If you feel called to professional ministry in The United Methodist Church, there are several ways in which to serve:
- God may be calling you to serve the church as an Elder: Elders are ordained for ministries of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service. Most Elders serve as pastors, though some serve as chaplains, campus ministers, professors, or in other ministry settings. Those ordained as an Elder have met specific educational requirements. Read more about The Ministry of Elders (pdf).
- God may be calling you to serve the church as a Deacon: Deacons are ordained for ministries of Word, Service, Compassion and Justice and serve as a bridge between the church and the world. Many Deacons serve in agencies outside the church, in ministries of outreach, mission, and justice. Others serve within the local church, as associate pastors, or in areas such as Christian education, youth, children, music, or missions. Those ordained as Deacon have met specific educational requirements. Read more about The Ministry of Deacons (pdf).
- God may be calling you to serve the church as a Licensed Local Pastor: Local Pastors are licensed for ministries of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service in a particular congregation. The educational requirements and procedures are different for Local Pastors than for Elders. Read more about the The Ministry of Licensed Local Pastors (pdf) and the educational requirements.
- God may be calling you to ministry as a lay person. Through baptism, we are each called to serve God and others. You may be called to serve through your secular career, your role in your family, or as a lay staff person or volunteer in your congregation, District or Conference.
Educational Requirements
Ordained Clergy
If you are planning to pursue ordination as an Elder, you will need to earn an undergraduate degree and a Master of Divinity degree. This is a three-year graduate program where you will study scripture, theology, and Methodism, among other subjects. If you plan to enroll in a hybrid program, please keep in mind that the NC Board of Ordained Ministry requires that students are on campus for at least 1/2 of their Master of Divinity program (if the majority of the class is online, it is considered an online course).
Several educational avenues toward ordination are available for Ordained Deacons.
As you are discerning your call to ministry as an Elder or Deacon, you may want to begin researching which seminary (also called “Divinity School” or “School of Theology”) is the best fit for you. There are 13 United Methodist seminaries as well as a host of other United Methodist-approved seminaries. Members of the NC Conference often attend:
Licensed Local Pastors
Licensed local pastors must have graduated from an accredited high school or have received a certificate of equivalency before becoming a certified candidate. The licensed local pastor must pursue theological education through an approved seminary or in the Course of Study. Details about the educational requirements are available in The Ministry of Licensed Local Pastors (pdf).
For More Information
Questions? Ready to get started? Please contact Heidi Seifert in the Conference Office of Clergy Life.