There are five credentials offered by the Evangelical Methodist Church. They are Deacon, Deaconess, Local Preacher, Admission on Trial, and Elder’s Orders. The following paragraphs are a short explanation of the credentials. The chart on the following page shows the details of the two pathways a candidate may choose to seek ministerial credentials in the Evangelical Methodist Church.

The first two are the credentials of Deacon and Deaconess. These two credentials are for those people that have a “higher call” on their life but not to pastor a local church. The Deacon or Deaconess is however, called to an active service in some Christian work. The Deacon or Deaconess is usually a help in service to the local church and pastor. To receive the credential of Deacon or Deaconess you shall have completed the course of study for Deacon or Deaconess license and must be recommended by the District Board of Ministerial Relations and the District Superintendent, and receive a favorable vote of the Annual Conference.

To receive the credential of Local Preacher’s License you shall have completed the course of study for local preacher’s license and must be recommended by the District Board of Ministerial Relations and the District Superintendent, and receive a favorable vote of the Annual Conference. A local preacher is not a ministerial member of the Conference.

To receive the credential of Admission on Trial you shall have completed the course of study for admission on trial and must be recommended by the District Board of Ministerial Relations and the District Superintendent, and receive a favorable vote of the Annual Conference. A candidate who is admitted on trial is actually on trial for two years. His character, competency, and preaching must prove to be advantageous to the Board of Ministerial Relations before they can be admitted into full connection. A candidate on trial may be discontinued without any reflection on his character.

To receive the credential of Elder’s Order you shall have been employed at least two years in the active ministry and have completed the course of study for Elder’s Orders. This course is a two-year course. The candidate must be recommended by the District Board of Ministerial Relations and the District Superintendent, and receive a favorable vote of the Annual Conference.

Consecrated Deacons or Deaconess’ desiring Ordination, enter at the Admission on Trial level.

(This information was taken from the Discipline of the Evangelical Methodist Church, paragraphs 472, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 685.)

There are two pathways from which a candidate may choose to seek ministerial credentials in the Evangelical Methodist Church. The first would be the path to ordination as an elder, the other consecration as a deacon or deaconess. It is understood that anyone entering the Course of Study as a local preacher is working toward ordination as an elder. If that is not what a candidate desires, then he or she should enter the program leading to consecration as a deacon or deaconess.