Future status for Recognised and Regarded ministers after the first appointment: Introduction
Introduction
‘Recognised and Regarded’ (R&R) ministers are stationed for up to 5 years. Their R&R status is only given while they are in their appointment. Therefore they need to update their status before they can enter into any other appointment or to start a period of extension to the appointment. This applies even if their appointment is curtailed before the end of 5 years. This also applies for any subsequent change of appointment.
Please note that this process is only for those who were interviewed through the full discernment process when they first applied. Any who did not do that are required to do so at the point of applying to change their status.
Timing
R&R ministers need to decide at the end of the 3rd year of their appointment whether they intend to remain in the MCB beyond the end of the 5 year appointment. R&R ministers are advised to discuss this carefully with their Superintendent Minister, Supervisor and Chair of District. The process of updating their status should happen during their 4th year so that their status is clear by the time they need either to start a re-invitation process or to enter stationing in their 5th year, ready to start a new appointment or an extension from the start of their 6th year.
Options
R&R ministers have two choices if they wish to apply to update their status:
- Apply to extend their R&R status. They should choose this if they regard their time in the MCB as temporary and they intend, at some point, to return to ministry in their home church.
- Apply to be received into Full Connexion. They should choose this if they discern that they wish to carry out the whole of their future ministry in the British Methodist Church. This would mark a permanent transfer from their home church to the British Methodist Church. Once they are received into Full Connexion, their home church no longer has any oversight of their ministry.