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The Exploring Candidate
Candidacy Guidelines and Related Forms
-The Exploring Candidate
As you enter into this phase it is time for the annual conference to start collecting some data on you. In other words—it’s Paperwork Time! As you look at the sections below, you will note the kind of data that we need to collect. You will also notice in the blue bar next to the sections is a button. Just click on that button and you are taken to an electronic form that you can complete. When you are done, simply hit the submit button and the form will be sent to an appropriate person.
BASIC DATA
Name, address, contact information
Verification of baptized participant or professing member for at least one year. You will need to have the date you joined a local United Methodist Church, the name of the church, and the pastor which received you into membership.
INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SUPPLIED TO THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
This is a letter that you will write to a District Superintendent requesting admission to the candidacy process and the assignment of a mentor to help guide you through the process.
This letter will include a statement of your call. You will need to write down why you feel that God is calling you to ministry in the United Methodist Church.
THE UMCARES PROCESS
Once this is received by the District Superintendent, you will be enrolled in UMCares which will be an online process that will guide you through various steps of the Candidacy Process.
Repond to the email that you receive:
(a) login to UMCARES (b) Choose “Mentors and Track” in the left-hand navigation (c) Open “Candidacy Track” (d) Candidacy Application Form is the first “Step” in the Candidacy “Track”
SAFE GATHERING CERTIFICATION
A Safe Gathering certification. This is an online background, credit, and motor vehicle check. It also provides training in Safe Sanctuaries policies. You will need to complete this online process and print out the certificate that states you have successfully completed the course and bring it with you to the DCOM meeting.
In Holston Annual Conference we take seriously events from your past of a criminal nature. As part of the process of candidacy, we, and the denomination, require you to submit a notarized statement detailing any convictions for felony or misdemeanor or written accusation of sexual misconduct or child abuse; OR a notarized statement certifying that you have neither been accused in writing nor convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, any incident of sexual misconduct or child abuse.
MEDICAL REPORT OF MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE
You are required to submit a medical form as part of the application process. You will need to print this form and take it to your doctor so that he or she can complete it. You might want to go ahead and fill in the information online so that it will be on the form when you print it.
CHOOSE A MINISTERIAL ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST (MAS)
You will need to log back into your UMCares account to complete this step. Once you log in you will:
1. Choose “Mentors and Track” in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Open “Psychological Assessment Track”
3. “MAS Selection” is the first “Step” in the Psychological Assessment Track.
There is a fee associated with this step of the process. You will need to either mail in, or bring to the Candidacy Summit, a check for $200 to partially cover the cost of the psychological assessment. The mailed check should be sent to: Office of Clergy Services, POB 850, Alcoa, TN, 37701.
While in UMCares, you will also need to complete the following tracks:
1. Release of Psychological Assessment Information
2. You will be required to pay a $75 fee to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and decide on whether you will download or request a printed copy of the book: “Answering the Call: Candidacy Guidebook”
3. You will need to complete the Personal Data Inventory track.
4. You will need to begin the EM360 track
(There will be links at UMCares to videos that will explain this process. Please watch those videos and do as you are instructed.)
5. Upload EM 360 Feedback Report
