It’s very possible that you’re at this page because one of the members of your church has expressed a sense of the call of God on his/her life and is seeking to begin the process of ministerial preparation. It’s exciting as a pastor, to be starting this journey with one you’ll have the privilege or shepherding into rewarding new areas of serving God and the Church. But it also means that you now have some added responsibilities.
For the next few years of her journey, you will be the candidate’s primary mentor. She will be assigned an advocate by the Board of Ministry to help guide through the process, but you will remain the primary mentor. That means you must become thoroughly familiar with the process. Talk with her about the Call of God on one’s life, pray with her, help her clarify her call.
Read the Manual paragraphs 500-502.6, 529-534, and make sure your candidate for license becomes familiar with them as well.
Familiarize yourself with both the USA Handbook for Christian Ministries and the USA Sourcebook On Ordination. Your candidate will also need to be familiar with those documents, so walk through them with him.
Download and use the “Procedures for Issuing a Local License“, “Interview Guidelines”, and the “Application for Local Minister’s License” from the denominational site.
Submit the Verification of Credential History Form and a request for Background Screening (or a copy of a recent background screening which has been done on the MIT) to the District Office.
Help guide your candidate throughout the year in completing the required six courses in the Course of Study.
Make sure that you have a current criminal background screening on the license candidate.
Order the Local License and make the presentation of license a significant event in your church.
Remember that except for the screening through the General Secretary’s office, this is all a local church process at this point. None of those documents or applications need to be sent to the district office.
Blessings on what can be one of the most fulfilling parts of a pastor’s ministry.