Congratulations!
You are entering a journey that will change your life. It is our goal to support you as you discern your call toward ordained ministry.
One of the strengths of the Free Methodist Church is that the path toward ordination is a communal discernment process.
This means that a person who believes they are called into full time ministry is surrounded by a community that affirms those gifts & graces or helps to discern a different path.
So… where do I start?
At the beginning of this process, the local church, pastor and board functions as part of the discernment process as well as the Conference MEG (Ministerial Education and Guidance) board. This process is called Local Ministerial Candidacy.
First, complete the Genesis Conference Credentialing application. This will register you with the Genesis Conference.
Second, register with the LMC Path with Pathwright and begin working through it with your lead pastor.
Continue to be in prayer and in community as you use this time to discern your calling.
Please be advised as an LMC, you will be required to take a Free Methodist History & Polity class. This is offered as an in-person class in Genesis, at Northeastern Seminary, and online through Central Christian College.
What’s next?
Once a person is approved to become a Conference Ministerial Candidate (CMC), the Conference is in touch with the candidate through individual conversations with the Director of Ministerial Candidates and yearly interviews with the MEG board.
As a CMC, your next steps are outlined in the Genesis Formation Process for Ministerial Candidates. If you have any questions, please contact Katrina Wilkins. We expect the steps outlined in the brochure to take at least 3 years.
As you follow the process and get closer to an interview to determine your readiness for ordination, you will need to respond, in writing, to the CMC Theological Proficiency Questions, aka Ordination Essays. These questions are designed to help you and the Conference in the discernment process.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Katrina.
Do you believe you are ready to be ordained or consecrated?
Contact the Conference office for more information.
You will need to submit a resume, a letter of recommendation from your lead pastor or mentor, your Spouse Questionnaire, and the Ordination Essay Questions (Ordination Essays in Spanish) OR the Consecrated Deacon Essay Questions.
If you are transferring from a different denomination, we will also need a copy of your ordination credentials.