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Petitioner was licensed and served as the local pastor (as
compared to a student local pastor) for Trinity-Weoka from 1985
to 1987. On May 25, 1987, he was ordained a deacon in the
Church; in June 1990, he was ordained an elder.
Local pastors are divided into three categories: (1) Full
time; (2) part time; and (3) student. The distinctions are not
relevant to the issue before us and need not be discussed. A
local pastor is defined by the Church as
a person licensed by the district Committee on Ordained
Ministry to perform all the duties of a pastor,
including the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion
as well as the service of marriage (where state laws
allow), burial, confirmation, and membership reception,
while assigned to a particular charge.
The ordained ministry of the Church consists of deacons and
elders. An individual can be licensed as a local pastor even
though the individual has not been ordained a deacon or elder.
Deacons are defined by the Church as
ministers * * * [who] have authority to conduct divine
worship, to preach the Word, to perform the marriage
ceremony where the laws of the state or province
permit, and to bury the dead. When invited to do so by
an elder, they may assist in the administration of the
Sacraments.
Elders are "ministers who have completed their formal preparation
for the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Order".
The authority of a local pastor is limited by both geography
and time. Local pastors are authorized to act only as described
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