Reinstatement of Clergypersons Terminated for Reasons of Human Sexuality

By Rev. Luan-Vu “Lui” Tran, Ph.D.

Overview

The Book of Discipline 2020/2024  (BOD) creates a clear, time-bound pathway to restore credentials and conference membership for former clergy who were terminated, surrendered credentials, or had membership or license revoked because of sexual orientation or gender identity or for celebrating a same-gender wedding/union. This pathway is set out in ¶368 (Readmission After Termination by Action of the Annual Conference) and operates alongside the standing readmission provisions in ¶¶365–367 and the administrative/judicial framework in ¶¶362–364 and ¶¶2701–2719. 

Theological and Pastoral Rationale

United Methodism locates discipline within covenant and restoration. The BOD’s emphasis on just resolution, repair of harm, and restoration of status where appropriate underscores that ecclesial discipline is ordered toward healing the body, not permanent exclusion—especially when the underlying conduct is no longer a basis for charge or penalty. The readmission provisions expressly protect the disclosures needed for potential readmission when a just resolution changes ministerial status. 

What Changed and Why It Matters

• Moratorium on Judicial Proceedings Concerning Human Sexuality. The BOD imposes a moratorium: no new cases and all pending cases are suspended where the allegation is that the respondent is a “self-avowed practicing homosexual,” performed a same-gender wedding/union, certified/ordained/commissioned such a person, funded a gay caucus/group, or otherwise engaged in conduct previously deemed “incompatible with Christian teaching.” This moratorium also bars repackaging those same facts under other charge headings (e.g., immorality, disobedience, dissemination of contrary doctrine, fiscal malfeasance). 

• Updated Chargeable-Offense List (¶2702). Chargeable offenses remain (immorality, crime, disobedience, etc.), but are “subject to” that moratorium in ¶2701.6—i.e., human-sexuality-related allegations cannot be pursued while the moratorium stands. References also confirm the statute of limitations (prospective from 1/1/1993) and applicability to local pastors (JCD 982). 

These changes recognize that many clergy were separated under former provisions/policies that the Church has now paused from enforcement and, in some instances, superseded—hence the need for a direct reinstatement route.

Who Is Eligible for the Special Reinstatement (¶368)

Persons terminated, who surrendered membership/credentials, or whose membership/license was revoked by an annual conference (or legal predecessor) due to:

1. sexual orientation or gender identity, or
2. celebrating a same-gender wedding/union.

Such persons “may have their orders and membership reinstated” by following the steps below. 

Timeline and Deadlines

• Primary filing window: on or before May 15, 2025 (written request). 
• If conscience prevents action in the home conference and review is sought in another conference: the request period may be extended to November 15, 2025. (The provision notes this legislation takes effect immediately following the postponed 2020 General Conference.) 

Step-by-Step Process (¶368)

1. Written Request. Before May 15, 2025, the former clergyperson writes to the Bishop and the chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) of the annual conference where they previously held membership (or its legal successor) seeking reinstatement of membership/license and return of ordination/consecration certificate. 
2. BOM Action. Two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the BOM to approve the request and recommendreinstatement to the Clergy Session. 
3. Clergy Session Action. The Clergy Session may approve by 2/3 vote; a 2/3 affirmative vote immediately reinstates the clergyperson. Appointment may be ad interim if available, or in the next cycle if reinstatement occurs within 120 days of the new appointment year. 

Effect of Approval. Upon these actions, the individual is reinstated at the status previously held (full member, provisional member, or local pastor) with all rights and privileges, receives membership and ordination/provisional certificates equal to those surrendered, and is authorized to perform all ministerial functions. 

If BOM/Clergy Session Declines “for reasons of conscience.” The individual (or the bishop) may request review by another annual conference; if extra time is needed to make the second request, the filing window may extend to November 15, 2025. 

How ¶368 Relates to the Other Readmission Paths (¶¶365–367, 369)

• ¶365 (Provisional Members). Provides readmission for those discontinued from provisional membership; reinstatement requires actions/reviews by the DCOM, BOM, and cabinet, and a vote of clergy in full connection. It also requires two years of provisional membership before ordination. 

• ¶366 (After Honorable or Administrative Location). Lists documentary prerequisites, reviews, and—upon clergy session vote—restoration of conference membership with authority “to perform all ministerial functions.” (BOM may require a period of service as a local pastor/approved setting before readmission.) 
• ¶367 (After Leaving the Ministerial Office under ¶361). Requires DCOM/BOM/cabinet review, two years of service as a local pastor/approved setting prior to readmission, and reinstatement by clergy session vote—restoring membership and credentials. 

• ¶369 (After Involuntary Retirement). Requires written request, review by BOM and cabinet, and a two-thirds vote of the clergy members in full connection, plus two years of local pastor service prior to readmission. 

Key Distinction: ¶368 is tailored to human-sexuality-related terminations and sets specific voting thresholds (2/3 BOM and 2/3 Clergy Session), timing, and cross-conference review options, without adding the extra service prerequisites found in ¶¶365–367/369. It also specifies immediate reinstatement effects, including appointment timing. 

Interaction with Administrative & Judicial Processes

• Administrative Fair Process (¶¶362–364). When status changes are recommended involuntarily, the conference relations committee conducts an administrative hearing under fair-process standards (¶362.2), reporting back to the BOM. (JCD 763 referenced.) These provisions frame how past involuntary actions occurred and inform review of records in reinstatement cases. 

• Just Resolution & Readmission Disclosures. If a complaint was resolved by just resolution with a status change, the agreement cannot bar the disclosures the Discipline requires for any possible readmission—ensuring the BOM and Clergy Session can review a complete record. 

• Moratorium & Chargeable Offenses (¶2701.6; ¶2702). The moratorium shields from prosecution the very acts that led to many prior separations and applies broadly, not just to charges explicitly labeled under former sexuality-provisions. Trials remain limited by statute of limitations (prospective from 1993; JCD 691, 704, 723) and apply to local pastors as well (JCD 982). 

Practical Checklist for Applicants (¶368)

1. Confirm eligibility (termination/surrender/revocation due to sexual orientation/gender identity or celebrating a same-gender wedding/union). 
2. Write by May 15, 2025 to your Bishop and BOM chair requesting reinstatement and return of ordination/consecration certificate, naming the conference where you last held membership/license (or its legal successor). 
3. BOM vote (2/3) and recommendation to the Clergy Session. 
4. Clergy Session vote (2/3). If affirmative, reinstatement is immediate, with appointment ad interim if available, or in the next cycle if within 120 days of the new appointment year. 
5. If your home conference declines “for reasons of conscience,” you (or the bishop) may seek review in another annual conference, with the filing period extendable to November 15, 2025 for that second request. 
6. Upon approval, you receive membership and ordination/provisional certificates, restored to the exact status previously held, with full ministerial authority. 

Conference-Side Considerations

• Records Review & Transparency. BOMs should compile the relevant administrative/judicial history and cannot rely on confidentiality terms in prior just-resolution agreements to block disclosures needed for readmission deliberations. 
• Voting Standards. Both BOM and Clergy Session act by two-thirds. These are super-majority thresholds designed to ensure broad consent to restoration. 
• Appointments. Bishops may make ad-interim appointments following immediate reinstatement, or the person may be placed in the next appointment cycle if the 120-day window applies. 
• Alternate Conference Review. The conscience accommodation allows the connection to function where a given conference cannot, preserving the possibility of reinstatement elsewhere within the connection. 

Relationship to Other Readmission Categories

Applicants whose history fits other categories (e.g., honorable/administrative location, leaving the ministerial office, or involuntary retirement) may proceed under ¶¶365–367/369. Those provisions restore membership and credentials upon the requisite actions, sometimes with service prerequisites (e.g., two years as a local pastor/approved setting). These routes remain fully available but are distinct from the specialized human-sexuality reinstatement of ¶368. 

Judicial Council Touchpoints (as referenced in the BOD text)

• Local pastors and trials: JCD 982 confirms applicability within the judicial framework. 
• Statute of limitations: JCD 691, 704, 723 confirm the limitations regime is prospective from January 1, 1993. 
• Administrative hearings/fair process: JCD 763 is cited in the administrative-hearing section. 

Note: The BOD footnotes embed these JCDs at the relevant provisions; the reinstatement path of ¶368 itself is legislative and does not depend on a new JCD to be effective.

Conclusion

The United Methodist Church now provides a direct, restorative, and time-limited avenue to welcome back clergypersons who were separated solely for reasons related to human sexuality—aligning process with the Church’s present convictions and commitments. The pathway in ¶368 is clear, connectional, and pastorally sensitive: it restores the exact prior status and credentials, enables immediate ministerial service (with appropriate appointment timing), and offers alternate-conference review where conscience impedes action—while the broader moratorium ensures such matters are not re-litigated under different labels. Taken together with the ongoing readmission routes in ¶¶365–367/369, these provisions embody United Methodism’s covenantal aim: to seek justice, repair harm, and restore ministers to fruitful service for the sake of the Gospel and the connection.