Candidacy for Ordained Ministry
404. Candidacy for ordained ministry through a process prescribed by the Division of Ordained Ministry of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is the first set of formal teps through which a person moves toward ordination and annual conference membership.
All persons entering into this process shall receive written communication about decisions made regarding the different phases of their candidacy.
1. The Inquiring Candidate--Upon hearing a call to ministry the candidate should read the vocational guide The Christian As Minister. This book should be discussed in consultation with the candidate's pastor or another United Methodist minister.
2. The Exploring Candidate--Those seeking to explore candidacy for ordained ministry shall (a) apply to the district superintendent in writing for admission to candidacy studies as defined by the Division of Ordained Ministry, and (b) be assigned as an exploring candidate to a supervising pastor by the district committee and complete appropriate candidacy studies after proper registration through the annual conference candidacy registrar and the Division of Ordained Ministry.
3. The Declared Candidate--Those seeking to become certified candidates for ordained ministry shall (a) consult with the pastor and committee on pastor-parish relations after formulating a written statement reflecting their call to ordained ministry and requesting recommendation for certification. The candidate shall be interviewed by the committee on his/her statement and Wesley's historic questions in 403: and (b) be recommended by the charge conference in accordance with the following method. A meeting for the purpose of recommending a candidate for the ministry must be preceded by at least two public announcements and must be held in the presence of the bishop, district superintendent, or an authorized elder, who shall counsel with those present regarding the ability and qualifications of the applicant and make plain the importance of such recommendation to the ordained ministry. To be valid such a recommendation must be (i) voted by written ballot by two-thirds of the charge conference present at this meeting; (ii) the candidate must have been a member or affiliate member of the congregation for one year; provided that in the case of an affiliate member there has been consultation with and approval by the charge conference of the home church; and (iii) have been graduated from an accredited high school or received a certificate of equivalency.
4. The Certified Candidate--Candidates who have completed the requirements of 404.2, .3 and desire to be certified as candidates for ordained ministry shall (a) appear before the district committee on ordained ministry for examination; (b) make themselves available for any psychological and aptitude tests it may require; submit a written response providing evidence of understanding and expectation to the following: (i) Describe the most important experiences of your Christian life including your call to ministry; (ii) How do you describe and interpret your response to God's call as you understand it? (iii) What are your future plans for ministry in The United Methodist Church? (iv) Describe your personal beliefs as a Christian; (v) Describe and evaluate your personal gifts for ministry; (vi) Indicate in some detail how your close personal relationships may affect your future ministry; (c) submit a written response providing evidence of understanding the expectations and obligations of the itinerant system; (d) provide and supply such other information as it may require for determining their gifts, evidence of God's grace, fruits, and demonstration of the call; and (e) agree for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness of the gospel, and in consideration of their influence as ministers, to make a complete dedication of themselves to the highest ideals of the Christian life as set forth in 66-76, and to this end agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility, and growth in grace and the knowledge and love of God.4
4In adopting the statements in 404.4(e) and 414.8 on the moral and social responsibility of ordained ministers, the General Conference seeks to elevate the standards by calling for a more thoroughgoing moral commitment by the candidate and for a more careful and thorough examination of candidates by district committees and boards of the ministry.
The legislation in no way implies that the use of tobacco is a morally indifferent question. In the light of the developing evidence against the use of tobacco, the burden of proof would be upon all users to show that their use of it is consistent with the highest ideals of the Christian life. Similarly, regarding beverage alcohol, the burden of proof would be upon users to show that their action is consistent with the deals of excellence of mind, purity of body, and responsible social behavior.
Therefore, the changes here do not relax the traditional view concerning the use of tobacco and beverage alcohol by ordained ministers in The United Methodist Church. Rather they call for higher standards of self-discipline and habit formation in all personal and social relationships. They call for dimensions of moral commitment that go far beyond any specific practices which might be listed. (See Judicial Council Decision 318.)
The General Conference, in response to expressions throughout the Church regarding homosexuality and ordination, reaffirms the present language of the Discipline regarding the character and commitment of persons seeking ordination, and affirms its high standards.
For more than 200 years candidates for ordination have been asked Wesley's Questions, including ". . . Have they a clear, sound understanding; right judgment in the things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? . . ." (403).
All candidates agree to make a complete dedication of themselves to the highest ideals of the Christian life, and to this end agree "to exercise responsible self-control, by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility, and growth in grace and the knowledge and love of God" (404).
The character and commitment of candidates for the ordained ministry is described or examined in six places in the Book of Discipline. (403, 404.4, 414, 421, 424, and 431.) These say in part: "Only those shall be elected to full membership who are of unquestionable moral character and genuine piety, sound in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and faithful in the discharge of their duties" (422).
The statement on ordination (431) states: "It is expected that persons to be ordained shall:
6. . . . be willing to make a complete dedication of himself/herself to the highest ideals of the Christian life; . . . and agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits. . . .
7. Be persons in whom the community can place trust and confidence."
There are eight crucial steps in the examination of candidates. They are:
(1) The self-examination of the individual seeking ordination as he or she responds to God's call in personal commitment to Christ and his church.
(2) The decision of the committee on pastor-parish relations which makes the first recommendation to the charge conference when a member seeks to become a candidate for ordained ministry.
(3) The decision of the charge conference which must recommend the candidate.
(4) The decision of the district committee on ordained ministry which must recommend the candidate to the conference board of ordained ministry and, where applicable, the decision of the district conference.
(5) The decision of the board of ordained ministry which must recommend deacon's ordination and probationary membership. See Judicial Council Decisions 513, 536, 542.
(6) The decision of the clergy members of the annual conference who must elect candidates to deacon's ordination probationary membership.
(7) The recommendation of the board of ordained ministry for elder's ordination and full membership.
(8) The election to elder's ordination and full membership by the clergy members of the Annual Conference.
All pastors are accountable as to character and effectiveness to the annual conference throughout their entire ministry.
The General Conference has made it clear in the "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task" (Part II of the Discipline) that Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason are our guidelines. "United Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine."
In the Social Principles, the General Conference has said that "we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." Furthermore, the Principles state that "we affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God's blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union.We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage." Also, "we affirm the integrity of single persons, and we reject all social practices that discriminate or social attitudes that are prejudicial against persons because they are single."
The General Conference affirms the wisdom of our heritage expressed in the Disciplinary provisions relating to the character and commitment of ordained ministers. The United Methodist Church has moved away from prohibitions of specific acts, for such prohibitions can be endless. We affirm our trust in the covenant community and the process by which we ordain ministers.
In our covenant we are called to trust one another as we recommend, examine, and elect candidates for the ordained ministry and conference membership. See Judicial Council Decision 480.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 404
1996 United Methodist General Conference