Suggested Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation (433)—The process of seeking to bring a minister who has been disciplined or has voluntarily surrendered the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the clergy to a place of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and to a place of usefulness and constructive activity. Rehabilitation does not necessarily include the restoration of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the clergy
—Nazarene Manual 2005-2009

Restoration of Credential (433)—The reinstatement to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the clergy to one who has surrendered his or her credential, or whose credential has been removed —Nazarene Manual 2005-2009

1. The period of rehabilitation shall be for a minimum of two years if the minister voluntarily surrenders his/her credential.

2. No preaching or pulpit ministry will be permitted during the period of rehabilitation.  However, the person may have limited ministry in the church to which he/she is assigned according to the Manual.  This is recommended not to take place before the second year of rehabilitation (435.6,).

3. The person’s credential will be under suspension during the entire period of rehabilitation.

4. The minister under discipline shall be assigned to a supervising pastor with whom he/she shall meet monthly for assessing his/her progress and for giving counsel.  There must be clear evidence that all contact with person(s) involved in the violation have been severed.

5. The person and spouse shall also be assigned to a local church for nurture (which may or may not be the church of the supervising pastor). They shall be expected to attend regularly and fulfill the expectations of members in good standing.

6. The individual shall be required to meet with a small accountability group of two to four members at least quarterly for direction and support.  He/she should be included in the process of selecting this group, under the direction of the district superintendent.

7. The minister under discipline shall meet with the district superintendent quarterly to report progress in the rehabilitation program.

8. Psychological and spiritual counseling will be required for the person and the spouse, with counselor(s) approved by the District Advisory Board.  If assigned to a rehabilitation center, clinical testing and assessment will be expected to be done with the couple.

9. The minister under discipline shall be required to meet annually with a “Committee on Rehabilitation” selected from the Ministerial Credentials Board appointed by the district superintendent to report progress in the rehabilitation program.

10. The person under discipline will be required to remain within the district where the disciplinary action occurred except in extenuating circumstances according to Manual.

11. The district superintendent should use every possible means to help obtain temporary economic aid including job placement as a part of facilitating the rehabilitation process.