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We've collected relevant excerpts from The Book of Doctrines and Disciplines and MidTexas procedures to help you as you begin the journey to ordination.
Discerning Your Call – ¶506.2
¶506.2. After local church approval, the candidate shall spend a minimum of six months under the supervision of the annual conference board of ministry in discernment, which must include a supervised internship or employment in a ministry setting. During this time, the candidate shall:
MidTexas Discernment Process
a. Engage in discernment, including but not limited to, completion of a guidebook, mentoring, and participation in a small group with other candidates;
b. Undergo a psychological evaluation, and background and credit check; and
c. Upon completion of the minimum of six months of discernment, the candidate shall write a formal statement detailing his or her call to ordained ministry and submit it to the annual conference board of ministry.
c. Upon completion of the minimum of six months of discernment, the candidate shall write a formal statement detailing his or her call to ordained ministry and submit it to the annual conference board of ministry.
MidTexas Discernment Process
- Candidate attends a weekly District Class Meeting.
- Candidate selects an ordained member of the District Class Meeting to be their mentor.
- Mentor completes a jot form affirming their status as mentor.
- Candidate and mentor complete the Candidacy Guidebook.
- Candidate engages in a six-month supervised internship or employment in ministry setting. The BOM will assist in securing placement in coordination with the Cabinet.
- Candidate responds to request to schedule and complete the psychological evaluation with BOM psychologist at candidate’s expense. (Can be funded by local church, mentor, or BOM scholarship as needed/requested.)
- Candidate writes a formal statement detailing their call to ordained ministry and submits it to their mentor.
- After a minimum of 6 months from the date the initial GMC online application was completed, the mentor completes a form confirming
a) the candidate’s participation in class meeting,
b) completion of the guidebook,
c) engagement in ministry, and
d) attaches a copy of the formal statement written by the candidate detailing their call to ordained ministry.
Introductory Interview for Certified Candidacy – ¶506.3
¶506.3. The annual conference board of ministry, or subgroup thereof, shall interview the candidate and the annual conference board of ministry shall then vote on whether to certify the candidate by majority vote.
MidTexas Process:
MidTexas Process:
- Schedule an interview with the BOM using the online form.
- Interview with the BOM subgroup on candidacy, including your mentor.
a. Interview Standard for becoming certified: 1) Do we believe they know God, profess faith in Jesus Christ, and display giftedness of the Holy Spirit?, 2) Do we believe it would harm the candidate or others for them to be certified?, 3) have a call by God and the people of God to devote themselves to the work of ministry?, 4) willing to go on to perfection?, and 5) willing to undergo direction, correction, and equipping by the GMC?
Continuing the Process as a Certified Candidate – ¶506.4
¶506.4. A certified candidate must undergo a period of spiritual formation under the supervision of the annual conference board of ministry until such time as the person is ordained a deacon.
MidTexas Process:
MidTexas Process:
- Certified Candidates will select a mentor from a list provided by the BOM and meet in the mentor group monthly. (This process may change.)
- Certified Candidates will make progress on meeting educational requirements toward deacon orders.
- Certified Candidates can apply online by August 1 for an interview with the BOM as a deacon when they will have completed their required courses by December of that year.
Educational Requirements
Prescribed educational requirements must be fulfilled for a certified candidate to serve as a supply pastor and/or move toward ordination as a deacon and/or elder.
Those who were approved as candidates and entered the candidacy process prior to January 1, 2025 are subject to provisions of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines, ¶407. The course requirements (see ¶407.3, ¶407.4) are reflected in the Transcript Review Form. As for the course requirements themselves, they may be met by UM Course of Study transcript (according to the Transcript Review Form as to specific courses) or by Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs from the recommended programs at Truett Theological Seminary House of Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wesley Biblical Seminary or United Theological Seminary (see ¶407.2). Alternatively, Master of Divinity or equivalent courses from a seminary that has accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools may be used to meet the various educational requirements. The previously “recommended” seminaries – Truett Wesley House, Asbury, Wesley Biblical and United) have for the most part identified which of their courses meet the various requirements. For those seminaries or other ATS accredited seminaries not on the recommended list, if it is not clear, the Review Team of the Board of Ministry will analyze the specific course descriptions noted in a candidate’s transcript to assess whether a particular course meets a requirement. An effort is made to be flexible, while maintaining the standards of the educational requirements. Once a determination is made, however, the Review Team’s decision holds as to whether a particular course meets a specific requirement (see ¶407.5 which reads “Each annual conference board of ministry shall certify that the courses taken by a person correspond sufficiently to these areas.”) For Mid Texas Conference candidates, Bachelor’s level courses can be considered, but normally only for Introduction to Old Testament and Introduction to the New Testament; on rare occasions, other Bachelor’s level courses can be considered if upon close scrutiny of the particular course description and of the institution itself, the Review Team determines to make an exception; but it is exceptional and unusual. Finally, a candidate approved prior to January 1, 2025 may elect to apply based on the new requirements under the 2024 Book of Doctrines and Discipline described below.
Those who were approved as candidates and entered the candidacy process in 2025 are subject the provisions of the 2024 Book of Doctrines and Disciplines, ¶507. The course requirements (see ¶507.3, ¶507.4) are reflected in the Transcript Review Form – Updated. For those entering after January 1, 2025, the same process described above applies: UM Course of Study Transcript, Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs from the recommended seminaries, and MDiv or equivalent courses from either recommended seminaries or other ATS accredited institutions. However, candidates must have completed courses or enrolled prior to January 1, 2026; beginning January 1, 2026, coursework from either Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs and MDiv or equivalent curricula must be from one of the GMC approved institutions. ¶507.2 states: “A list of approved schools or programs for ministry education will be maintained by the Commission on Ministry and Higher Education. Beginning January 1, 2026, candidates for ordination are required to choose from the list of approved institutions or programs to complete educational requirements for ordination. Students who have completed their studies or enrolled prior to January 1, 2026 are not required to complete their studies at an approved school.”
The Board of Ministry affirms that preparation for ministry is both academic and experiential. Therefore, in reviewing educational requirements, consideration may be given to cultural context, access to theological education, and the candidate’s life experience, demonstrated ministry effectiveness, and overall competency. In appropriate cases, such experience may serve as an equivalency for a portion of formal educational requirements, ensuring that the doctrinal standards of the Global Methodist Church are upheld while removing unnecessary barriers to faithful and fruitful ministry. An equivalency request must be made to the Board of Ministry.
Those who were approved as candidates and entered the candidacy process prior to January 1, 2025 are subject to provisions of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines, ¶407. The course requirements (see ¶407.3, ¶407.4) are reflected in the Transcript Review Form. As for the course requirements themselves, they may be met by UM Course of Study transcript (according to the Transcript Review Form as to specific courses) or by Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs from the recommended programs at Truett Theological Seminary House of Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wesley Biblical Seminary or United Theological Seminary (see ¶407.2). Alternatively, Master of Divinity or equivalent courses from a seminary that has accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools may be used to meet the various educational requirements. The previously “recommended” seminaries – Truett Wesley House, Asbury, Wesley Biblical and United) have for the most part identified which of their courses meet the various requirements. For those seminaries or other ATS accredited seminaries not on the recommended list, if it is not clear, the Review Team of the Board of Ministry will analyze the specific course descriptions noted in a candidate’s transcript to assess whether a particular course meets a requirement. An effort is made to be flexible, while maintaining the standards of the educational requirements. Once a determination is made, however, the Review Team’s decision holds as to whether a particular course meets a specific requirement (see ¶407.5 which reads “Each annual conference board of ministry shall certify that the courses taken by a person correspond sufficiently to these areas.”) For Mid Texas Conference candidates, Bachelor’s level courses can be considered, but normally only for Introduction to Old Testament and Introduction to the New Testament; on rare occasions, other Bachelor’s level courses can be considered if upon close scrutiny of the particular course description and of the institution itself, the Review Team determines to make an exception; but it is exceptional and unusual. Finally, a candidate approved prior to January 1, 2025 may elect to apply based on the new requirements under the 2024 Book of Doctrines and Discipline described below.
Those who were approved as candidates and entered the candidacy process in 2025 are subject the provisions of the 2024 Book of Doctrines and Disciplines, ¶507. The course requirements (see ¶507.3, ¶507.4) are reflected in the Transcript Review Form – Updated. For those entering after January 1, 2025, the same process described above applies: UM Course of Study Transcript, Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs from the recommended seminaries, and MDiv or equivalent courses from either recommended seminaries or other ATS accredited institutions. However, candidates must have completed courses or enrolled prior to January 1, 2026; beginning January 1, 2026, coursework from either Pastoral Studies/Certificate programs and MDiv or equivalent curricula must be from one of the GMC approved institutions. ¶507.2 states: “A list of approved schools or programs for ministry education will be maintained by the Commission on Ministry and Higher Education. Beginning January 1, 2026, candidates for ordination are required to choose from the list of approved institutions or programs to complete educational requirements for ordination. Students who have completed their studies or enrolled prior to January 1, 2026 are not required to complete their studies at an approved school.”
The Board of Ministry affirms that preparation for ministry is both academic and experiential. Therefore, in reviewing educational requirements, consideration may be given to cultural context, access to theological education, and the candidate’s life experience, demonstrated ministry effectiveness, and overall competency. In appropriate cases, such experience may serve as an equivalency for a portion of formal educational requirements, ensuring that the doctrinal standards of the Global Methodist Church are upheld while removing unnecessary barriers to faithful and fruitful ministry. An equivalency request must be made to the Board of Ministry.
Required Courses
Deacons’ Educational Requirements.
A total of ten courses (approximately 30 credit hours) are required for those ordained as deacons. These ten courses are:
Elders’ Educational Requirements.
Individuals who have been previously ordained as a deacon in the GMC may be eligible to be ordained as an elder in the GMC following the completion of at least ten additional courses, including eight required courses as follows:
Elective Courses may be chosen from among the following areas:
A total of ten courses (approximately 30 credit hours) are required for those ordained as deacons. These ten courses are:
- Introduction to Old Testament
- Introduction to New Testament
- Systematic Theology
- Wesleyan Theology and Doctrine
- Methodist History and Polity of the Global Methodist Church
- Basics of Preaching
- Pastoral Care
- Evangelism and Mission
- Wesleyan Understanding of the Sacraments and Worship
- Inductive Bible Study or Hermeneutics
Elders’ Educational Requirements.
Individuals who have been previously ordained as a deacon in the GMC may be eligible to be ordained as an elder in the GMC following the completion of at least ten additional courses, including eight required courses as follows:
- History of Christianity through the Reformation
- History of Christianity, Reformation to the present
- Apologetics
- Wesleyan Discipleship and Spiritual Formation
- Christian Leadership and Conflict Resolution
- An additional Old Testament Class
- An additional New Testament Class
- Ministry of The Holy Spirit
Elective Courses may be chosen from among the following areas:
- Mission of the Church and Church Renewal
- Cross Cultural Ministry and Evangelism
- Advanced Preaching
- Hebrew or Greek language studies
- Pastoral Counseling
- Church Finance and Administration
- Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a hospital or similar setting
- Philosophy of Religion
- Field Study in Israel
- Theology Electives
- Theology of Worship
- Children or Youth Ministry
- Gospel Vision for Justice
- Media and Modern Applications
- Directed Internship or independent study
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