Local Pastors and Associate Members

 

For more information about the Local Pastor Retreat, Course of Study, Licensing School, and the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members please see the menu to the left (for mobile users the menu can be found at the bottom of the page).

What is a licensed local pastor?
from The United Methodist Book of Discipline 2016

Local pastors approved annually by the district committee on ordained ministry may be licensed by the bishop to perform all the duties of a pastor (¶ 340), including the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion as well as the service of marriage (where state laws allow), burial, confirmation, and membership reception, within and while appointed to a particular charge or extension ministry.

For the purposes of these paragraphs the charge or extension ministry will be defined as “people within or related to the community or ministry setting being served.” Those licensed for pastoral ministry may be appointed to extension ministry settings when approved by the bishop and the Board of Ordained Ministry.