The Inquiring Candidate

The Inquiring Candidate

Pre-Candidacy -The Inquiring Candidate

At this stage, you are just beginning to explore what might be your call to ministry in the United Methodist Church. There is not a lot of paperwork to complete, it is more conversation. You might be talking with a clergyperson (perhaps your pastor) or you might even have scheduled a conversation with a District Superintendent. This is a time for you to ask questions.

At this stage in the process, you should be given a copy of the book: “The Christian as Minister and the Ministry Inquiry Process”. Most likely, you would get this book from a District Superintendent. Your task at this point is to read the book and have some serious discussions about its content and the application for your life. These typically occur with a District Superintendent, although they could occur with you or any other pastor that has gone through the process and is serving.

You should be asking yourself:

-Why do I think God is calling me to ministry?

-Have other people seen something in me that suggests to them that God might be calling me into ministry?

-If God is calling me, what form will that ministry take? Can I still serve in ministry as a lay person or do I need to become licensed and/or ordained?

-If you have a family, what are their thoughts on you being in ministry?

Clarifying these kind of questions can help you decide to move to the next step: Beginning Candidacy

All of the above items need to be completed by December 1st. That is the deadline for applying for the Candidacy Summit that will be held, generally, on the second weekend in January.