East Ohio Conference Candidacy Process For Deacon, Elder, Local Pastor and Associate Member Overview Inquiring Candidate Certified Candidate Continuing Candidacy Licensed Local Pastor Deacon Elder Associate Membership Commissioned Provisional Member Commissioned Provisional Member Ordained Full Membership Ordained Full Membership
East Ohio Conference Candidacy Process for Deacon, Elder, Local Pastor and Associate Member All Paragraph references are to the 2012 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. Board of Ordained Ministry requirements, documentation, written work and forms found at Inquiring Inquiring Candidate: Candidate 311 310 1. Contact your pastor, district superintendent (DS), or another deacon or elder 2. Read The Christian as Minister (recommended, not required) 3. Participate in Understanding God s Call: A Ministry Inquiry Process (recommended, not required) Beginning Candidacy: 310.1.a-c 1. Member of The United Methodist Church or baptized participant of a recognized United Methodist campus ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting for one (1) year 2. Apply to DS in writing, including statement of call; ask for admission to candidacy program and assignment of a candidacy mentor 3. Meet with DS and receive letter of invitation to become candidate 4. Mentor assigned by DS and district committee on ministry 5. Complete candidacy online enrollment with mentor and DS 6. Participate in Candidacy Retreat (East Ohio Conference) 7. Complete beginning stages of candidacy with candidacy mentor and mentor group Declaring Candidacy: 310.1.d, e 1. High school degree or equivalent is required 2. Request interview and approval by Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee; provide statement of call; and responses to disciplinary questions in 310 3. Request recommendation by charge conference or equivalent as specified by district committee 4. Pastor sends reports to district committee on ministry 5. Continue candidacy program with candidacy mentor and academic requirements
Certified Candidacy: 310.2 Completion of the following: 1. Written response to ministry questions in 311.2a as well as 310 2. Psychological assessment completed with mentor 3. Interview with Ministerial Assessment Specialist to complete psychological assessment 4. Apply for criminal background and credit check with district committee on ordained ministry registrar 5. Notarized statement certifying have neither been accused in writing nor convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or any incident of sexual misconduct or child abuse 6. Provide other information upon request of district committee on ordained ministry 7. Agree to make a complete dedication to the highest ideals of the Christian life 102-104, 160-166 8. Examination and approval by district committee on ordained ministry 313 1. Annual recommendation by charge conference 2. Annual interview and approval by district committee 3. Annual report of satisfactory progress of studies and copy of transcripts from university or school of theology 4. Candidates in seminary submit scholarship and grant applications (Forms at www.eocumc.com/answering_call/index.html) Local Pastor - 315-316 1. If appointed and less than 2 years of seminary, attend licensing school at Univ. of Mt. Union in May, receive license 315-316 2. Assigned a clergy mentor 3. Continue educational requirements: undergraduate degree, seminary degree or courses of study (20 courses to be completed in 8 years if appointed full time or 12 years if appointed part time) 4. Meet requirements of continuing candidacy annually Associate Membership: 322 1. 40 years of age 2. 2 years of college (60 semester hours) 3. Equivalent of 4 years appointed as Full Time Local Pastor 4. Appointed full time at time of application 5. Complete Basic Course of Study and Advanced Course of Study 324.6.d 6. Proven effectiveness in ministry 7. Willingness to accept a full-time itineracy 8. Submit Personal Information Form to Registrar of Local Pastors by October 1 9. Interview and recommendation by district committee on ministry 10. Submit documentation and assignments required by Board of Ordained Ministry to Registrar of Local Pastors by December 1 (same as required for elder provisional ministry) 11. Interview and approval by Board of Ordained Ministry 12. Approved by clergy session and received at Annual Conference
Elder and Membership Deacon 1. Meet requirements for certified candidate for minimum of one (1) year, maximum twelve (12) years 2. Demonstrate gifts for ministries of service and leadership 3. Completion of master s degree in area of specialty or masters of divinity 4. Completion of the basic graduate theological studies to be eligible for interview 5. Application Form submitted to district committee and conference registrar by October 1 6. Attend meeting with Board of Ordained Ministry chair and registrars (recommended, not required) 7. Submit written work and interview with the district committee. Receive recommendation by three-fourths vote of district committee 8. If not recommended to Board of Ordained Ministry for interviews, continue work with mentor. 9. Completion of assignment requirements of Board of Ordained Ministry 10. All required documentation and assignments to Conference Registrar of Ordained Ministry by December 1 11. Interview and recommendation by the Board of Ordained Ministry 12. If not recommended for provisional membership, work through recommendations/requirements from Board of Ordained Ministry and continue candidacy relationship with district committee 13. Election to provisional membership by clergy session 14. Commissioned at Annual Conference Deacon Provisional Member: 326 1. Assigned to Residency in Ministry Mentor 2. Attend meetings with Mentor and Cluster Group 3. Attend meetings with Residency in Ministry Chair 4. Complete any Board of Ministry requirements for preceptor, counseling, CPE 5. Annual evaluation by DS 6. Submit Appointment of Deacons Forms to Bishop s office and Registrar of Deacons by April 1each year 7. Submit Application Form to Registrar of Deacons by December 1 each year indicating current contact information, current status and intentions for coming year. 8. Annual report from provisional cluster group mentor sent to Registrar of Deacons. 9. If not applying for ordination and full membership, submit Extension Year Check In Paper to Registrar of Deacons. Full Membership and Ordination as Deacon: 330 1. Complete at least 2 years in under appointment as Provisional Member, no longer than 8 years 2. Repeat psychological assessment with mentor assigned by district committee on ministry within one year of application for interview 3. Repeat criminal and credit background check within one year of application for interview. 4. Complete documentation requirements by Board of Ordained Ministry within 1 year of interview 5. Complete assignments as required by Board of Ordained Ministry 6. Submit Application Form to Conference Registrar for Deacon by October 1 7. Completed documentation and assignments submitted to Conference Registrar for Deacons by December 1 8. Interview and recommendation of Board of Ordained Ministry 9. Election to full membership by clergy session. 10. If not recommended, work on recommendations by Board of Ordained Ministry 11. Ordination at Annual Conference 12. Submit Appointment of Deacons Forms to Bishop s office by April 1 each year.
Elder and Membership 1. Meet requirements for certified candidate for minimum of one (1) year, maximum twelve (12) years 2. One (1) year in service ministry 3. Completed or completing seminary degree 4. Completion of the basic graduate theological studies to be eligible for interview 5. Application Form submitted to district committee and conference registrar by October 1 6. Attend meeting with Board of Ordained Ministry chair and registrars (recommended, not required) 7. Submit written work and interview with the district committee. Receive recommendation by three-fourths vote of district committee 8. If not recommended to Board of Ordained Ministry for interviews, continue work with mentor. 9. Completion of assignment requirements of Board of Ordained Ministry 10. All required documentation and assignments to Conference Registrar of Elders by December 1. 11. Interview and recommendation by the Board of Ordained Ministry 12. If not recommended for provisional membership, work through recommendations/requirements from Board of Ordained Ministry and continue candidacy relationship with district committee 13. Election to provisional membership by clergy session 14. Commissioned at Annual Conference Elder Provisional Member 326 1. Assigned to Residency in Ministry Mentor 2. Attend meetings with Mentor and Cluster Group 3. Attend meetings with Residency in Ministry Chair 4. Complete any Board of Ministry requirements for preceptor, counseling, CPE 5. Annual evaluation by DS 6. Submit Application Form to Registrar of Elders by December 1 each year indicating current contact information, current status and intentions for coming year. 7. Annual report from provisional cluster group mentor sent to Registrar of Elders. 8. If not applying for ordination and full membership, submit Extension Year Check In Paper to Registrar of Elders. Full Membership and Ordination as Elder 335 1. Complete at least 2 years in Full Time appointment as Provisional Member, no longer than 8years 2. Repeat psychological assessment with mentor assigned by district committee on ministry within one year of application for interview 3. Repeat criminal and credit background check within 1 year of application for interview 4. Complete documentation requirements by Board of Ordained Ministry within 1 year of interview 5. Complete assignments as required by Board of Ordained Ministry 6. Submit Application Form to Registrar of Elders by October 1 7. Completed documentation and assignments submitted to Conference Registrar of Elders by December 1 8. Interview and recommendation of Board of Ordained Ministry 9. Election to full membership by clergy session. 10. If not recommended, work on recommendations by Board of Ordained Ministry 11. Ordination at Annual Conference