WHAT IS THE VACATION POLICY FOR CLERGY?
(This is THE most frequently asked question!)
The 2002 session of conference amended the clergy vacation policy to read like this:
1. Each clergy person under appointment by the bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference shall be entitled to receive the following minimum vacation time during the course of the Annual Conference year (July 1-June 30)
a. Those having served full time in The United Methodist Church from the time first appointed to five years: two weeks vacation.
b. Those having served full time in The United Methodist Church from six years to ten years: three weeks vacation.
c. Those having served full time in The United Methodist Church for eleven or more years: four weeks vacation.
2. Vacation time shall be based on the number of years of service under full-time appointment in the ministry of The United Methodist Church (including previous service in diaconal ministry) and not just on the number of years of service in a given appointment.
3. Time away from the appointment for participation in continuing education events and experiences shall not be counted as vacation time (see ¶ 351.2), nor shall time away from the appointment to attend Annual Conference or other conference or district events which the appointee is expected to attend be counted as vacation time.
4. The Committee on Pastor-Parish Relations or comparable body should also arrange for the clergy person to have one day off each week and to be away from the appointment occasionally for a day or two.
5. In those charges where clergy are appointed to less-than-full-time service, including student pastors, the Committee on Pastor-Parish Relations shall ensure that the appointed clergy receive adequate vaction and other time away from the appointment.
6. Information about this policy should be clearly communicated to responsible parties in the local church or other appointment.