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: https://www.cognitoforms.com/VAUMC/AssociateMembershipApplicationPhase120262027
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: https://doc.vaumc.org/MinServices/CandidateDisclosureForm.pdf
Read the instructions below carefully:
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.
The 2026 Associate Application is now closed.
Upon submitting the application, next steps will be attached to the confirmation email. You can immediately begin to work on your materials to submit to your dCom for your recommendation
interview. Once recommended you will receive additional information about the application process.
To download the Candidate’s Disclosure form for upload in your application go here: https://doc.vaumc.org/minservices/FORM114CandidatesDisclosureForm.pdf