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Licensing Schools

UMC Licensing Schools

Attending a UMC licensing school is the first step toward becoming a licensed local pastor. While the exact scheduling format varies by region, all schools are required to have a minimum of 80 contact hours with students. In this time, local pastor candidates receive clergy mentors, are assessed for basic skills and receive instruction in pastoral competencies and Methodist tradition.

North Central Jurisdiction Licensing Schools

Local Pastors’ Licensing School of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences

Website: https://www.westohioumc.org/conference/event/2022-local-pastors-licensing-school-0

Dean, East Ohio: Rev. Robin Dillon, robinddillon@gmail.com

Dean, West Ohio: Rev. John Girard, john@broadstreet.net

Registrar: Rev. Donnetta Peaks, dpeaks@wocumc.org, 614-844-6200

Dakotas Licensing School

Website: https://www.dakotasumc.org/leadership-development/board-of-ordained-ministry

Dean: Rev. Eric Van Meter, eric.vanmeter@dakotasumc.org,

Dean: Pastor Annie Carlson, almostannietoday@gmail.com

Email: Bea Stucke / Assistant to the Dakotas Licensing School, Bea.stucke@dakotasumc.org

Garrett-Evangelical School of Theology Escuela de Licencia (Licensing School in Spanish)

IGRC Licensing School for Local Pastors

Website: www.igrc.org

Dean: Rev. Patty Johansen, pcjohansen57@gmail.com, 217-722-2730

Indiana UMC License to Preach School

Website: www.inumc.org

Dean: Rev. Meg Lassiat, meg.lassiat@inumc.org, 615-838-2177

Registrar: Luska Natali, ministerialservices@inumc.org, 317-564-3233

Iowa Licensing School

Website: www.iaumc.org/iowalicensingschool

Dean: Rev. Jon Bailey, pastorjon@thewindsorumc.com

Registrar: Lisa Steel, lisa.larson@iaumc.org, 515-974-8939

Michigan Area School for Licensed Local Pastors


Northeastern Jurisdiction Course of Study Regional School

Baltimore-Washington Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/license-to-preach-school/

Registrar: Hilary Ann Golden, bomstaff@bwcumc.org, 240-258-3382

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.epaumc.org/

Dean: Rev. Daniel Lebo, Dlebo23@gmail.com, 717-867-2104

Registrar: Rev. Kevin Babcock, friarbabcock@gmail.com, 610-623-5781

New England Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.neumc.org/BOMeducationtrainingandretreats

Dean: Rev. Travis Bonnette-Kim, nelplsdean@gmail.com

Registrar: Deborah Venator, bomregistrar@yahoo.com, 603-892-0359

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Licensing School

New York Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://www.nyac.com/localpastorslicensingschool

Dean: Rev. Martha Epstein, lpls@nyac-umc.com, 860-669-8452

Peninsula-Delaware Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://www.pen-del.org/thependellicensingschool

Co-Director: Rev. Yvonne Paxton, paxton25@verizon.net, (410) 348-5502

Co-Director: Rev. Glenn Catley, glenn.catley@gmail.com, (302) 227-7743

Susquehanna Conference Licensing School

Website: https://susumc.org/boom-licensing-school/

Co-Director: Rev. Catherine Boileau, cboileau@susumc.org

Co-Director: Rev. Greg Milinovich, gmilinovich@susumc.org

Co-Director: Rev. Roger Mentzer, rmentzer@susumc.org, statecollege@susumc.org

Upper New York Licensing School

West Virginia Pastoral Ministry Licensing School

Website: www.wvumc.org

Registrar: Bonnie MacDonald, bmacdonald@wvumc.org

WPA Licensing School

Website: https://www.wpaumc.org/

Registrar: Sara Wrona, sara.wrona@wpaumc.org, 724/882-9627


South Central Jurisdiction Licensing Schools

Arkansas Conference Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://arumc.org/

Dean: Rev. Roy Beth Kelley, roybeth.kelley@arumc.org, 479-264-2045

Registrar: Nancy Meredith, bom@arumc.org, 501-324-8033

Dakotas Licensing School

Iliff School of Theology
Denver, Colorado
Thomas Barlow
2323 E Iliff Ave
Box 41
Denver, CO 80210
lplsr.dean@gmail.com

Central Texas Conference Licensing School

Website: www.ctcumc.org

Registrar: Kathy Ezell, kathyezell@ctcumc.org, 817-945-6574

Great Plains Licensing School

Website: www.greatplainsumc.org

Registrar: Karen Jeffcoat, registrar@greatplainsumc.org, 785-272-9111

Louisiana Licensing School

Website: https://www.la-umc.org/

Pattye Hewitt, 225-383-4777 x255, phewitt@firstmethodist.org

Missouri Annual Conference Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://www.moumethodist.org/licensingschool

Dean: Rev. Mike Wondel

Dean: Rev. Elsie Quintanilla-Perez

Registrar: Rev. Mark Statler, jgragg@moumethodist.org, 573-441-1880

North Texas Conference Licensing School

Oklahoma Annual Conference Local Pastor’s Licensing School

Website: www.ofumc.org/localpastors

Dean: Rev. Jennifer Long, revjlong@gmail.com, 405-375-3286

Registrar: Rev. Nancy Hamilton, nhamilton@okumc.org, 405-530-2007

Perkins School of Theology Escuela de Licencia (licensing School in Spanish)

Website: https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/PublicPrograms/HLMP/LicensingSchool

Hispanic/Latin@ Ministries Program, hlmp@smu.edu, 214-768-2265

Rio Texas Conference Local Pastor Licensing School

Dean: Lisa Straus, lstraus@riotx.org, 512-924-6695

Registrar: Alicia Leyva, alicial@riotexas.org, 210-408-4500

Texas Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://www.txcumc.org/

Co-Director: Rev. Dr. Jerome Brimmage, pastor@lufkinfirst.com

Co-Director: Rev. Ingrid Akers, ingridakers@gmail.com

Registrar: Meko Ivy, mivy@lufkinfirst.com


Southeastern Jurisdiction Licensing Schools

Alabama-West Florida Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.awfumc.org/2022licensingschool

Registrar: Erika Glawson, erika@awfumc.org, 334-356-8014

Florida Local Pastor Licensing School

https://www.flumc.org/licensingschool

Registrar: Office of Clergy Excellence, clergyexcellence@flumc.org, 863-688-5563, ext. 134

Holston Local Pastors Licensing School

Website: https://www.holston.org/local-pastor-licensing-school

Dean: Susan Arnold, susanarnold@holston.org, 866-690-4080

Registrar: Rev. Terry Goodman, terrygoodman@holston.org, 866-690-4080

Kentucky Annual Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.kyumc.org/licenseforministryschool

Dean: Rev. Kevin Burney, kburney@kyumc.org, 502-425-3884

Registrar: Courtney Garrett, cgarrett@kyumc.org

Mississippi Local Pastor Licensing School

Website: https://www.centerforministry.com/license-to-preach-school.html

Director: Rev. Beth Miller, ministry@millsaps.edu,

Registrar: Ruby Medlin, ruby.medlin@millsaps.edu, 601-974-1488

North Alabama Licensing School

Website: https://www.umcna.org/licensingschool

Director: Rev. Fred Webster, fred.webster@umcna.org

Registrar: Rev. Mike Brinkman, mike.brinkman@umcna.org

North Carolina Conference Licensing School

Website: https://nccumc.org/clergy-life/

Dean: Rev. Beth Hood, bethhood@nccumc.org

Registrar: Becki Leeland, registrar@nccumc.org, 984-257-7226

North Georgia Local Pastors Licensing School

Together with the South Georgia Annual Conference

Website: https://candler.emory.edu/programs-resources/licensing-school.html

Director: Amy Walker awalke8@emory.edu, 404-727-4587

Registrar: Michelle Levan mlevan@ngumc.org, 678-533-1369

South Carolina Conference School of Pastoral Ministry

Website: https://www.umcsc.org/2022-school-of-pastoral-ministry-registration-now-open/

Registrar: Office of Clergy Services clergyservices@umcsc.org, 803-786-9486, ext. 328

South Georgia Local Pastors Licensing School

Together with the South Georgia Annual Conference

Website: https://candler.emory.edu/programs-resources/licensing-school.html

Director: Amy Walker awalke8@emory.edu, 404-727-4587

Registrar: Michelle Levan mlevan@ngumc.org, 678-533-1369

TNWKY Conference Licensing School

Virginia Conference Licensing School

Website: https://vaumc.org/licensingschool/

Registrar: Rev. Crystal Sygeel, crystalsygeel@vaumc.org, 804-521-1141

Clergy Excellence clergyexcellence@vaumc.org

Western North Carolina Conference Licensing School

Website: https://www.wnccumc.org/licensingschool

Director: Rev. Lauren Anderson, landerson@wnccumc.net, 336-337-2238

Registrar: Kim Ingram, kingram@wnccumc.org, 704-714-2354


Western Jurisdiction Licensing Schools

Mountain Sky Annual Conference

Website: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/localpastorlicensingschool

Director: Rev. Emily Hagan,  pastor@firstumclafayette.org, 303-733-3736

Local Pastor Licensing School of the Rockies

Western Jurisdiction Licensing School

Website: https://localpastors.org/licensing-school/

Dean: Rev. Beth Rambikur, brambikur@gmail.com

Registrar: Ms. Ruth Ketchum, ruth.ketchum@cst.edu, 619-647-7163

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