Methodist ordination takes place in two stages: probationary ordination, followed in three years by ordination as an elder in full connection.
Our only presently available information deals with the second of these two stages, elders' ordination, and is limited to the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Ordination there is determined at a two-day retreat. The candidate must win the votes of a two-thirds majority of a committee of about 60 members. Thus the decision is essentially a random product of group psychology. We have the pass-fail rates for the last three years:
1999: Of 21 candidates, 7 were rejected, 33%. (All these rejectees were either African-American or female.)
2000: Of 24 candidates, 2 were rejected, 8%.
2001: Of 20 candidates, 8 were rejected, 40%.
In 1999, G.T. Hunt, with the endorsement of several probationary ministers, asked the Conference for its information about its pass-fail rates. It would not respond. Most or all of the 1999 rejected candidates were told that they did not understand "the Lordship of Jesus Christ." When Hunt learned that this was a catch-phrase of the Confessing Movement, which aims to purge The United Methodist Church of theological innovators, he wrote an open letter , pleading for more tolerance from the Board. The only response was the 2001 rejection rate of 40%. In 2001, however, at least one candidate was rejected because of her use of the King James' "He" rather than one of the more politically correct, gender-neutral mouthfulls favored by modern Methodists. So the consistency in this process is not intolerance of the right or left, but just intolerance.
For G.T.'s current views, go to his comments and observations on how The United Methodist Church handles its clergy.