Editing Defrocking (section)

==Methodism==
In the [[United Methodist Church]], when an [[Elder (Methodism)|elder]], [[bishop (Methodism)|bishop]], or [[deacon]] is defrocked, his ministerial credentials are removed.<ref name="UMC - Creech">{{cite web|url=http://archives.umc.org/umns/news_archive1999.asp?ptid=2&story=%7B877D3E84-DD4B-4983-BF0C-85DB84FAB557%7D&mid=3368 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603134655/http://archives.umc.org/umns/news_archive1999.asp?ptid=2&story=%7B877D3E84-DD4B-4983-BF0C-85DB84FAB557%7D&mid=3368 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-06-03 |title=Creech found guilty; loses ministerial credentials |publisher=The United Methodist Church |access-date=2007-07-12 }}</ref> Defrocking is usually the result of blatantly disobeying the [[Book of Discipline (United Methodist)|Order and Discipline]] of the United Methodist Church and violating [[Biblical]] standards.<ref name="UMC - Creech"/> A defrocked clergyman is prohibited from celebrating the [[sacraments]] ([[Baptism|Holy Baptism]] and [[Holy Communion]]).<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/03/national/03trial.html| title = United Methodists Move to Defrock Lesbian|work = New York Times|access-date = 2007-07-12 | first=Neela | last=Banerjee | date=2004-12-03}}</ref> A United Methodist elder or deacon may only have their credentials revoked through voluntary surrender or church trial. A minister who enters the status of honorable location{{Explain|date=June 2019}} retains their ordination credentials unless they voluntarily surrender them, while a minister who is involuntarily located may or may not, at the discretion of the Board of Ordained Ministry of their Annual Conference, retain their credentials of ordination. As a general rule, elders may only lose their credentials through voluntary surrender or action of a church court. Ministers who are found not competent to exercise their office may be suspended from ministry, but only for the duration of the incompetence. The [[United Methodist Book of Discipline]] outlines the specific rules for each option. Elders and deacons may not simply be defrocked by a bishop, but only through ecclesiastical due process.<ref>The United Methodist Book of Discipline</ref>