Navigating the Online Candidacy Process for Licensed or Ordained Ministry

.Navigating the

Online Candidacy Processfor Licensed or Ordained Ministry

Assign candidacy mentor (with D.S.) to all candidates for licensed or ordained ministry Supervise matters dealing with candidacy for ordination and licensing for local pastor Counsel candidates and local pastor applicants regarding spiritual, experience and

academic preparation for ministry Review academic progress of candidates and applicants (receive annual transcripts and

reports from college/seminary and District Superintendents) Maintain service record and file on every local pastor and candidate until becomes

associate or provisional member. Then forward to BOM registrar. Approve service and leadership for certified candidates Annual review interview and renewal of candidacy and licensing for local pastor Oversee a process of supervision of personal and professional growth for local pastors Examine all who apply for professional certification or renewal of certificate and renew

certification for those who qualify Examine all who apply to serve as Certified Lay Ministers and report annually to the

annual conference a roster of all persons certified as lay ministers Recommend to BOM persons who qualify for:

Provisional membership Local pastor license and continuance

Associate Membership Restoration of credentials

DCOM RESPONSIBILITIES

¶665, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE

.Inquiring Enrolling Declaring Certified

CandidateContinuing Candidacy

Licensed Local Pastor

Provisional Member Ordination

Deacon

Elder

REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDACY¶311.1, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE

Completed High School (or equivalent)

Professing member of UMC or baptized participant of a recognized UM campus ministry or other UM ministry setting for at least one year

Request admission to candidacy and assignment of candidacy mentor from the district superintendent and register in the Online Candidacy Application System

Request recommendation from S/P-PRC or equivalent body specified by dCOM

Submit statement of call and responses to Wesley’s historic questions, ¶ 310

Be approved by 2/3 written ballot of charge conference or body specified by dCOM

Continue education and candidacy studies with the mentor





Deacon

Elder

TO BECOME A CERTIFIED CANDIDATE

¶311.2, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE1. Submit written response to questions in ¶311.2 (a) providing evidence of understanding and expectation concerning the following:

The most formative years of your Christian life God’s call to licensed or ordained ministry and the role of the

church in your call Your personal belief as a Christian Your personal gifts for ministry Your understanding of your call to ministry as elder, deacon, or

licensed ministry Your support system





Deacon

Elder

TO BECOME A CERTIFIED CANDIDATE

2. Complete required background checks

3. Complete psychological assessment, if not done before

4. Provide other information upon request

5. Agree to highest ideals of Christian life as set forth in ¶¶101-104 and ¶¶160-166

6. Examination and approval by dCOM on Form 113 (3/4 approval on written ballot – see ¶665.6)





Deacon

Elder

CONTINUING CANDIDACY

1. Annual recommendation by charge conference

2. Annual written report by candidacy mentor to dCOM

3. Annual school transcripts to dCOM

4. Annual interview and renewal by dCOM (¶312)





Deacon

Elder

MENTORS¶349, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE

Recommended by the Cabinet

Selected and trained by, and accountable to, the BOM

Two categories of mentors:

Candidacy Mentors – clergy in full connection, associate members or full-time local pastors who have completed Course of Study

Clergy Mentors – same requirements as Candidacy Mentors

Candidates for certification are assigned a candidacy mentor by the dCOM.

Local pastors in the Course of Study are assigned a clergy mentor by the dCOM. Provisional Members are assigned a clergy mentor by the BOM.





Deacon

Elder

LICENSED LOCAL PASTOR

¶315, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINEQualifications: Certified Candidate

Education: Completed studies for license as a local pastor or 1/3 of the work for the

Master of Divinity degree Continuing progress in the Course of Study or M.Div. degree

Each Candidate Shall: Be interviewed and recommended annually by dCOM Be supervised by a DS Be assigned a clergy mentor while in the Course of Study or seminary Receive a license for pastoral ministry while appointed





Deacon

Elder

LICENSED LOCAL PASTORRequirements for Licensed Local Pastors Preparing to Become Elders

¶324.6 Forty years of age

Satisfied all requirements of Sections 1-3 and 7-14 of ¶324, which includes bachelor degree or equivalent

Completed five-year Course of Study

Completed 32 hours graduate theological study or equivalent (Advanced Course of Study)

Including United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity

Forty years of age Served four years as full-time local pastor Completed five-year Course of Study Completed minimum 60 hours toward B. A. or equivalent Recommended by dCOM and BOM Agree to accept full-time continuing appointment Satisfy BOM regarding physical health Required psychological reports, criminal background and credit checks Completed written doctrinal examination (¶335.7) Prepared a written sermon on suggested Bible passage

ASSOCIATE MEMBER¶322, 2008 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE





Deacon

Elder





Deacon

Elder

PROVISIONAL MEMBERRequirements for Provisional Membership for Deacons ¶324

Qualifications: Certified Candidate for at least one (1) year, maximum 12 years Demonstrated his or her gifts for ministries of service and leadership

to the satisfaction of the dCOM (¶324.2)Education:

Bachelor’s degree Theological Master’s Degree, or Master’s in specialized ministry

Including basic graduate theological studies (24 hours) within cohesive program (¶324.4a)

A person may be eligible for provisional membership after completing ½ of graduate education, including BGTS





Deacon

Elder


Each Candidate Shall:

Present a certificate of good health

Submit candidate disclosure Form 114

Complete a written doctrinal examination

Submit an autobiographical statement to the BOM

Be interviewed by the dCOM and recommended to the BOM by a 3/4 majority vote (¶324.10)

Be interviewed by the BOM and recommended to the clergy session by a 2/3 majority vote (¶324.14)





Deacon

Elder


Alternative Education for Deacon in Full Connection:

Thirty-five years of age

Bachelor’s degree

Certification or license in area of service (minimum of eight graduate hours)

Basic graduate theological studies (24 hours)





Deacon

Elder

PROVISIONAL MEMBERRequirements for Provisional Membership for Elders ¶324

Qualifications: Certified Candidate for at least one (1) year, maximum 12 years Demonstrated his or her gifts for ministries of service and leadership to

the satisfaction of the dCOM (¶324.2)

Education: Bachelor’s degree Master of Divinity including basic graduate theological studies (minimum

of 24 hours) A person may be eligible for provisional membership after completing

½ of graduate education, including BGTS





Deacon

Elder

PROVISIONAL MEMBERRequirements for Provisional Membership for Elders ¶324

Each Candidate Shall: Present a certificate of good health Submit Candidate Disclosure form 114 Complete a doctrinal examination and autobiographical

statement Be interviewed by the dCOM and recommended to the BOM by a

3/4 majority vote (¶324.10) Be interviewed by the BOM and recommended to the clergy

session by a 2/3 majority vote (¶324.14)

The Candidacy Process for Licensed or Ordained Ministry

Inquiring

Enrolling

Declaring

Certified Candidate

Certified Candidate

Continuing Candidacy

Local Pastor License

Commissioned Minister

Provisional Period

Ordained

Deacon Elder

The Candidacy Process for Licensed or Ordained Ministry





Deacon

Elder

Contact your local church pastor, another deacon or elder, or your district superintendent. Persons are encouraged to use these resources:

INQUIRING





Deacon

Elder

The District Superintendent (DS) invites the candidate into the Online Candidacy Application System (OCAS) by clicking the INVITE CANDIDATES button (shown below) on their screen. Fill out the information on the invitation screen; then click the “Save & Invite” button at the bottom of the screen.

An email invitation will be sent by the system to the new candidate and a new record for that candidate will be created.

We recommend that all users of OCAS add [email protected] to their email contact/address book to ensure receipt of all emails.

ENROLLING

mailto:[email protected]

.Inquiring Declaring Certified




Deacon

Elder

Enrolling

ENROLLING

OCAS is the system in which new candidates are enrolled. All users must log in using their email address and password to access the records in this system.

Canapply.gbhem.org

.Inquiring Declaring Certified




Deacon

Elder

Enrolling

ENROLLING

If users forget their password, they may use the link provided on the log in screen to reset it.

Canapply.gbhem.org





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLING

New User Invitation Screen





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLING

The OCAS Invitation contains the following information: A link to the OCAS

Users manual to assist them in computer set-up; Information about the next steps in the process;

A link which will log them into OCAS to allow them to create a password and fill out their Personal Information page;

Once the personal information is filled out, the candidate clicks the TASK tab (shown below) to move to their TASK LIST to begin the process. The items must be checked complete in the order that they appear. The application (Form 101) is task three on the list.





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLINGThe Task Screen





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLING Once the candidate has submitted their application (TASK 3) an email is

sent to the DS requesting signature.

An email is also sent to the Candidacy Registrar (CR), and Mentor informing them of the new candidate.

After the DS signs the application a similar email is sent to the Mentor requesting signature.

Both e-signatures must be completed before the candidate can move to the next step.





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLING

After logging in, both DS and Mentor are taken to the “Waiting on Me” screen which shows candidates that are “waiting” for a DS/Mentor related task to be completed. Click on the item in the TASK column of the candidate.

Viewing the To Do List





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLING

1. To view and sign the Form 101, click on the “signature” on the TASK list of the candidate.

2. A pop up will appear in front of you.

3. To view the application, click the Form 101 link (in blue).

4. To sign the application, click the E-SIGN button on the bottom of the pop-up.

Signing an Application





Deacon

Elder

ENROLLINGOnce both the DS and Mentor has signed the candidate’s application the candidate will receive an email instructing them to pay their $75 candidacy fee. They may do so by clicking the next item on their task list.





Deacon

Elder

The Psychological Assessment Phase





Deacon

Elder

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Mentors from conferences that use Nashville for psychological

evaluation will receive a link to Form 112 “Request for Psychological Packet” The Online Candidacy Application System recognizes conferences that do not use Nashville for psychological evaluation. In this case, the candidate will be prompted to contact their conference to follow their specific instructions for this phase.

Upon completion of all phases of candidacy, the mentor will log into the system and complete Form 113 “District Committee Report.” By so doing, the action of the dCOM will be logged into the Candidate’s record and the “certification,” “delay,” or “denied” choice of the dCOM will be recorded and the process is complete.

The Big Picture

MENTORAssist in Discernment, Facilitate Reflection & Growth, Guide & Counsel, Report

DSReceive Written Application (letter), Nominate Guides & Mentors, Approve Service Appointments

BOMReceive Candidate from dCOM, Interview, Defer or Recommend for Provisional membership

dCOMEnlist, Assign Mentors, Examine, Certify

GBHEM-DOMEnrollment, Psychological Assessment, Consultant

REGISTRARTrain, Interpret, Record Keeping, Reports

Candidate

LOCAL CHURCHName, Nurture, Approve Candidates

General Board of Higher Education and MinistryP. O. Box 340007

Nashville, TN 37203-0007Main Phone: 615-340-7374

Fax: 615-340-7395

For Enlistment Questions:[email protected]

For Psychological Assessment Questions:[email protected]

For Interpretation or other questions:

Rev. Meg LassiatDirector of Candidacy, Mentoring, and

Conference Relations

[email protected]

Online Candidacy Application System web address: canapply.gbhem.org

Navigating the Online Candidacy Process for Licensed or Ordained Ministry

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