial Session of the spring Synod unless they receive a dispensation of absence, but their attendance at the Representative Session and at the autumn Synod is optional. As to dispensations see S.O. 750.
775 Return to Full Work. (1) Subject to clause (2) below any application by a supernumerary minister in full connexion for permission to return to the full work shall be made to the Advisory Committee on Ministerial Appointments. The application shall be referred to the convener of the medical committee of the Methodist Council to arrange for a medical examination, the result of which shall be reported to the Advisory Committee and, where application has been made to become a member of the Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme, to the managing trustee of the scheme. The Advisory Committee shall consult the Chairman and Superintendent of the supernumerary concerned and make a recommendation to the Stationing Committee, which shall in turn make a recommendation to the Conference. For the advisory committee see S.O. 323. (2) In cases where a minister was made a supernumerary as a result of disciplinary action under Section 02 the application shall be made to the President and shall be considered and determined as set out in clauses (1) to (9) of Standing Order 788, with any necessary changes, as though it were an application for reinstatement.
786 Resignation. (1) Any minister in full connexion wishing to resign from the ministry shall send to the President notice of such resignation. All such notices shall be referred by the President to an advisory committee for consideration. An opportunity shall be given to the minister to be present at the committee if he or she should so desire. The committee shall advise the President as to whether the resignation should be accepted and, if so, the date from which it should take effect and to what extent the status of the person concerned as a local preacher and member should be affected. As to ministers of other conferences and churches see S.O. 767(6). (2) The advisory committee shall consist of an ex- President appointed by the President, the Secretary of the Conference, who shall act as convener, the Chairman and Superintendent concerned and three other persons appointed by the convener. (3) Should a minister in full connexion intimate to the President an intention to resign from the ministry at some future date the President may regard that intimation as tantamount to a present resignation and the procedure shall be as above. (4) The President, acting in consultation with the advisory committee, has authority to accept the resignation of a minister in full connexion and in every case of an accepted resignation the President shall make a declaration with regard to the status of the former minister as a local preacher and member. Every action under this clause on the part of the President shall be deemed for all purposes to be the action of the Conference. The President shall report his or her action to the Conference next following in both sessions. (5) The above provisions of this Standing Order shall apply to the withdrawal of a probationer from training for the ministry as they apply to the resignation of a minister, except that the advisory committee shall consist of an ex-President appointed by the President, the Secretary of the Conference, who shall act as convener, the Chairman and Superintendent concerned, and a tutor of the theological college which the probationer attended (or a tutor having oversight of the course on which the probationer trained) and three other persons (who shall be members of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee) appointed by the convener. For the oversight committee see S.O. 321. (6) A student minister who wishes to withdraw from training shall give notice to the college Principal or senior course tutor who shall report it to the college or course oversight committee concerned. The committee shall make a recommendation to the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee, which shall have the authority to accept the withdrawal and shall report any such acceptances to the Conference next following in both sessions, with a recommendation to the Conference in its Ministerial Session to what extent the status of the person concerned as a local preacher or member shall be affected. The Ministerial Session shall in all such cases make a declaration as to such status and the declaration shall be reported to the Representative Session. For the oversight committee see S.O. 321. (7) A member of the Methodist Diaconal Order who wishes to resign from the Order, or a person upon probation or training for the Order who wishes to withdraw, shall give notice to the Warden of the Order. The Warden, acting in consultation with an advisory committee convened by him or her, has authority to accept the resignation or withdrawal and shall report any such acceptances to the Conference next following in its Representative Session. (8) Where a person seeking to resign or withdraw under this Standing Order is at the time of giving notice the subject of a complaint or charge under Section 02 the provisions of Standing Order 026(4) shall apply.
787 [Revoked]
787A Reinstatement as a Local Preacher. A former minister in full connexion, probationer or student minister who by reason of a judgment or declaration under this Section or Section 02 is a member but not a local preacher and who wishes to be reinstated as a local preacher shall apply to the President [. . .] and the application shall be considered and determined as set out in clauses (1) to (9) or (10), as the case may be, of Standing Order 788, with any necessary changes, but so that no medical examination shall be required. If the Conference decides that the applicant shall be reinstated it shall direct the Circuit Meeting of the Circuit in which he or she is a member to approve his or her reinstatement as a local preacher. In Section 02 note, in particular, S.O. 023(13)
788 Reinstatement as a Minister. (1) A former minister in full connexion who wishes to be reinstated shall apply to the President, stating whether he or she is seeking to exercise a ministry in circuit work or in an appointment within the scope of Standing Order 740. The President shall arrange for the application to be considered as set out in the following clauses. (2) The Secretary of the Conference shall obtain or prepare (i) particulars of the applicant's previous ministry; (ii) a statement of the circumstances in which the applicant resigned or was excluded from the ministry; (iii) references from two referees nominated by the applicant; (iv) reports covering the last two years by the Chairman of the District in which the applicant is a member and by the Superintendent of the Circuit in which he or she is a member or the minister having pastoral charge of the Local Church in which he or she is a member. (3) The convener of the interviewing committee shall be the Secretary of the Conference who [. . .] shall (i) procure a medical examination of the applicant and a report; (ii) appoint and obtain a report from an assessor, who shall meet the applicant and make such other enquiries as he or she thinks fit; (iii) appoint the interviewing committee in accordance with clause (4) below and supply to each member, before the committee meets, a copy of the application and any supporting documents submitted by the applicant, of the particulars, statement, references and reports obtained under clause (2) above and of the reports obtained under this clause; (iv) convene the committee for a time and place chosen with due regard to the convenience of the applicant. (4) The interviewing committee shall include as voting members the President or an ex-President as chairman, the convener as secretary and up to five other ministers chosen from a panel appointed by the Methodist Council with due regard to the proposed venue of the committee and to whether the applicant is seeking to exercise a ministry in circuit work or elsewhere. It may also include as non-voting members, if they so wish, any one or more of the Chairman of the District and Superintendent of the Circuit in which the applicant is a member and a minister of the applicant's own choice. (5) The committee shall meet as convened under clause (3) (iv) above, interview the applicant, and confer, and shall then recommend to the Conference whether or not the application should be granted, and if not with reasons. Re-admission into full connexion is by the Representative Session, but requires a judgment of fitness by the Ministerial Session (clause 23 (h) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) and cl. (11) below). (6) The applicant, if he or she wishes, may remain in the vicinity of the committee room after being interviewed and, in that event, shall be informed orally by the chairman or some other person appointed by the committee of the interviewing committee's recommendation as soon as the meeting is over. In any event, the interviewing committee's recommendation shall forthwith be communicated to the President of the Conference who shall, in writing, officially inform the applicant and the Methodist Council. (7) If the interviewing committee recommends that an application be not granted the Methodist Council may on the application of the applicant, made by notice in writing to the Secretary of the Conference within seven days of being informed of the recommendation, reverse that recommendation. On any such application the Methodist Council shall determine its own procedures. (8) If the Methodist Council refuses to reverse a recommendation that the application be not granted the applicant may, by notice in writing to the Secretary of the Conference within seven days of being informed of the refusal, take the application to the Conference itself, and the Conference shall then determine its own procedures. (9) No former minister in full connexion shall be re-admitted into full connexion with the Conference except upon the recommendation of an interviewing committee under clause (5) above, or of the Methodist Council under clause (7) above, or pursuant to an application duly brought before the Conference under clause (8) above. Questions of pension rights and of contributions to the Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme are governed by the rules of that scheme. (10) A former student minister or probationer who wishes to be reinstated shall apply to the President, who shall arrange for the application to be brought to the Conference in its Ministerial Session by the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee with a recommendation, after such enquiries and consultations as the committee may prescribe, either generally or in the particular case. See also S.O. 762A (5). (11) Reinstatement shall be by the Conference in its Representative Session, but no applicant shall be proposed to that session for reinstatement except upon the recommendation of the Ministerial Session. See cl. 23(h) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1).
790 Candidature, Training and Probation. (1) The [. . .] Methodist Diaconal Order Committee shall determine the procedures for selecting candidates for the Order and make details available to all concerned. [. . .] No candidate shall be accepted unless recommended by the Diaconal Candidates Selection Committee. Such acceptance shall require a vote of three fourths of the members of the Conference present and voting. For the committee of the order see S.O. 324 and for the selection committee S.O. 325. (2) (a) The [. . .] Methodist Diaconal Order Committee shall determine general policy relating to arrangements for the training of those who have been accepted as candidates, who shall be under the oversight of the Diaconal Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. For the oversight committee see S.O. 326. (b) There shall be a training co-ordinator appointed by [. . .] the Methodist Diaconal Order Committee. (3) Probationers who have served two or more years after completing training may offer themselves for reception into full membership of the Order upon the recommendation of the Diaconal Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee. No probationer shall be accepted for full membership of the Order save by a vote of three fourths of the members of the Conference present and voting. (4) [Revoked] (5) Deaconesses and deacons received into full membership of the Order shall be ordained at the Conference. Ordination shall be deemed to commit for life to the office and ministry of a deaconess or deacon in the Church of God.
791 Appointments. (1) Appointments of deaconesses and deacons shall be made by the Warden of the Order in consultation with an advisory committee appointed by the Methodist Diaconal Order Committee. (2) [. . .] (3) The first Circuit Meeting of the year shall be responsible for initiating a request for the opening or the closing of the appointment of a deaconess or deacon and for reporting such request to the Warden of the Order, to the district Policy Committee and to the Co-ordinating Secretary responsible for church life. See S.O. 302(ix). (4) (a) The initial appointment of a deaconess or deacon to a Circuit shall be made without invitation by the Circuit Meeting and shall be for a period of three years, save that in exceptional circumstances it may be for a shorter period by agreement between the Warden, the Circuit Meeting and the deaconess or deacon. (b) If for any reason on the part of the deaconess or deacon or the Circuit it appears desirable that the current period of appointment (whether the initial period or an extension) be not sustained the matter shall be referred to the Warden of the Order, who shall consider it in consultation with the Chairman [. . .] and may reduce the period of appointment. (c) Invitations for one, two or three further years may be given by the first Circuit Meeting in the third year of the initial period. (d) [Revoked] (e) If the initial invitation to a deaconess or deacon has been extended (whether once or more often) it may be extended by a further one, two or three years by the first Circuit Meeting in the last year of the current period of invitation. The provisions of S.O. 757 as to sabbaticals apply to deaconesses and deacons appointed to stations within the control of the Church (S.O. 757(1)). (5) The stations of the deaconesses and deacons shall be printed in the Minutes of Conference. (6) [. . .] (7) If a deaconess or deacon appointed to a station within the control of the Church is unable by reason of illness or injury to discharge the responsibilities of the appointment the provisions of Standing Order 751 (4) shall apply as in the case of a minister As to reimbursement from the Methodist Church Fund see S.O. 367.
792 Accommodation and Furnishing. (1) Deaconesses or deacons appointed to a station within the control of the Church shall be provided with accommodation adequate to the needs of themselves and family members and/or dependants residing with them, and to enable them to discharge the responsibilities of the appointment. What is adequate shall be the subject of sympathetic consultation between the Warden of the Order and the circuit stewards or other responsible officers. If there is any dispute the decision of the district Manses Committee shall be final. The minimum accommodation should be a living room, bedroom, kitchen and a spare bedroom- cum-study. Adequacy of provision shall, however, be understood not to exceed the requirements of Standing Order 753 (1) to (3). For the duties of the circuit and district committees in relation to diaconal accommodation see S.O. 954 and 965 respectively. (2) All new diaconal appointments shall have suitable accommodation available and already inspected for the beginning of the appointment. (3) Clauses (2) and (3) of Standing Order 754 shall apply to deaconesses and deacons within the terms of clause (1) above as they apply to ministers and probationers within the terms of Standing Order 753(1).
793 Convocation. (1) There shall be a Convocation of the Order, which shall consist of all members of the Order and which shall be attended also by all diaconal probationers and students. (2) There shall be a Warden of the Order, being a member of the Order appointed by the Conference in accordance with Standing Order 313, who shall be the President of Convocation, and a deaconess or deacon shall be elected by Convocation as its Vice-President. (3) Convocation shall meet annually at a place and time appointed by the Conference. (4) In addition to sessions for devotion, study, fellowship and conversation on the work of God the agenda of Convocation shall include: (i) election of Vice-President; (ii) nomination of six members of the Methodist Diaconal Order Committee [. . .]; (iii) report of Convocation committee; (iv) discussion of notices of motion; (v) obituary record; (vi) nomination of a representative to the Methodist Council; (vii) recommendations to the Methodist Council. (5) Convocation shall annually appoint a small pastoral committee to act in association with the Warden in any cases referred to it.
794 [Revoked] S.O. 794 concerned discipline, as to which see now S.O. 022-025.