The United Methodist Church has established three methods for transferring ordination, provisional or associate membership in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline. Please see the types of transfers below.
Requirements for All Transfers
You may apply online at the link below. Once the applicant has submitted the online application it will automatically go to their District Superintendent, the District Office, the BOM (Board of Ordained Ministry) Associate Director, the BOM Transfer Registrar and the Episcopal Office.
Applicants must have served two years in a full-time appointment (or equivalent, i.e. four years in a half-time appointment) in the California-Pacific Conference, before they can be transferred. Applicants may apply after one year in a full-time appointment as they are not officially transferred in, if approved, until the two years is completed.
Once the applicant submits the online application, the Bishop and Cabinet must approve the transfer request before the transfer process with the Board of Ordained Ministry begins.
Applicants must have the proper educational requirements for The United Methodist Church in order to be transferred in. Applicants must first reach out to the BOM Transfer Registrar, Rev. Diane Rehfield at drehfield@icloud.com, to have their course work evaluated if they haven’t already.
Please see the Transfer Instruction Packet on the BOM Transfer Page for other requirements for the applicant’s type of transfer.
347.1
What is a 347.1 Transfer? (Other Annual Conferences)
¶347.1 From Other Annual Conferences – Ordained clergy, associate members or provisional members from other annual conferences of The United Methodist Church may be received by transfer into full, associate or provisional membership with the consent of the bishops involved. Recommendation by the executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry and approval of the clergy session shall take place prior to the transfer.
347.2
What is a 347.2 Transfer? (Other Methodist Denominations) (Includes the Nazarene Denomination)
¶347.2 From Other Methodist Denominations –
a) Ordained elders or ordained clergy from other Methodist churches may be received by transfer into provisional or full conference membership or as local pastors, with the consent of the bishops or other authorities involved, without going through the process required for ministers from other denominations. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry shall establish a list of denominations that meet this definition. Recommendation by the Board of Ordained Ministry and approval of the clergy session shall take place prior to the transfer. A psychological report, criminal background and credit check, and reports of sexual misconduct and/or child abuse shall be required. They shall submit, on a form provided by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry:
(1) a notarized statement detailing any convictions for felony or misdemeanor or written accusations of sexual misconduct of child abuse; or
(2) a notarized statement certifying that the candidate has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or accused in writing of sexual misconduct or child abuse.
b) Ordained elders or ordained clergy being transferred from other Methodist churches shall meet the educational requirements of The United Methodist Church, or the equivalent approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
c) The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry shall certify the satisfaction of educational requirements for conference membership and, in cases where additional education is required, shall develop an educational program in consultation with the Board of Ordained Ministry.
347.3
What is a 347.3 Transfer? (Other Denominations)
¶347.3. From Other Denominations—a) On recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry, the clergy members in full connection may recognize the orders of ordained clergy from other denominations and receive them as provisional members or local
pastors. They shall present their credentials for examination by the bishop and Board of Ordained Ministry and give assurance of their Christian faith and experience. They shall give evidence of their agreement with and willingness to support and maintain United Methodist doctrine, discipline, and polity and present a satisfactory certificate of good health from a physician on a prescribed form approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The Board of Ordained Ministry, in consultation with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, shall determine whether they meet the educational requirements for conference membership. A psychological report, criminal background and credit check, and reports of sexual misconduct and/or child abuse shall be required. They shall submit, on a form provided by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry:
(1) a notarized statement detailing any convictions for felony or misdemeanor or written accusations of sexual misconduct of child abuse; or
(2) a notarized statement certifying that the candidate has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or accused in writing of sexual misconduct or child abuse.
b) Ordained elders or ordained clergy from other Christian denominations shall serve as provisional members for at least two years and complete all the requirements of ¶ 335, including courses in United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity, before being admitted into full conference membership. 4. The Board of Ordained Ministry of an annual conference is required to ascertain from an ordained clergyperson seeking admission into its membership on credentials from another denomination whether or not membership in the effective relation was previously held in an annual conference of The United Methodist Church or one of its legal predecessors, and if so, when and under what circumstances the ordained minister’s connection with such annual conference was severed.
RESOURCES
05. CONTACT
Diane Rehfield
Transfer Registrar, Board of Ordained Ministry
drehfield@icloud.com
Cathy Wilson
Associate Director of Lay and Clergy Credentialing and Development
626.824.2284 | cwilson@calpacumc.org