Following is a description of the process toward ministry for all persons who sense God’s leadership to explore a call to Christian ministry in the Evangelical Methodist Church.

1. Applicants for the ministerial course of study begin by requesting approval to enter the ministry as Elder or Deacon/Deaconess at the Local Church Annual Conference. (Those interested in transfer into the Evangelical Methodist Church will contact the District Superintendent of the region where they reside.)

List of District Superintendents

Atlantic
Rev. Harold Thompson, 1210 Lashley Park Dr., Gibsonville, NC 27249, Phone: 336-449-7207, hthompson3@earthlink.net.

Central Lakes
Rev. Floyd B’Hymer, 2914 Fairlawn, Columbus, IN 47203, Phone: 812-375-0326, FBHymer1@juno.com

Mid-States
Rev. Jack Conner, 7567 Terry Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76180, Phone: 817-498-6780, jvconner@emchurch.net

Northwest
Rev. Clyde Zehr, P. O. Box 75673, Seattle, WA 98125, Phone: 206-364-7393, clydezehr@msn.com

Southern
Rev. W. Laurens Hudson, 1451 Wood Park Way, Kennesaw, GA 30152, Phone: 770-424-4854, wlhemcsd@bellsouth.net

Southwest
Rev. Wes Sperl, 1433 S. Burnaby Drive, Glendora, CA 91740, Phone: 626-963-2120, glendoraem@yahoo.com

2. Following approval from the local church, the applicant should contact the General Secretary at Headquarters (317-780-8017) and request a Course of Study Enrollment Form. After completing the enrollment form, the applicant will obtain the signature approval of his/her pastor and district superintendent of the district in which he/she resides. The completed form with proper signatures is to be returned to Headquarters including the $25 enrollment fee.

3. After receiving the signed enrollment form with the $25 enrollment fee, the General Secretary will then mail to the applicant a participant’s notebook and notify your District Chairperson of the Board of Ministerial Education of your official enrollment into the Course of Study.

The Participant’s notebook will include:
A. The Path for Credentials
B. Credit for Equivalency Guidelines
C. Written Sermon Guide
D. Book Report Format Guide
E. Ministerial Education Fund Information
F. Course Requirements
G. Exams and List of Examiners

4. The Conference Chairperson will request all necessary transcripts, certificates, etc. verifying previous education or training. Your transcripts, etc. will be evaluated by the District Chairperson and after input from the appropriate district personnel, you will be
contacted regarding the section of the Course of Study in which you have been enrolled: Local Preacher, Admission On Trial, Elder, Deacon or Deaconess.

5. A date should be set, at the earliest possible date, for the applicant to meet personally with the District Board of Ministerial Education Chairman and the District Board of Ministerial Relations to discuss:
? The candidate’s goals for ministry.
? The appropriate course of study to help the candidate reach his/her goals and to assist the candidate in answering God’s call on his/her life.
? Credits for equivalency through life experience, undergraduate, graduate school or seminary education.
? To review the overall process for ordination in the Evangelical Methodist Church.

6. The course requirements are divided into two parts for each level (Examinations and Readings) and two written expository sermons—one that is required at the Admission on Trial level and one that is required at the Elder level.

7. After each designation in the Course of Study is completed, the District Chairperson of the Board of Ministerial Education will instruct you regarding the requirements necessary for your advancement to the next level.

Examinations
1. Order the books from the General Conference Headquarters. Remember prices are subject to change without notice, so it is recommended that you phone or email your order in to get the most current price.

2. After you have studied the book and are familiar with its content, send the completed exam to the appropriate examiner. The exam will be evaluated and you will be contacted regarding whether you passed or if you need to submit necessary revisions. (A list of examiners can be found in your notebook or online.)

3. After you have successfully passed the exam, the examiner will notify the District Chairperson. You will receive a “Response Memo” from the District Chairperson notifying you of your successful completion of this portion of the Course of Study and your records will be updated to reflect this change. We suggest you maintain a personal file of the “Response Memo” that verifies your completion of the requirements.

4. Examinations can also be downloaded online from www.emchurch.org. The user ID is: emcedu and the password is: 2 wise

Reading Books
1. Order the books from the General Conference Headquarters. Remember prices are subject to change without notice, so it is recommended that you phone or email your order in to get the most current price.

2. After you have studied the book and are familiar with its content, write a report on the book using the format described on the “Book Report Format Guide.”

3. Write your report and mail or email it to the District Chairperson. Once the report is evaluated you will be contacted regarding whether you have successfully completed this assignment or if you need to resubmit the report with necessary revisions.

4. After your report is deemed acceptable, you will be contacted and your records will be updated to reflect your successful completion of this portion of the Course of Study.

Written Sermons
Follow the guidelines presented in your handbook—The Written Sermon Guide.

Credit for Equivalency
If you attend a college class, seminar, workshop, specialized training, etc. which you believe fulfills part of the prescribed Course of Study, contact the District Chairperson and request “credit for equivalency.” Please include the appropriate certificate, transcript, etc. with your request. You will receive a copy of the “Credit for Equivalency” form indicating the credit given. The credit granted will be at the sole discretion of the District Chairperson of the Board of Ministerial Education.

Life or Vocational Experience Credit for Equivalency
If you would like life or vocational experience to be considered for “credit for equivalency,” you must submit a written request to the District Chairperson. This written request: (a) must specify which requirement of the Course of Study the candidate believes has been satisfied by verified life experience; (b) must provide a detailed description of the life or vocational experience so it may be adequately evaluated; and (c) must share clearly why the candidate believes this experience has satisfied the specific requirement. The District Chairperson has the right to request any independent verification of the life or vocational experience deemed necessary to adequately evaluate the request. The decision of the District Chairperson is final.

Course of Study Completion
When you have completed all the necessary examinations and readings for a particular level of the Course of Study, notification of your completion will be sent to you, the District Superintendent and the Chairperson of the Board of Ministerial Relations.

List of District Chairpersons of the Board of Ministerial Education