First Time Certified Lay Minister Applicants Ready to Meet with thier District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Welcome and congratulations on pursuing becoming a Certified Lay Minister for the first time! If you are here it means you have completed the following and are ready to upload a series of documents into your jotform application:

1. Confirm Previous Lay Servant Status

On the application you will be expected to confirm the years of BASIC and Spiritual Gifts courses which are required to begin the four modules for Certified Lay Ministry

2. Received a written recommendation from Local Pastor

All candidates seeking to become Certified Lay Ministers in the Virginia Conference must have a letter of recommendation from their pastor. You will need to upload this letter into your application.

3. Receive a written recommendation from Church Council/Charge Conference

All candidates seeking to become Certified Lay Ministers in the Virginia Conference must have a letter of recommendation from their local church. You will need to upload a copy of this letter into your application.

4. Expanded Background Check

All candidates seeking to become Certified Lay Ministers must submit to an Expanded Background Check: which includes a consumer credit check, county and national criminal checks, a sex offenders check, and a Department of Motor Vehicles check. Candidates must confirm they have submitted to the expanded background check. The link to the form and instructions can be found here.

5. Biographical Form

All candidates pursuing certification in the Virginia Conference as Lay Ministers must submit a biographical form which provides basic background information on a candidate’s life and formation. You will need to upload this form into your application.

6. Receive a written recommendation of District Superintendent

All candidates seeking to become Certified Lay Ministers in the Virginia Conference must have a letter of recommendation from their district superintendent. You will need to upload this letter into your application.

7. Candidacy Summit

The Candidacy Summit is a discernment event held twice a year (virtually in January, and in-person in July) for anyone wishing to explore a call to ministry in the United Methodist Church. You will need to record your attendance in the application or plans to attend. You can also upload your certificate of completion.

8. Confirm Completion of Modules One through Four

Candidates will upload certificates of completion for all four CLM Modules

9. Request Interview with DCOM

When candidates complete the jotform application it is automatically sent to the Chair of their District Committee on Ministry.

Applications
The corresponding application for first time certification as a CLM for your district can be found here:
Coastal Virginia
Living Waters
Mission Rivers
Mountain View
Northern Virginia
Shenandoah River
Three Notch’d
Valley Ridge