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PATHWAYS TO MINISTRY

Candidacy - Start Here

All Christians are called to ministry.  However, some Christians experience a call to the set-apart licensed or ordained ministry of becoming a clergyperson.  The East Ohio conference has a discernment process to help you further explore your call through preparation, participation, and prayer.

Exploring your call and moving through the candidacy process may seem overwhelming.  We have created a Step-by-Step Guide to help you navigate the journey with the clergypersons who will be your mentors.  The goal is not finishing as fast as you can.  The goal is faithfulness to discerning God’s call in your life right now, one step at a time.

A major part of the discernment process is the Candidacy Summit.  The East and West Ohio annual conferences offer the Candidacy Summit Retreat as a collaborative ministry.  No matter where you are in Ohio, the Summit Retreat is a first step on your discernment journey.  Candidacy Summit Retreats are bi-annual events where East and West Ohio candidates worship, fellowship, meet with their mentoring group, learn, and reflect with others who are also exploring God’s call on their lives. The last scheduled Candidacy Summit Retreat was held in July at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.  The next scheduled Candidacy Summit is January 5-6, 2018. Learn more about the Candidacy Summit here. Register for the Candidacy Summit here with the approval of your district superintendent.

Please note that you should NOT download the forms from the West Ohio website.  You can download the East Ohio forms here.

If you have questions after exploring the candidacy webpages, please contact your district office.  You can download the district contact information here.

Blessings and encouragement for your journey,

Rev. Denise Marikis, Candidacy Registrar
Board of Ordained Ministry