Susquehanna Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
According to The United Methodist Book of Discipline, ¶635.2, the Board of Ordained Ministry is responsible for:
- To assume the primary responsibility for the enlistment and recruitment of ministerial leadership for our churches and other ministerial settings;
- To renew a culture of the call in the church;
- To guide candidates and examine applicants for ordained ministry and make recommendations to the Clergy Session;
- To support all those in ministerial leadership with opportunities for ongoing education and spiritual formation;
- To provide means for evaluating the effectiveness of ministerial leaders and to interpret the high ethical standards for ordained ministry set forth in the Discipline;
- To work with the cabinet with regard to requests for changes in conference relationship, through retirement, transfer, medical leave, etc.
It is our hope and prayer that this website serves as a resource for:
- Persons exploring a call to ministry;
- Those working toward Ordination or Licensed Ministries;
- District Committees on Ordained Ministry;
- Clergy serving as mentors, seeking continuing formation, and changing conference relationship
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19
Work/Division of the Board
- Develop and promote a culture of calling with those exploring ministry and in local churches
- Supports those exploring calling to lay and ordained ministry leadership
- Meets with students in seminary
- Manages scholarships and ministry internships
- Gives guidance for those seeking to be Certified Lay Ministries beyond a local church
- Oversees Certified Lay Ministry certification candidacy and certification
- Oversees the process for beginning candidates through certified candidates for ministry
- Oversees the application for those seeking commissioning or ordination as Deacons or Elders
- Provides educational opportunities for those in the candidacy process
- Provides a Guidebooks for candidates seeking ordination and their mentors
- Trains candidacy and clergy mentors
Licensed Local Pastors/Course of Study
- Works with certified candidates for licensing and already licensed local pastors
- Holds annual Licensing School for Local Pastors in conjunction with the Certified Lay Ministers School
- Tracking and Resourcing for local pastors in Course of Study
- See Course of Study and Licensing School Links on the side menu
- Sets guidelines and standards for continuing education for clergy, formation in servant leadership and continuing spiritual growth in Christ
- Administer Ministerial Education Fund monies and other funding sources for continuing formation
- Approve Continuing Education Units for Clergy
Clergy Status
Conference Relations Committee
- Cares for changes in clergy status
- Receives requests for retirement, leave of absence, sabbaticals and other changes
- Over-sees transfers, voluntary exits from ministry & readmission to ministry
- Works with Bishops and Cabinet as prescribed in the Book of Discipline
BoOM Calendar
Board of Ordained Ministry
2023/2024 Dates:
God’s Call Events
August 5, 2023 | 9 am - 1 pm (Linglestown Life Church) |
Candidate Dates
January 10, 2024 | Paperwork Submission Deadline |
February 10 and February 24, 2024 | Ordination On-site Interviews |
March 4 and March 5, 2024 | Commissioning & In Process Interviews |
Theology Study Day for those preparing for Commissioning will be Tuesday, July 18 at 11:00 am. This will be a hybrid offering (Zoom or onsite) with in-person gathering at Carlisle UMC at 333 S Spring Garden Street, Carlisle. Bring a bag lunch. RSVP by July 14 to Suzanne Elliott - selliott@susumc.org
Future planning for Candidates & Provisional Members
Fall Retreat Days 3rd Sunday & Monday of September (September 17 & 18, 2023)
2024 Local Pastor & CLM Licensing School
February 9 - 11, 2024 | Wesley Forest Camp & Retreat Center |
March 15 - 17, 2024 |
April 12 - 14, 2024 |
Board Meeting Dates
October 19, 2023 | 9 am - 12 pm (Fall Online Meeting) |
February 10 and February 24, 2024 | Ordination On-site Interviews |
February 21, 2024 | 9 am - 12 pm (Interview Prep Day) |
March 4 and March 5, 2024 | Commissioning & In Process Interviews |
March 20, 2024 | 9 am - 12 pm (Spring Meeting) |