Clergy Excellence Candicacy Forms

Greetings! Below you will find forms that are necessary in your journey toward certification, licensing, and ordination in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Page Organization

The documents and links have been organized according to the stages of credentialing in our conference. Please bookmark this page so you can refer to it as you travel through the processes for certification as a lay minister and/or candidate toward ordination.

For Candidates seeking to Admitted, Certified, or Licensed status:

Please note, your paperwork is due two weeks prior to the schedule date of your interview for any stage.

This is to allow your dCOM time to absorb the material you have submitted and to give them the fullest understanding of you as a candidate.

Scroll down for forms and applications. A good rule of thumb is to complete forms first and then fill out the final application once all paperwork is complete.

When you submit the form for your district to become – Admitted, Certified, or Licensed – it is automatically sent to your dCOM chair and registrar.

There is no harm in following up to ensure they have received it. A list of dCOM officers can be found here: https://doc.vaumc.org/minservices/DCOMOfficersList2022-2023.pdf

For Candidates seeking Provisional Membership:

The Board of Ordained Ministry receives applications for Provisional Membership annually between July 1 and August 15.

When you have decided to apply for provisional membership, you need to let two key groups know about this decision by August 15

1) The Center for Clergy Excellence – fill out the on-line application below.

2) The Chair of your District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) – to schedule an interview to receive their recommendation for provisional membership.

Your request for an interview should be confirmed by the Chair no later than August 15.

You need to have your interview with them completed no later than October 1—the earlier the better.

Inquiring Candidate Documents and Instructions

These documents are necessary as you move through the Inquiring Candidate phase of the process. A checklist has been provided for your convenience so you can keep track of what you have done. It is recommended that you complete the steps before filling out the Inquiring Candidacy Application form.

Instructions:

1. Download and fill out the biographical form and save it as a Word doc or PDF to be uploaded when you fill out the Inquiring Candidate Steps form

2. Write your call statement and save it as a Word doc or PDF to be uploaded when you fill out the Inquiring Candidate Steps form.

3. Download the background check authorization instructions to complete the authorization which must be mailed to your District Office.

4. Fill out the Inquiring Candidacy Application form. A copy will automatically be sent to your DCOM chair and trigger the request for an interview.

List of Forms and Documents:

Check List for Inquiring Candidates (pdf)
Biographical Form (pdf)
State Background Check Instructions (pdf)

These application forms are district-specific. Please chose the form for your district. If you do not know your district, contact the Associate Director for Call and Candidacy via email or phone at 804-521-1141.

Inquiring Candidates Steps

If you have questions please contact the Associate Director for Call and Candidacy Crystal Sygeel: [email protected]

Becoming a Certified Candidate

Becoming A Certified Candidate Guide and Requirements

This document will give an overview of the process of Becoming A Certified Candidate in Virginia.

Both the guide and checklist have links to several of the necessary forms for Candidacy.

Here you will find links to two of the documents required.

Request for Psychological Assessment

Written Responses for Ministry

Extended Background Check Authorizatation (pdf)

Becoming A Certified Candidate Checklist

This is to help you keep track of all paperwork and what you will be expected to do with the paperwork when you fill out your final application.

Becoming A Certified Candidate Jotform Applications

Be sure to click on the application that corresponds to your district.

Becoming a Certified Candidate Applications

Candidacy Summit Events

The Candidacy Summit is an overnight event for anyone (18 or older and out of high school) who is interested in learning more about pursuing ministry leadership in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church (VAUMC). (There are separate events for high school students who are interested in pursing ministry leadership.) The purpose of the Candidacy Summit is to provide opportunities for vocational discernment, connection with others who are exploring God’s call in their lives, and deeper understanding about the VAUMC journey toward certified, licensed and ordained ministry.
Next Events: January 6-7, 2023 and July 7-8, 2023

Candidacy Renewal

Coastal Virginia
Living Waters
Mission Rivers
Mountain View
Northern Virginia
Shenandoah River
Three Notch’d
Valley Ridge

Licensing As Local Pastor Steps

Coastal Virginia
Living Waters
Mission Rivers
Mountain View
Shenandoah River
Northern Virginia
Three Notch’d
Valley Ridge

Forms for Licensing Renewal

Full Membership

dCOM forms

DCOM Handbook