Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
Licensing School Student Information
May 24 – May 31, 2022
In-Person Event with Online Coursework required before arrival
The Virginia Board of Ordained Ministry will host a hybrid Licensing School from May 24 – June 4. Classes will be asynchronous (participating on your own schedule) as well as synchronous The Virginia Board of Ordained Ministry will host Licensing School from May 24 – May 31, 2022. Classes will be in-person at Shenandoah University. Participation is mandatory at all events for clergy who are entering their first appointments -– licensed local pastors, provisional elders and provisional deacons.
Registration is by invitation only. Please contact your District Superintendent for information on how to register if you have found this page through a web search.
Below you will find samples of the syllabus and other documentation related to Licensing School from 2021. Please check back periodically as we will be updating this information for 2022.
Virginia Licensing School Student Packet 2022 (available soon)
This packet includes detailed student information – a list of course meetings, textbooks needed for Licensing School and sermon submission guidelines.
2022 Licensing School Schedule
This document contains all assignments, due dates, and materials you need to complete the requirements for licensing school. We recommend that you download this file to your desktop. The second page is the Table of Contents and you will notice it has hyperlinks so that you can move through the pages of the syllabus more easily.
Details for Licensing School Tuesday May 24- Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Official Invitation
In order to attend Licensing School, you must receive an invitation from the District Superintendent or the Board of Ordained Ministry.
The 2022 Session of Licensing School is scheduled to take place in person at Shenandoah University: 1460 University Dr, Winchester, VA 22601.
Participation is mandatory at all events for clergy who are entering their first appointments–licensed local pastors, provisional elders, and provisional deacons. Please read on for more details.
COVID-19 Protocols
The Licensing School planning team is considering pandemic conditions and is monitoring trends regarding COVID-19. The team will send updates as the dates for Licensing School approach.
Registration Link
https://na.eventscloud.com/licensingschool2022
Deadline:
Friday, May 6th, midnight. This deadline is non-negotiable in order to forecast appointments as well as needs for licensing school.
Cost/Payment
The cost to students in the Virginia Conference: $275
The cost to students has been subsidized with a generous gift from the Board of Ordained Ministry.
The cost for students attending from other conferences: $550
The online registration site will accept payment by credit card or printed invoice to pay by check. If a candidate expects to receive scholarship money either from their district or from their church additional instructions can be found on the website.
Location:
As mentioned above, in person, Shenandoah University, 1460 University Dr, Winchester, VA 22601
Please note: Check-in is not possible prior to Tuesday, May 24, at 8:00 a.m. Shenandoah’s graduation will take place just three days prior. Their staff will need the time to prepare the rooms for Licensing School participants.
Preparation:
On-Line Course Work
Some online learning will be required prior to Licensing School. If you have completed Methodist Doctrine and Polity, as well as Methodist Mission and Evangelism courses, you will be able to upload your transcripts and receive a separate assignment.
The Center for Clergy Excellence will purchase online classes from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Look for more information from the Associate Director for Call and Candidacy the Rev. Crystal Sygeel as Licensing School approaches.
Preaching Practicum
All participants will engage in a preaching practicum during the seven days. The registration portal will allow you to upload the sermon you will be using for the small group presentation and debrief. There is an entire page of the registration devoted to the preaching assignment. Please read carefully.
IDI Assessment Required for Licensing School 2022
the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is required for all clergy preparing to serve a first-time appointment in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. The IDI is designed to help people reflect on their cultural competency, awareness, and vulnerability.
Members of the Licensing School Class of 2022 will be debriefed as a group by IDI Qualified Administrator Rev. Crystal Sygeel, and have an opportunity for individual debriefs with other Qualified IDI Administrators.
You will receive a link to the IDI Assessment via email from Clergy Excellence.
The deadline to take the assessment this year is Friday, May 13, 2022
Licensing School Web-Page
The Center for Clergy Excellence will update and maintain a webpage where students can retrieve basic information as well as materials for the full week of classes. Look for more information from the Associate Director for Call and Candidacy Rev. Crystal Sygeel as Licensing School approaches.
Lodging:
Students, staff, and faculty will be staying on campus in Residence Hall.
All rooms are single occupancy and all rooms include a private bath. Because the Residence Hall can accommodate all participants no additional lodging is being offered by the VAUMC.
Meals:
The refectory on Shenandoah’s Campus provides multiple options including options for those with special diets and/or health concerns.
Recognition at Annual Conference:
Those who have been approved for licensing will be recognized two times at annual conference:
- Clergy Session, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 16 Ballrooms D,E,F,G
- A Service of Ordering, 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 17 — Main Room (The rehearsal for this service is Thursday, June 16, at 9:30 p.m.)
Orientation
Clergy Ethics – Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
- Format for Annual Staff Evaluations (Word)
- Safe Sanctuaries Smaller Membership Congregations (pdf)
- Pastoral Fraud and Abuse Example (Word)
- Sex Offender Covenant Letter (Word)
- Pastoral Ethics Presentation (pdf)
- Handouts for Pastoral Ethics Class (Word)
The Art of Preaching
Theology
Stewardship
Weddings & Funerals
Church Leadership & Administration
Communications
Pensions & Health Benefits
- Pension and Health Benefits VUMPI Presentation (pdf – 2022)
Pastoral Care
- Powerpoint Presentation by Dr. Charles Ledlum-Bates
EVC Training Video
- An EVC training video is available after you login into EVC at https://evc.vaumc.org ; click on the “How To Section” blue button after logging into EVC to see the video.
