The Board of Ordained Ministry receives applications annually between July 1 and July 31, 2025. Please read the following information carefully, and we look forward to hearing from you as you respond to God’s continued call in your ministry.
For more information, contact clergyexcellence@vaumc.org
Applying for Associate Membership: Applications are Open from
June 1 – June 30, 2026
Associate Membership
In 2023, the Board of Ordained Ministry voted to change the Associate Membership Application process from a one-year application process to a two-year application process. Upon applying for associate membership through phase 1 and receiving a recommendation of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry, the associate applicant would enter the provisional residency process for one year. The following year they are eligible to apply for phase two of the application process and submit their materials to be eligible to interview.
To apply for Associate Membership, you must meet the criteria below:
1) Reached the age of 40.
2) Completed or will complete your Course of Study or Masters of Divinity Degree by May 2028.
3) Completed or will complete by June 2028 a minimum of sixty undergraduate semester hours towards the Bachelors of Arts or an equivalent degree in a college or university approved by the University Senate.
4) Are licensed for pastoral ministry.
5) Will have served at least four years as a full-time pastors or have been granted equivalency of four years of as a full-time local pastor by July 1, 2026.
6) Have declared your willingness to accept a full-time appointment.
Apply for Associate Membership here…
Upon submitting the application, you will be placed on the Associate Applicant Track on Unity Web, which will outline your next steps. You must submit your written materials at least one week in advance of your dCom interview.
You can find the Candidate’s Disclosure Form here…
Applications for Provisional and Full Membership, as well as Recognition of Orders, are now live from July 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026. See the information below for more details.
Application Information for Provisional Membership
To apply for provisional elder, fill out the application here…
To apply for provisional deacon, fill out the application here…
To download the Candidate’s Disclosure form, go here…
Application Information for Full Membership & Recognition of Orders
* This application process is not for those transferring from other conferences. That application process opens in early January 2027 and will be available on the Clergy Excellence transfer page.
To apply for full membership and recognition of orders, fill out the application here…