What to do next

If you think that God is calling you to be a minister, you need to do something about it –

• Arrange to talk with your Superintendent Minister – to explore further the areas we’ve been covering here on this website and to find out more about the formal process of candidating.
• Consider attending one of the ‘Ordination Exploration Days’ run by the Learning Network in order to help you clarify your sense of call. 
• Decide whether you are offering for diaconal or presbyteral ministry.
• Download ‘G.6 Steps in Candidating for Ordained Ministry’ from this website, which explains the candidating process in detail. The updated document is available from 1 May  each year.
• Officially inform the Superintendent of your Circuit and, if different, the Presbyter in pastoral charge of the church in which you are a member that you intend to offer for the diaconate/presbyterate.
• Begin the candidating process by ‘registering your interest’ in candidating - request an application form C.1/C.1.1 Candidate’s Application Form from candidates@methodistchurch.org.uk (and copy your Superintendent and District Candidates Secretary into the email) no later than 31 August in the year before which you hope to be accepted for training. The final deadline for submitting this form is 1 October 2022. 

To offer for the Presbyteral ministry, you currently need to be an accredited Local Preacher by 1 February in the Connexional year in which you candidate

To offer for the Diaconal ministry, you need to have completed an approved Worship Leaders’ training (Worship: Leading and Preaching units 1-4) by 1 February in the Connexional year in which you candidate.

There are many more steps ahead. Throughout it all you will have a Candidating Support Group, to underpin the process with prayer and personal, pastoral, and practical support.