On the Retired Relation

My annual conference approved my retirement from the United Methodist Church under the provisions of paragraph 357.2.c of the Book of DIsciplne on June 1, 2023. After 42 years of appointed ministry, I officially entered the retired relation as an elder in full connection on July 1.

Retirement and Charge Conference Membership

Paragraph 357 of the Book of Discipline governs retirement. Subparagraph 357.5 requires all retired clergy to have membership in a charge conference. 

All retired clergy members who are not appointed as pastors of a charge, after consultation with the pastor and the district superintendent, shall have a seat in the charge conference and all the privileges of membership in the church where they elect to hold such membership except as set forth in the Discipline. They shall report to the charge conference and to the pastor all marriages performed, baptisms administered, and other pastoral functions. If they reside outside the bounds of the annual conference where membership is held, they shall forward annually to the charge conference where membership is held a report of their Christian and ministerial conduct, signed by the district superintendent or the pastor of the affiliate charge conference where they reside. 

So, what does charge conference membership entail? Paragraphs 214-227 of the Discipline pertain to membership in the local church. Frustratingly, nothing in these paragraphs directly addresses the nature of clergy membership in the charge conference. Consequently, I will draw on my own experience. 

I was appointed to an extension ministry for 32 of my 42 years under appointment in the United Methodist Church. Clergy in extension ministries have the same requirement to establish clergy membership in a church in their home conference and affiliate membership in a church where they are serving. Having done this faithfully for over three decades, I have to say that for the most part, churches just don’t care. As far as I can tell, my name was never formally entered into a roll book. I didn’t receive newsletters or other communications from the churches unless I signed up through a public website. My reports were not included in the charge conference minutes, and I was not invited to attend. With a few exceptions, the pastors were indifferent to my presence or absence. And with extremely few exceptions, the pastors never allowed me to exercise any ministerial functions within the church. I can recall praying once and preaching once in United Methodist churches over 26 years of military ministry. When it came time for my daughter to be married, the church to which I had been reporting for over 15 years denied her the right to be married there because I was not considered a member. So, you will excuse me for not thinking this charge conference relationship in retirement necessarily comes with high expectations on the part of the church or the clergy member. 

I do need to say that the church where I currently hold charge conference membership is the exception. I have been warmly welcomed by the pastor and the congregation, been offered several opportunities to preach and preside at communion, and enjoyed the support of the church in many ways. Still, the pastor keeps telling the congregation that I attend there, not that I am a clergy member of the charge conference. Churches do not understand this relationship and the Discipline is not helpful in defining it. 

In any case, my continued good standing as a clergy member of a charge conference is a matter for the charge conference to determine. The annual conference has no authority in this matter. If the charge conference is dissatisfied with me, there are provisions under paragraph 228 of the Discipline that the charge conference may be able to pursue.

Clergy Authorities in Retirement

Subparagraph 357.6 pertains to the appointment of retired clergy in full connection. 

A retired ordained minister shall be eligible to receive an appointment when requested by the bishop and cabinet. A retired ordained minister appointed to a pastoral charge shall have neither a claim upon minimum compensation from the Commission on Equitable Compensation or similar conference agency, nor further pension credit. Compensation for a retired ordained minister shall be negotiated between the district superintendent and the pastoral charge or other appointment to which the retired ordained minister is appointed. Retired ordained ministers may serve on conference agencies.

This paragraph is permissive, not directive. “Shall be eligible” is the key phrase. Obviously, if one is serving as a pastor of a United Methodist Church, appointment is required. No one can serve is this capacity without such an appointment. The bishop owns, for lack of a better word, the pulpits of United Methodist Churches in the annual conference and no one can take charge of a United Methodist congregation on his or her own authority. 

Apart from service in a United Methodist congregation, do retired clergy retain the authority to perform ministry without an appointment? Again, speaking from my own experience, it happens all the time. 

From 2017 to 2023, I worked with clergy appointed to various extension ministries under paragraph 344.1.b of the Book of Discipline (or appointments beyond the local church under paragraph 331.) Approximately 600 endorsed clergy now serve under appointment in this capacity. Clergy in this category serve as chaplains, pastoral counselors, life coaches, spiritual directors, and CPE supervisors. Many, upon reaching retirement from the annual conference, continue to be employed in the settings for which they were endorsed. Some work full time, others part time, still others on-call or under contract. While I encouraged those serving full time or regular part time to request an appointment, what I discovered was that very few are actually granted appointed status. Some bishops will not appoint retirees to any setting other than a United Methodist congregation. In other cases, appointment is optional. I am not aware of any case, however, in which a bishop claimed the authority to prohibit clergy from serving as chaplains, counselors, life coaches, spiritual directors, or CPE supervisors in retirement, or claimed that they could only do so under appointment. Even outside of the context of endorsed ministries, this holds true. I recently had a friend appointed to a 344.1.a appointment, “Within the Connectional Structures of the United Methodist Church.” His annual conference asked him if he wanted to be appointed to this work by the bishop, or if he wanted to retire and serve without an appointment. 

But what about serving in other capacities, such as leadership in religious organizations or leading worship in non-United Methodist churches. I have read reports that some church leaders are saying that retired United Methodist clergy cannot serve in a pastoral role without an appointment. Some reports even suggest that retired clergy are being prohibited from conducting any kind of religious ministry outside the United Methodist Church without proper approval. If so, there is no Disciplinary basis. 

Let’s just take the most extreme case of a retired elder serving as the regular, full-time pastor of a non-United Methodist Congregation without an appointment. If this were an appointment, it would be an extension ministry under paragraph 344.1.d, “Other valid ministries” and require the approval of the Board of Ordained Ministry.  As I have indicated, however, the widespread practice in the church is to allow retired clergy to serve in extension ministries without appointment, and there is no Disciplinary distinction between chaplains and congregational pastors in terms of this requirement. 

Paragraph 340 states that

Elders are authorized to preach and teach the Word, to provide pastoral care and counsel, to administer the sacraments, and to order the life of the church for service in mission and ministry as pastors, superintendents, and bishops.

Obviously, ordering the life of the United Methodist Church only applies within the context of appointed or elected roles within the annual conference. Otherwise, retired elders in full connection retain the clerical authorities granted in their ordination. The Book of Discipline expects retired clergy not appointed to United Methodist congregations to continue exercise their ministerial authorities. Paragraph 357.5 makes that clear.

All retired clergy members who are not appointed as pastors of a charge, after consultation with the pastor and the district superintendent, shall have a seat in the charge conference and all the privileges of membership in the church where they elect to hold such membership except as set forth in the Discipline. They shall report to the charge conference and to the pastor all marriages performed, baptisms administered, and other pastoral functions.

How can I report on something if I am not allowed to do it? 

The Discipline explicitly restricts the ministry of clergy in a Leave of Absence or on Honorable Location. 

Paragraph 353. Leave of Absence.

8. … They shall report all marriages performed, baptisms administered, funerals conducted and other ministerial activities to the charge conference, pastor in charge, and Board of Ordained Ministry. The exercise of this ministry shall be limited to the charge conference in which their membership is held and with the written permission of the pastor in charge unless special permission is granted by the bishop of the conference where membership is held. With the permission of the bishop of the conference where membership is held, under the supervision of the district superintendent, the clergy member may preach, teach, perform marriages, and, if holding sacramental privileges, administer the sacraments outside of the charge where membership is held. 

9. Those on voluntary leave of absence shall be held amenable to the annual conference for their conduct and the performance of their ministry. In case of failure to report to the Board of Ordained Ministry, the provisions for administrative location (¶ 359) may be invoked.

10. Clergy members on voluntary leave of absence may, with the permission of the bishop and with the approval of the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, continue to hold an existing reserve commission as an armed forces chaplain, but may not voluntarily serve on extended active duty.

Paragraph 358. Honorable Location. 

2. … As clergy members of the charge conference, they shall be permitted to exercise ministerial functions only with the written permission of the pastor in charge. .. They shall report all marriages performed, baptisms administered, funerals conducted and other ministerial activities to the charge conference, pastor in charge, and Board of Ordained Ministry. The exercise of this ministry shall be limited to the charge conference in which their membership is held and with the written permission of the pastor in charge unless special permission is granted by the bishop of the conference where membership is held. … A copy of the annual report to the charge conference shall be forwarded to the registrar of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the annual conference that granted them honorable location in order for location to be continued. They shall report to the charge conference and the pastor all marriages performed, baptisms administered, and funerals conducted and shall be held amenable for their conduct and the continuation of their ordination rights to the annual conference that granted them honorable location. Failure to submit the report for two consecutive years may result in termination of orders upon recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry and vote of the clergy session. 

The Discipline contains NO similar restrictions or requirements for retired clergy.

Annual Conference Attendance

Paragraph 603 of the Book of Discipline says,

8. It is the duty of every member and all provisional members and local pastors of the annual conference to attend its sessions and furnish such reports in such form as the Discipline may  require. Any such person unable to attend shall report by letter to the conference secretary, setting forth the reason for the absence. Should any ordained minister in active service be absent from the session of the annual conference without a satisfactory reason for the absence, the matter shall be referred by the conference secretary to the Board of Ordained Ministry.

In other words, I should attend annual conference, but if I don’t, I need to write a letter saying why. Since I am not in active service, no one needs to determine whether my reason is satisfactory and it is none of the Board of Ordained Ministry’s business. 

How to Get Rid of Me

In summary, as a retired elder in full connection I must:

  • Belong to a charge conference.
  • Report my ministerial acts to it. 
  • Attend annual conference or write a letter to the conference secretary explaining my absence. 

There is no requirement to report my actions to the annual conference or seek its permission for my actions. If the charge conference is satisfied with me as a member, the annual conference has no recourse.

Of course I continue to be prohibited from all of the following under paragraph 341.

  • Arbitrarily organize a pastoral charge of The United Methodist Church.
  • Hold a religious service on the property of a pastoral charge or other than the one to which I am appointed without the permission of the pastor or district superintendent.
  • Establish a campus ministry without the permission of the pastor, campus minister, or district superintendent responsible for that school.
  • Violate confidences.
  • Conduct a same sex marriage.
  • Re-baptize those previously baptized.

I don't plan to do any of that.

The only way the annual conference can get rid of me is to charge me with an offense under paragraph 2702 of the Book of Discipline and put me on trial. And if the church ever wants to push me out, that’s what it will have to do.

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