diff --git a/Documentation/automake.mk b/Documentation/automake.mk
index 6f38912f2..8adce852e 100644
--- a/Documentation/automake.mk
+++ b/Documentation/automake.mk
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ DOC_SOURCE = \
 	Documentation/internals/index.rst \
 	Documentation/internals/authors.rst \
 	Documentation/internals/bugs.rst \
+	Documentation/internals/committer-emeritus-status.rst \
 	Documentation/internals/committer-grant-revocation.rst \
 	Documentation/internals/committer-responsibilities.rst \
 	Documentation/internals/documentation.rst \
diff --git a/Documentation/index.rst b/Documentation/index.rst
index 836c37fc3..b7a792b0d 100644
--- a/Documentation/index.rst
+++ b/Documentation/index.rst
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ Learn more about the Open vSwitch project and about how you can contribute:
 
 - **Maintaining:** :doc:`internals/maintainers` |
   :doc:`internals/committer-responsibilities` |
-  :doc:`internals/committer-grant-revocation`
+  :doc:`internals/committer-grant-revocation` |
+  :doc:`internals/committer-emeritus-status`
 
 - **Documentation:** :doc:`internals/contributing/documentation-style` |
   :doc:`Building Open vSwitch Documentation <intro/install/documentation>` |
diff --git a/Documentation/internals/committer-emeritus-status.rst b/Documentation/internals/committer-emeritus-status.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad9dca2c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/internals/committer-emeritus-status.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+..
+      Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+      not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+      a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+      Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+      distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+      WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+      License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+      under the License.
+
+      Convention for heading levels in Open vSwitch documentation:
+
+      =======  Heading 0 (reserved for the title in a document)
+      -------  Heading 1
+      ~~~~~~~  Heading 2
+      +++++++  Heading 3
+      '''''''  Heading 4
+
+      Avoid deeper levels because they do not render well.
+
+==================================
+Emeritus Status for OVS Committers
+==================================
+
+OVS committers are nominated and elected based on their impact on the Open
+vSwitch project.  Over time, as committers' responsibilities change, some may
+become unable or uninterested to actively participate in project governance.
+Committer "emeritus" status provides a way for committers to take a leave of
+absence from OVS governance responsibilities.  The following guidelines clarify
+the process around the emeritus status for committers:
+
+* An committer may choose to transition from active to emeritus, or from
+  emeritus to active, by sending an email to the committers mailing list.
+
+* If a committer hasn't been heard from in 6 months, and does not respond to
+  reasonable attempts to contact him or her, the other committers can vote as a
+  majority to transition the committer from active to emeritus.  (If the
+  committer resurfaces, he or she can transition back to active by sending an
+  email to the committers mailing list.)
+
+* Emeritus committers may stay on the committers mailing list to continue to
+  follow any discussions there.
+
+* Emeritus committers do not nominate or vote in committer elections.  From a
+  governance perspective, they are equivalent to a non-committer.
+
+* Emeritus committers cannot merge patches to the OVS repository.
+
+* Emeritus committers will be listed in a separate section in the
+  MAINTAINERS.rst file to continue to recognize their contributions to the
+  project.
+
+Emeritus status does not replace the procedures for forcibly removing a
+committer.
+
+Note that just because a committer is not able to work on the project on a
+day-to-day basis, we feel they are still capable of providing input on the
+direction of the project.  No committer should feel pressured to move
+themselves to this status.  Again, it's just an option for those that do not
+currently have the time or interest.
diff --git a/Documentation/internals/index.rst b/Documentation/internals/index.rst
index cf70f5566..50f59a88f 100644
--- a/Documentation/internals/index.rst
+++ b/Documentation/internals/index.rst
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ itself and how they might involved.
    release-process
    bugs
    security
+   committer-emeritus-status
    committer-responsibilities
    committer-grant-revocation
    authors
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS.rst b/MAINTAINERS.rst
index bb389da9f..a6deb8229 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS.rst
+++ b/MAINTAINERS.rst
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ The responsibilities of an Open vSwitch committer are documented
 The process for adding or removing committers is documented
 `here <Documentation/internals/committer-grant-revocation.rst>`__.
 
-This is the current list of Open vSwitch committers:
+This is the current list of active Open vSwitch committers:
 
 .. list-table:: OVS Maintainers
    :header-rows: 1
@@ -75,3 +75,15 @@ This is the current list of Open vSwitch committers:
      - tgraf@noironetworks.com
    * - YAMAMOTO Takashi
      - yamamoto@midokura.com
+
+The project also maintains a list of Emeritus Committers (or Maintainers).
+More information about Emeritus Committers can be found
+`here <Documentation/internals/committer-emeritus-status.rst>`__.
+
+.. list-table:: OVS Emeritus Maintainers
+   :header-rows: 1
+
+   * - Name
+     - Email
+   * -
+     -
