¶821 COMMISSIONED MINISTERS BECOMING ORDAINED MINISTERS
In order for commissioned ministers to become ordained ministers, they must:
- be a commissioned minister in good standing;
- have completed the following prescribed core courses within an accredited and approved (by MEGaP) seminary, college, or directed study program. These minimum credits shall include:
– Biblical studies (9);
– Church history (3);
– Evangelism/church growth/planting (3);
– Leadership/administration (3);
– Pastoral theology and practical studies (6);
– The balance shall be electives distributed among the following three areas: biblical studies, theology, practical studies (12 credits). (Elective courses taken to meet commissioned ministry requirements can be counted toward this requirement.); - have completed four years of ministry experience under (conference) supervision. Once a lay minister has been approved as a ministerial candidate and has been appointed at a local church, retroactive ministry experience equivalency credits may be granted by the director of leadership development and church health on an individual case-by-case basis, upon written request.
- (if married after becoming a commissioned minister) spouse and ministerial candidate together meeting with a MEGaP subcommittee for spousal support interview
- be certified by the credentialing coordinator;
- be interviewed and recommended by the MEGaP committee to membership in the conference and ordination;
- by action of the general conference or its board of administration be a member of a conference;
- be ordained by the bishop or the bishop’s appointee;
- commit to annually file a continuing education plan with the credentialing coordinator and fulfill it as a condition of maintaining good standing in the conference.
