Charted Guide to Ordination

 

 

  A Guide for Entry into the Ordained Ministry of the Free Methodist Church

 

I. Requirements for Local Ministerial Candidate (¶ 6500)

 

 

Member of the Free Methodist Church

Exploring a call to ordained ministry in a mentoring relationship with pastor/designee

Licensed by local FMC board of administration

Following licensing, opens file with Ministerial Credentialing Services

 

  

II. Requirements for Conference Ministerial Candidate (¶ 5340)

 

 

 Local ministerial candidate

·History and Polity of the FMC

(Knowledge of this subject required for Apollos Model)

Completed Application for Ministry Appointment in the FMC

Marital status approved (see ¶ 5340C)

Interviewed, certified and recommended by MEG board

Approved by annual conference

 

 

 

  

III. Requirements for Ordination as Elder (¶ 5400)

Seminary Model (¶ 5410)

Conference ministerial candidate

Graduate with M.Div. or equivalent

from an approved JWSF

school or an approved accredited

seminary

·Wesleyan Theology (3C)

Three years full-time pastoral

experience under conference

appointment after CMC

Interviewed, certified and recommended

by MEG board

for elder

Approved by annual conference

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

College Model (¶ 5420)

Conference ministerial candidate

Graduate of an AFMEI school or an

approved accredited college

·Inductive Bible Study (2C)

·Introduction to Christian Doctrine (2C)

·Bible Studies (10C)

·Systematic Theology (7C)

·Wesleyan Theology (3C)

·Pastoral Studies (7C)

·Homiletics (3C)

Three years full-time pastoral experience

under conference appointment

after CMC

Interviewed, certified and recommended

by MEG board for elder

Approved by annual conference

 

 

  

 

JT/XL Model (¶ 5430)

Conference ministerial candidate

·Inductive Bible Study (2C)

·Introduction to Christian Doctrine (2C)

·Bible Studies (8C)

·Systematic Theology (3C)

·Wesleyan Theology (3C)

·Homiletics (3C)

·Pastoral Care (2C)

·Church Admin/Team Building (2 C)

·Spiritual Formation (2 C)

·Leadership/Growth (4C)

·Elective courses (3C)

Three years full-time pastoral experience

under conference appointment after CMC

Interviewed, certified and recommended

by MEG board for elder

Approved by annual conference 

 

  

Apollos Model (¶ 5440)

Approved by MEG board to follow

Apollos Model, coach assigned

Interviewed, certified and recommended

by MEG board for CMC

Approved by annual conference for

CMC

Maintained Ordination Readiness File

with MEG Board

Completed prescribed process of coaching,

assignments, pastoral experience

and assessment under MEG board

guidance

Interviewed, certified and recommended

by MEG board for elder

Approved by annual conference 

 

 

  

Legend: AFMEI—Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions C—semester credits ·—Courses may be taken through an accredited college or seminary, approved short-term classes or correspondence courses CMC—Conference Ministerial Candidate FMC—Free Methodist Church JWSF—John Wesley Seminary Foundation LMC—local ministerial candidate MCS—Ministerial Credentialing Services MEG board—Ministerial Education and Guidance Board ¶—2003 Book of Discipline paragraph references

 

Ministerial Credentialing Services, PO Box 535002, Indianapolis IN 46253

Phone: 1-800-342-5531      E-mail: sylviaf@fmcna.org       WEB: freemethodistchurch.org