What are the steps into ordained ministry in the united methodist church? Also, can anyone tell me what a certified lay minister is in the UMC, and what is the difference between that and a certified lay speaker?
2007-05-14 07:08:39 · 9 answers · asked by John G 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Okay, you asked a good question for me. I've been in the UMC for all of my life. Three members of my family are pastors in the UMC church. First off, you need a bachelor's degree. It doesn't matter what the degree is in. It does not have to be religion or theology. You have to become an inquiring candidate by telling your pastor. Your pastor will then tell your district superintendent. Your DS will appoint you a mentor during your candidacy process. You will then become an approved, declared candidate. When you complete that, you will seek the approval of local church from your Staff Parish committee. that you need to be a member of for at least 2 years. After you get the approval of your local church, your mentor carries you to the district committee on ministry and they will approve you as a candidate. You can go the local pastors route and get a "license to preach" and be a part time or full-time or student pastor, which means you can have a preaching job and continue to go to school at the same time. If you don't choose to do that, then you go to seminary. It will take about 3 full years of study to complete your degree to be an elder. You have to serve under the same place as a probationary elder and then going to the conference committee on candidacy and going through further testing (written tests and psychological tests). If you want to be a deacon, you can stop with 2 years of schooling, and then seek to find a job on your own. This isn't really recommended.
The term lay minister is a little deceiving. A minister is anyone. We are all ministers in the church. A lay person or lay minister or leader is someone that isn't ordained in the conference. Someone who a lay leader of a church more than likely has gone to a lay speaking workshop at some point in their life and gotten a certification to do so.
Hope this all helps. If you truly want to do this, this is going to take a great deal of work on your part. Know before you get into it that afterwards you may feel just like a trained seal that just jumped through a bunch of hoops. It is a blessing sometimes and it's a curse sometimes. There are mundane days that you will hate and stressful times that you will feel like ripping your hair out. That is just the truth of the work. If you need to know anything else, email me and ask.
2007-05-14 07:51:58 · answer #1 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm already pastoring in another church that is out of the United Methodist church. I've been pastoring for 5 years now and I love it. I just want to try a new denomination but one that is closely related to Methodism. So why not United Methodist. Does anyone know if there is a procedure where you are transferred in on your credentials?
2015-07-15 08:55:16 · answer #2 · answered by Patania 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know the way the Pastor of the United Methodist Church in Elgin, Illinois did it.
First he became a Pastor in a Bible beleiving church. He pastored a church in Normal, Illinois, near Illinois State University, where I had previously served as a campus Pastor.
Then after being married about 20 years, with 2 daughters about 13 and 16 years old, he started having an affair with a 19 year old college girl.
The church in Normal fired him, his old denomination kicked him out and the United Methodists welcomed him.
Go Figure.
Pastor Art
2007-05-14 07:13:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
You don't just jump out of high school or off a bannana boat and declare yourself a minister or pastor... FIRST, you go to COLLEGE and take some THEOLOGY courses and if they have a Divinity College or a special college with a college curriculum that will lead to a degree in Religion or Theology, THEN you would probably have to wirte to or contact the head of the Methodist Church to become ORDAINED and then they would assign you a church IF one was available...a good thought here would be for you to go talk to your local Methodist minister and get information from HIM or her...
2007-05-14 07:31:32 · answer #4 · answered by LittleBarb 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My sister is a lay preacher, and i am studing theology at the moment. use this E-mail address admin@tee.co.za it will tell you what you wana know.
A lay preacher does the service of the church like an alter boy in a catholic church. you help the church in what ever way you can.
2007-05-14 07:15:04 · answer #5 · answered by Michael 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Become A Preacher
2016-09-28 07:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, get yourself brainwashed into thinking that the superstition is actually real and a god actually exists. This can be easily accomplished if you've been indoctrinated as a child.
Second, you'll have to apply to a seminary. While there, you'll be taught their version of the superstition. If they are convincing enough, you might even be able to hold back all of those pesky doubts you have about how something so far fetched could be true. Luckily, you'll be taught a routine of "pastoring" that involves various rites you'll have to perform. This will get you into a routine, and you won't have to really deal with those doubts.
Lastly, after you graduate, the Methodist church will decide, based on some input from you, where they are going to stick you. It will usually be an assistant pastorship in a smaller church in the boondocks. Eventually, you'll get your own church depending on where one becomes available.
2007-05-14 07:12:40 · answer #7 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 11⤋
I suggest you speak with your Bishop.
2007-05-14 07:14:16 · answer #8 · answered by Mr Wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hope this helps!
2015-05-01 21:35:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋