Board of Ordained Ministry Handbook

The Board of Ordained Ministry Handbook is designed to be a reference library for the work of boards of ordained ministry (BOMs). Each chapter looks at a specific segment of the board’s work and contains information that may be used in the orientation of board members. These chapters also may be used in the training of interview teams, mentors, district committees, district superintendents, committees on pastor/staff parish relations, and others who share personnel responsibilities with the board. Some chapters provide directions for the administration of programs through the board such as licensing schools, psychological assessment, background and credit checks.

The handbook has been revised in light of the legislative changes made at the 2008 General Conference by the staff of the Division of Ordained Ministry.

These files are PDFs and can be opened with Acrobat Reader.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Complete Handbook (including Table of Contents) revised April, 2011

Printable Table of Contents revised April, 2011

Introduction

Chapter 1: Board of Ordained Ministry Organization

Chapter 2: The District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Chapter 3: Board of Ordained Ministry Registrar revised April, 2011

Chapter 4: Identification and Enlistment

Chapter 5: Training for Pastor Staff Parish Relations Committee

Chapter 6: Candidacy

Chapter 7: Background Checks

Chapter 8: Psychological Assessment of Candidates for Clergy Careers revised December, 2011

Chapter 9: The Interview Process revised April, 2011

Chapter 10: Candidacy Mentoring revised December, 2011

Chapter 11: Clergy Mentoring

Chapter 12: Licensing and Course of Study

Chapter 13: Seminary Relations and the Ministerial Education Fund revised April, 2011

Chapter 14: Continuing Education

Chapter 15: Provisional Membership

Chapter 16: Certification in Specialized Areas of Ministry

Chapter 17: Deacons

Chapter 18: Elders

Chapter 19: Licensed Local Pastor

Chapter 20: Clergy Endorsement

Chapter 21: Diaconal Ministry

Chapter 22: Clergy Orders and the Fellowship revised April, 2011

Chapter 23: Systems for Clergy Support and Accountability

Chapter 24: Clergywomen in Ministry

Chapter 25: Cross Racial and Cross Cultural Ministry

Chapter 26: United Methodist Clergy and Professional Ethics

Chapter 27: Changes in Conference Relationship revised October, 2011

Chapter 28: Retirement Planning and Relationships

FORMS

District Committee Action Outlines

Candidate's District File Content Checklist

Local Pastor's District File Content Checklist

District Committee on Ordained Ministry Action Report to the BOM Registrar

Action Outline #1 Candidacy Certification

Action Outline #2 Candidacy Renewal

Action Outline #3 Local Pastor Completion of Studies

Action Outline #4 Local Pastor Continuance Recommendation

Action Outline #5 Local Pastor Reinstatement

Action Outline #6 Probationary Membership Recommendation

Action Outline #7 Associate Membership Recommendation

Action Outline #8 Readmission to Conference Relationship

Action Outline #9 Other Denominations Serving in Annual Conference Bounds

Chapter 3 Forms

Form 102: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FORM

Form 103: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MEDICAL REPORT OF MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE

Form 104: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FOR ORDAINED MINISTRY CHARGE CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATION

Form 105: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APPLICATION FOR CLERGY RELATIONSHIP TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Form 106: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APPLICATION FOR CHANGE IN CLERGY RELATIONSHIP TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Form 107: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APPLICATION FOR READMISSION TO CLERGY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Form 108: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT OF CLERGY MEMBER ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Form 109: THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION FORM FOR ORDINATION AND CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP

Form 110: COURSE OF STUDY FOR ORDAINED MINISTRY 2009-2012 CORRESPONDENCE

Form 111: STUDIES IN UNITED METHODIST HISTORY, DOCTRINE, AND POLITY ENROLLMENT FORM

Form 112: CANDIDACY MENTOR'S REQUEST FOR THE ASSESSMENT PACKET FOR THE DOM CANDIDACY ASSESSMENT OFFICE

Form 113: District Committee on Ordained Ministry Approval Report for Certified Candidate for Ordained Ministry

Form 114: Candidate's Disclosure Form

Form 115: Candidacy Renewal