Local Pastor Resources
Local Pastor Handbook (pdf) — temporarily unavailable
Guidelines for Continued Theological Education (after seminary and Course of Study)
Licensed Local Pastors and Weddings (pdf)
Local Pastors and the Walk to Emmaus (PDF)
Annual Local Pastor Mentor Report
Local Pastor Renewal Updates
All local pastors under appointment or on Minute Question 16, will complete their license renewal paperwork in Unity. When logging into Unity, click on “Clergy Excellence,” then click on “InPath,” and the renewal track should be present.
You can view the Zoom session on these updates here
Passcode: 5ZQ@M9SG
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley at jasonstanley@vaumc.org.
Course of Study Information, Resources, And Registrar
Full-time Local Pastors have eight years to complete their coursework and part-time local pastors have twelve years.
Often when registering for Course of Study, students must provide a PID#, a personal identification number which is issued to you by the denomination. You may email cos@gbhem.org to request this number.
Most schools require approval from the District Superintendent and the conference registrar. Please be advised that Program and Administrative Coordinator Rev. Lyn Harding is the registrar for Licensed Local Pastors.
Course of Study Schools
Course of Study Courses (pdf)
Course of Study Enrollment and Scholarship Form
Accredited Seminaries approved for United Methodist Students
Provisional Membership and Associate Membership Information and Resources
Educational Requirements for Provisional Membership (Word)
Local Pastors Seeking Provisional or Associate Membership
Associate Membership
The associate membership process in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church is a 2-year process, which includes spending one year in the provisional residency process. In the second year of the process, applicants will submit their materials and interview with the Board of the Ordained Ministry.
To see the full process, read the Associate Membership Application Handbook for 2025-2026 here.
The Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members
The following is the purpose statement for the Fellowship:
The purpose of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members is to provide support, love and encouragement to each other through the encouragement of self-care and spiritual growth, and to create a sense of unity and fellowship. The Fellowship will serve all local pastors and the Board of Ordained Ministry as an advisory/resource group on issues and needs of local pastors and associate members. It will serve as a voice for local pastors in the Virginia Conference, will sponsor retreat time, and encourage small group participation with elders and associate members on the district level.
The Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members has a steering committee with officers elected by the Fellowship. The steering committee includes local pastors from all geographic regions in the Conference and includes the local pastors serving as non-voting members on the Board of Ordained Ministry
Guidelines for Officers of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members
1. Officers are elected at the beginning of the quadrennium and may service up to two quadrennia.
2. Officers must be licensed local pastors or associate members
3. Officers should represent all geographical areas of the conference.
4. If an office is vacated at any time during the quadrennium, the Executive Committee of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members fills the vacancy with someone from that geographical area.
5. The chair of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members shall appoint a nominating committee to select the officers.