Deacon
Learn more about the path to Ordination as a Deacon and find Board of Ordained Ministry written prompts.
Certified Candidacy
The first step towards Ordination as a Deacon is to become a Certified Candidate.
Read the Steps to Candidacy. Read More
Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM)
- If you are a certified candidate, you are eligible to submit paperwork by July 15 to begin the process to appear before the Board of Ordained Ministry if recommended by the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM).
- August Interview with dCOM
- October Interview with the BOM
- Paperwork due & file complete in early January
- February Interview with the BOM
- Deacons do not go to Licensing School.
Learn about this first interview, called Days of Discernment (DOD). Read More
Educational Requirements
- Required to take at least one course in each of the Basic Graduate Theological Studies. Please read the document linked below for NC Conference Requirements.
- Deacons need a degree from an approved school of theology or seminary that includes Basic Graduate Theological Studies, and it does not have to be a Master’s of Divinity Degree. If you already have a theology degree, please send your transcripts to registrar@nccumc.org to determine what classes you still need for Ordination.
Read about the full Educational Requirements. Read More
Days of Discernment
Days of Discernment (DOD) is your first interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM). At DOD, you will interview with one of the Board of Ordained Ministry Discernment Teams to discuss your call to ordained ministry (Elder or Deacon), and this is the team you will meet with going forward.
At the interview, the Discernment Team will discuss your paperwork (there is written work required), your call, and anything else in your file they feel is important (previous written work, background check, psychological evaluation, etc.).
Read FAQs about the Days of Discernment. Read More
Provisional Membership
- If you are approved at Days of Discernment (DOD), you are eligible to write for Provisional Membership. Prompts are typically released in April and can be found on the Written Work page.
- As required by the Book of Discipline, all provisional members participate in RIOM (Residency in Ordained Ministry) during their provisional period. RIOM is designed to extend theological education through covenant groups and mentoring, helping provisional members grow in the practice of ministry, deepen their understanding of ordained ministry, and live into covenant ministry within the conference.
In the North Carolina Conference, the provisional period is at least two years. Some annual conferences require three years.
Learn more about RIOM. Read More
Residency in Ordained Ministry (RIOM)
Grounding residents in baptismal identity and a rule of life to sustain them for a lifetime of joyful service in the UMC.
Connecting residents to one another, the BOM, conference leaders and peers, laity, members of local communities, and their local contexts.
Equipping residents through ministry reflection, self-awareness, and practical appreciative leadership tools.
Learn more about RIOM. Read More
Full Connection
Information coming soon.