About the Pastoral Ministry Handbook

Most of the Pastoral Ministry Handbook outlines policies, requirements, and procedures related to the various categories of United Brethren ministers. Two additional chapters deal with the stationing of ministers. All of this material is under the control of the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team, and can be revised at any time. Prior to 2005, these provisions were included in the United Brethren Discipline and could only be revised by the US National Conference. The 2005 US National Conference took action to remove these chapters from the Discipline to allow more flexibility.

Chapter 11, "Official Doctrinal Positions," contains various statements passed over the years by the Church. Most of these statements were made to address an issue which had risen to prominence in the Church at that particular time.

Contents

1. Introduction

Categories of Ministers

2. Lay Ministers
3. Specialized Ministers
4. Local Church Ministers
5. National Church Ministers
6. Ordained Elders
7. Ordained Chaplains
8. Questions Asked of Candidates for Ordination

Stationing of Ministers

9. Assigning Ministers
10. Requests for Exemption from Service

Doctrinal Statements

11. Official Doctrinal Positions