Susquehanna Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
According to The United Methodist Book of Discipline, ¶635.2, the Board of Ordained Ministry is responsible for among the following:
- 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;
- working toward ordination as Deacon or Elder;
- 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 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 candidates for licensing and already licensed local pastors
- Licensing School for CLM and LLP candidates
- Tracking and Resourcing for Course of Study participants
- 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
- handling concerns regarding Conference Relations
- retirement; leaves
- exits & readmissions
BoOM Calendar
Board of Ordained Ministry
2022 & 2023 Dates
Board Meeting Dates
Oct 12 & 13, 2022 | Fall Board Meeting: in-person |
Feb 11 & 25, 2023 | Ordination Candidate Interviews – on-site at churches |
Feb 27, 2023 | Board Prep Day: 9 am-12 (noon) via Zoom |
March 13 & 14, 2023 | Commissioning & In-Process Interview Days: in-person |
March 30, 2023 | Spring Board Meeting: 9 am-12 (noon) via Zoom |
God’s Call Events
August 6, 2022 | God’s Call Event via Zoom; register with Terri Cartwright - tcartwright@susumc.org |
Candidates and Provisional Members
April 21, 2022 | Spring Educational Day |
August 12, 2022 | Theology Study Day for Ordination Candidates: 9:30-12 (noon) at First UMC Williamsport |
November 11, 2022 | Theology Study Day for Commissioning Candidates: 9:30-12 (noon) at First UMC Williamsport |
September 18-19, 2022 | Fall Retreat Day |
January 10, 2023 | Paperwork to apply for Commissioning/In-Process is DUE |
Feb 11 & 25, 2023 | Ordination Candidate Interviews at churches |
March 13 & 14, 2023 | Commissioning/In-Process Candidate Interviews |
Future planning for Candidates & Provisional Members
Spring Educational Days 3rd Thursday of April (April 21, 2022; April 20, 2023)
Fall Retreat Days 3rd Sunday & Monday of September (September 18 & 19, 2022; September 17 & 18, 2023)