Candidacy for Ministry
If you think God might be calling you to ordained or licensed ministry, the Indiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry invites you to consider beginning the candidacy process. You must be a high school graduate or its equivalency, i.e., a GED. You must also be a member of the United Methodist Church or another United Methodist ministry setting for at least one year. Entering the candidacy process does not commit you to anything except further discernment. The process begins with a conversation with either your District Superintendent or the Chairperson of the District Committee on Ministry. Click here for contact list.
Once you have completed the certification process you may pursue licensing as a Local Pastor by attending either the Week-end or Residential Local Pastor’s License to Preach School offered by the Indiana Conference. Or if ordination is your goal, begin/continue your college/seminary education. Seminary aid is available for students who have completed the certification process. The Indiana Conference now allows up to two thirds of class work to be done online IF DONE AT A UNITED METHODIST SEMINARY OR THROUGH ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Indiana requires all candidates to complete one basic unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) prior to commissioning.
You may apply for commissioning and provisional membership in the Annual Conference the year prior to completion of seminary and CPE. All educational requirements must be met before the actual commissioning service at Annual Conference in June. You must have been a certified candidate for at least one year (no more than twelve years) prior to the time of commissioning.
As a provisional member you will be appointed to a church or other ministry setting and be required to participate in the Residency in Ministry (RIM) program. RIM consists of three overnight conferences each year (September, January and May), monthly meetings with your RIM Covenant Group and your RIM appointed mentor. After satisfactory participation for a minimum of three years in the Residency in Ministry program, you may apply for ordination and full membership.
For further information, contact Rev. Sandy Harlan, Director of Clergy Services for the Indiana Conference.
Click to download Process for Licensing as Local Pastor - Process for Ordination - Accredited ACPE Centers - Helpful Things to Know About Deacons - MEF (Ministerial Education Fund) Application for Seminary Aid
Forms (PDF) to Download
ACOR (Application for Group Candidacy Orientation Retreat) - Click here (1 pg)
Background Screening Form - Click here (7 pgs)
PDI - Personal Data Inventory Form - Click here (5 pgs)
Form A - Annual Mentor Report - Click here (1 pg)
Form APM - Application for Provisional Membership - Click here (1 pg)
Form B - Financial - Click here (2 pgs)
Form F - District Recommendation for Provisional Membership - Click here (1 pg)
Form K - Candidate's District File Checklist - Click here (1pg)
Form 100 - Service in Congregational Leadership - Click here (1 pg)
Form 103 - Medical - Click here (2 pgs)
FORM 104 - Staff Parish & Charge Conference Recommendations - Click here (4 pgs)
Form 114 - Disclosure Form - Click here (1 pg)
Checklist - Steps Into Ministry - Click here (1 pg)