UMC Ordination
Steps into Certification
The certification of educators, youth workers, musicians, evangelists, camp/retreat personnel, and spiritual formation leaders by The United Methodist Church resulted from a desire of persons in these fields to serve the church with excellence.
Certification is the church’s recognition that an individual has met the required standards for academic training, experience, and continuing study necessary to achieve and maintain professional excellence.
The church’s need for individuals who can serve to the best of their ability makes certification by The United Methodist Church increasingly important.
The purpose of this page is to help persons who are interested in professional certification achieve that goal.
Step 1
Persons seeking certification by The United Methodist Church in Christian education, youth ministry, music ministry, evangelism, camp/retreat ministry, or spiritual formation, should make their interest known to the certification registrar of their annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry. For the name and address of the registrar of your annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry, contact your annual conference office or visit the Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries Web site www.gbhem.org.
Step 2
Applicants should study leaflets 322614 (educators), 322432 (youth workers), 322556 (musicians), 322498 (evangelists) 226487 (camp/retreat ministry), 323733 (spiritual formation) and must meet the personal, Ministry to determine if they have met these standards.
Step 3
Personal Requirements
- Recognized Christian character, personal competence, integrity, and commitment to the church ’s total ministry and mission.
- Ability to function with emotional maturity and sound judgment
- Ability to relate to people, and to work with volunteers and staff
- Demonstrated leadership;
- Ability to integrate theory and practice;
- Understanding of and commitment to the total ministry of the church.
Step 4
Church Requirements
A member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year before enrolling in the certification program.
Knowledge of The United Methodist Church’s structure, polity, curriculum resources, program, and mission.
Psychological assessment and criminal background check are required.
Step 5
- Academic Requirements
Applicants must meet the educational standards set by the Division of Ordained Ministry, Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, The United Methodist Church. There are four avenues for certification. It is important to study carefully the appropriate leaflet (see Step 2). Board of Ordained Ministry or visit our Web site at www.gbhem.org for the latest listing, published annually by the Division of Ordained Ministry, Section of Deacons and
- Diaconal Ministries
To be eligible for financial assistance from the Division of Ordained Ministry, applicants must obtain an enrollment form (HE4064) for certification studies from the conference Board of Ordained Ministry, Division of Deacons, and complete the form prior to registering with the school for the first course.
Step 6
Leadership Experience Requirements
Persons seeking certification in Christian education, youth ministry, music ministry, evangelism, camp/retreat ministry, or spiritual formation in The United Methodist Church must complete four years of experience with full responsibility leading ministry in that area of specialization concurrent with or two years experience following the certification studies.
Step 7
Following the required experience for the certification being sought individuals may apply for certification using form 323790. Applicants can obtain these forms from their annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Applicants must send a copy of the completed application form to the certification registrar for the annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and a second copy to the Division of Ordained Ministry, Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007.
Step 8
Each applicant must submit a minimum of three references from persons acquainted with his/her personal, church, and professional qualifications. Among the three persons must be a United Methodist elder, deacon, or diaconal minister; a college or seminary professor under whom the individual has studied; and a general officer in a local church with whom the educator, evangelist, youth worker, musician, camp/retreat worker, or spiritual formation worker has worked.
Step 9
Upon vote by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry indicating the applicant has satisfactorily met all requirements for certification, the conference board notifies the Division of Ordained Ministry, Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries, that the application is approved. After satisfactory review by the section, the certificate is issued and sent to the conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
Step 10
The conference Board of Ordained Ministry presents the certificate to the individual at a session of the annual conference.
Step 11
Renewal of certification is subject to biannual review and approval by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry. The individual must continue to meet the standards maintained by the Division of Ordained Ministry, Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries. Every two years the conference board will send all certified persons a copy of “Request for Annual Review and Renewal” form HE4004 which must be completed and returned by the date specified. Certification is renewable for as long as the certified person desires it–contingent upon satisfactory completion of the biannual renewal form which includes an active program of continuing education and approval of the conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
For more information concerning these certifications, contact your annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry or SDDM. For information concerning certifications by other boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church, contact InfoServ at http://infoserv.umc.org.