Provisional Elder Application 2024-2025
This application is for those applying for provisional elder. This application will be available from July 1-July 31, 2024. You can save as you go and return to this form.
Name (as you want it to appear on official documents)
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First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Suffix
Preferred Name
Address
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Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City
State / Province
Postal / Zip Code
Sending Congregation (Name of Church, District if in VA or state if outside of VA)
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District as of July 1, 2024
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Please Select
Coastal Virginia
Living Waters
Mission Rivers
Mountain View
Northern Virginia
Shenandoah River
Three Notch'd
Valley Ridge
Current Conference Relationship
What is your current conference status?
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Certified Candidate
Part-time Licensed Local Pastor
Full-time Licensed Local Pastor
Lay Supply Pastor
For Certified Candidates and Lay Supply pastors please list your current church membership in Virginia.
If transferred to Virginia Conference: From where and date?
If transferred from another denomination, share what denomination.
Email (please use conference email)
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example@example.com
Phone Number
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Please enter a valid phone number.
Ethnic Origin
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Gender
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Female
Male
Marital Status
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Single
Married
Widowed
Divorced
If divorced please share number of previous marriages.
Name of Spouse (If applicable)
First Name
Last Name
Occupation of Spouse
Children (if applicable). List the names and ages of children with * by those living at home.
Eligibility for Provisional Elders: Under the 2016 Book of Discipline Paragraph 324, I confirm the following qualifications (choose all that apply):
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I have been a certified candidate for at least one year, as of June 2025 Annual Conference.
Date of Certification of Candidacy
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Month
-
Day
Year
Date
District in Which You Were Certified
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Please Select
Coastal Virginia
Living Waters
Mission Rivers
Mountain View
Northern Virginia
Shenandoah River
Three Notch'd
Valley Ridge
Other
If you chose other insert the name of the previous conference and district in which you were certified:
Provisional Elder Eligibility Continued: Choose all that apply:
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I have completed a bachelor's degree from a college or university recognized by the University Senate. (Exceptions may be granted under the provisions specified in in the 2016 Book of Discipline paragraph 324.3).
I meet the graduate educational requirements by one of the following scenarios:
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I graduated (or will graduate by May 2025) with a Master's of Divinity or its equivalent from a seminary approved by the University Senate.
I am a licensed local pastor pursuing ordination as an elder, and I'm applying under the provisions of the 2016 Book of Discipline paragraph 324.6 (five-year Course of Study with thirty-two semester house of graduate theological studies, including the required courses for Provisional Membership).
If you chose option two above share the following info below: Share the year you were licensed and in what district.
If applicable share your COS School and Seminary:
In order to be eligible to apply for provisional membership share below how you have (or are in process by June 1, 2025) of completing the below classes at a UM accredited seminary.
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Name of Class
Year Completed
Name of Seminary
In person or online?
Old Testament
New Testament
Theology
Church History
Mission of the Church in the World
Worship/Liturgy
Evangelism
Preaching
UM History
UM Doctrine
UM Polity
Educational History: List seminary, graduate, and undergraduate institutions you have attended, including Course of Study if applicable, starting with the most recent:
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Name of Institution
Degree or Credit Hours
Year Degree Earned
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Transcripts: Upload your undergrad and graduate transcripts if you have not yet submitted them to Clergy Excellence. If you have previously been continued you do not need to complete this step.
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Candidate's Disclosure Form: Please upload your signed and notarized candidate's disclosure form. This step is required for candidates every year they apply. You can find the disclosure form on the application website.
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Please choose one.
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I am a first-time applicant for Provisional Membership.
I have previously interviewed with the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry for Provisional Membership and was continued.
If you were continued please check the components you were asked to resubmit:
Practice of Ministry Interview
Practice of Ministry Paper
Practice of Ministry Proclamation Video
Theology Interview
Theology Paper
Personal Growth and Development Interview
Personal Growth and Development Paper
Call Interview
Call Paper
If you have been continued:
Please review your written Action Report(s) from your previous interview with the Board for any individualized requirements you may also need to complete.
Appointment History (if applicable): List your appointments in the past ten years, starting with the most recent. If you have not yet received an appointment but N/A in each box on the first row.
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Years
Church or Ministry Setting
District
Position Title
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Employment History: List additional employment in the past ten years, including Lay Supply ministry (SY if applicable) starting with the most recent:
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Years
Name of Employer
Position Title
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Clinical Pastoral Education (due when applying for full membership):
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I have completed 0.5. units of CPE and have included that information in my employment history. I will be submitting these materials to be included in this round of interviews (not required until ordination application).
I will complete this requirement before I apply for ordination.
Autobiographical Statement: In the space below, write an autobiographical statement regarding your Christian experience, call to ministry, formative Christian experiences, and plans for service in the Church. Please keep this to 500 words and 12 point font. You may want to first write this word document then copy it here.
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Please upload a picture of yourself.
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What to expect next?
Upon submitting this application, a next steps document will be attached to your confirmation email. The first step is to get a dCom recommendation by October 1, 2024. Upon receiving that recommendation you will receive the extended application packet and be placed on the provisional membership track on InPath in Unity Web. If at any time you choose to withdraw from the process, send an email to Rev. Jessie Colwell (JessieColwell@vaumc.org). You may be asked to reimburse the Virginia Conference for the cost of the assessment materials if you withdraw after October 1, 2024. If recommended for Commissioning as a Provisional Elder, if you would like to pursue an Appointment Beyond the Local Church contact your District Superintendent and Clergy Excellence to get the process started. The Provisional Membership interviews will be held on February 24-February 26, 2025 at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond, Virginia.
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