Board Officers

District Committee on Ministry Chairs

    Committees

    To carry out its work, the Board has numerous standing committees.  For more information about a committee, or to get a particular form, click on the appropriate work area below or scroll down to that section.

    Jump to: Extension Ministries | Pastoral Care | Retired Clergy | Vocational Intern Program | District Committees

    Extension Ministries

    Paragraph 343 of the 2004 Book of Discipline states that “Elders in effective relationship may be appointed to serve in ministry settings beyond the local United Methodist church in the witness and service of Christ’s love and justice. Persons in these appointments remain with the itineracy and shall be accountable to the annual conference. One way that accountability is maintained is through the submission of an annual report, and a one or two page narrative about your work. For questions or information about submitting this report and time of submission, contact your District Superintendent.

    Pastoral Care

    The Pastoral Care Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry serves two primary purposes for those serving in ministerial roles (serving in local churches or extension ministries), as well as their families, serving (or having membership within) the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

    1. The first purpose is to provide referral networking and allocation of financial subsidy assistance for professional licensed counseling, spiritual direction, or short-term interventional clergy coaching (based on a crisis intervention situation).  Subsidy resources are based on the Pastoral Care Subsidy Policy (see the Journal article). Any person serving in ministerial roles can access these resources by contacting the current co-chair of the Pastoral Care Committee. Contacts made to the chair of Pastoral Care are held as confidential.

    2.  The second purpose is to provide Sexual Ethics education for all those serving in ministerial roles within the boundaries of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (regardless of location of one’s Conference membership or denominational affiliation). Read more

    Retired Clergy

    Nearly thirty years ago one of our retired elders, Dr. Carl Erhart, preached a sermon at the retirement recognition service entitled, “Is There Life after Retirement?”  Thank God, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes!”  Thank God also, that we have a United Methodist Pension Fund that helps to make retirement and life after retirement possible.

    Retirement does not mean the end of ministry; in fact, retirement opens up all kinds of options for ministry, from continuing to serve a local church to pursuing new interests and hobbies, enabling one to continue to use one’s gifts and graces.

    When you are considering retirement, it is a good idea to read Paragraph 358 in the 2012 Book of Discipline, where you will discover among other things that mandatory retirement is at age 72 and that a request for retirement shall be in writing to the bishop, the cabinet, and the Board of Ordained Ministry at least 120 days prior to the effective retirement date unless waived by the bishop and cabinet.

    When you retire, may you like Abraham  (who only answered God’s call after our mandatory retirement age, when he was 75) grow strong in your faith as you give glory to God (Rom. 4:20b).

    Vocational Intern Program and Young Clergy Initiative

    The Vocational Intern Program is a project of the Board of Ordained Ministry for men and women college age and beyond who are considering a vocation in ministry in the United Methodist Church.  The Vocational Intern Program provides an opportunity for participants to have “real life” experiences of Christian ministry in parish situations or specialized settings. Learn more... 

    Applicants must have completed at least one year of college and be a member of the United Methodist Church. Applications are due by May 1 each year.

    To take the next step, print and fill out the following materials:

    District Committees

    The Board of Ordained Ministry Handbook states that “The District Committee on Ordained Ministry, along with the District Superintendent are responsible for enlisting, training, and preparing candidates for licenses and ordained ministry.”  The District Committee has primary responsibility for:

    • assigning candidates to candidacy mentors
    • interviewing candidates for certification
    • re-certifying candidates on an annual basis
    • licensing and supervising local pastors

    The District Committee also has the responsibility of determining when a Certified Candidate is qualified and ready to go before the Board of Ordained Ministry for examination toward Elders Orders, Deacons Orders, and Full Time Local Pastor status.

    If you do not know which district committee will be helping you through the candidacy process, check with your pastor or the district webpages and then contact the appropriate chairperson.

    Candidacy Information

    Candidacy Process
    Candidacy Checklist for District Committee
    Candidacy Forms
    Financial Support
    Ordination Project
    Psychological Assessment
    Sexual Ethics Workshops
    Vocational Intern Program

    Clergy Information

    Clergy Concerns
    Continuing Education
    Financial Support
    Formational & Spiritual Growth
    Pastoral Care

    Committees

    Board Officers
    Ethnic Recruitment
    Extension Ministries
    Pastoral Care
    Retired Clergy
    Vocational Intern Program
    District Committees

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    Congregational Ministry