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 Course of Study Regional Schools
West Ohio Local Pastors’ Licensing School
The Spiritual Center of Maria Stein
Maria Stein, OH 45860
32 Wesley Blvd
Worhtington, OH 43085
sthomas@wocumc.org
www.westohioumc.org
Dakotas Licensing School
Living Waters Retreat Center
Lake Poinsett, DS
Valerie Reinhiller
1331 W University Ave
PO Box 460
Mitchell, SD 57301
605/996-6552
leadershipdevelopment@dakotasumc.org
www.dakotasumc.org
East Ohio Clergy Licensing School
Mt. Union University
Alliance, Ohio
Robin Dillon
PO Box 327
Westfield Center, OH 44251
330/887-5069
robinddillon@gmail.com
IGRC Licensing School for Local Pastors
UM Center
Springfield, IL
Vermont Street UMC
818 Vermont St
Quincy, IL 62301
217/222-7468
pjohansen@adams.net
www.igrc.org/licenseschool
Indiana UMC License to Preach (Hybrid)
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Matthew Leffler – Director of License to Preach
Michele Phillips – Administrative Assistant
301 Pennsylvania Pkwy
Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46280
317/924-1321
localpastors@inumc.org
www.inumc.org
Iowa Licensing School
Shalom Spirituality Center
Dubuque, IA
Lisa Steel
2301 Rittenhouse St
Des Moines, IA 50321
515/974-8939
lisa.larson@iaumc.org
www.iaumc.org/iowalicensingschool
Michigan Area School for License as Local Pastor
Various Locations throughout
Michigan
Detroit and West Michigan
Ray McGee
Jeremy Wicks
517/851-1494
jeremy-wicks@yahoo.com
www.westmichiganconference.org
www.detroitconference.org
Northeastern Jurisdiction Course of Study Regional School
Baltimore-Washington Conference Licensing School
West River UMC Retreat Center
West River, Maryland
Rev. John Nupp
11711 East Market Place
Fulton, MD 20759
jnupp@bwcumc.org
www.bwcumc.org/ministries/license-to-preach-school/
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Licencing School
Revolving at five locations
West Chester, PA
Gordon Hendrickson
PO Box 163
St Peters, PA 19470
gordonacts6@gmail.com
Greater NJ Annual Conference Licensing School
New Jersey
Douglas Goldsborough Sr
56 East Oak Ave
Lawnside, NJ
856/546-6334
revdouggolds@msn.com
New England Conference Licensing School
Rolling Ridge Conference Center
North Andover, MA
Travis Bonnette-Kim
Deborah Venator
PO Box 4171
Concord, NH 03302
603/892-0359
bomregistrar@yahoo.com
https://www.neumc.org/BOMeducationtrainingandretreats
New York Local Pastor Licensing School
Olmsted Retreat Center
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Eileen Daunt
Gregory Higgins
1747 Route 44 55
Modena, NY 12548
914/629-7865
lpls@nyac-umc.com
www.nyac.com
Peninsula-Delaware Local Pastor Licensing School
Pecoment Camp and Retreat
Center
Centreville, MD
Shirlyn Brown
Glenn Catley
401 Jack Elliot Way
Centerville, MD 21617
443/448-4012
dspastorb@gmail.com
www.pen-del.org
Susquehana Conference Licensing School
Wesley Forest
Weikert, PA
Helen Meyer – Registrar
1200 Haymaker Road
State College, PA 16801
814/234-4365
statecollege@susumc.org
www.scboom.org
Upper New York Licensing School
Casowasco Camp and Retreat
Center
Moravia, New York
lpls@unyumc.org
www.unyumc.org/ministries/uny-local-pastor-licensingschool
West Virginia Pastoral Ministry Licensing School
West Virginia Conference
Huttonsville, WV
Bonnie MacDonald
PO Box 2313
Charleston, WV 25328
304/344-8331
bmacdonald@wvumc.org
www.wvumc.org
WPA Commuter Licensing School
Manorville United Methodist
Church
Manorville, PA
Sara Wrona
134 Custer Ave
Vandergrift, PA 15690
724/882-9627
sara.wrona@wpaumc.org
WPA Summer Residential Licensing School
Olmsted Manor
Ludlow, PA
Sara Wrona
134 Custer Ave
Vandergrift, PA 15690
724/882-9627
sara.wrona@wpaumc.org
South Central Jurisdiction Course of Study Regional Schools
Arkansas Local Pastor Licensing School
Mount Eagle Retreat Center
Clinton, AR
Nancy Meredith
935 Beal Rd
Clinton, AR 72031
501/723-4580
www.mounteagle.org
Central Texas Conference Licensing School
Still Water Lodge
Glen Rose, TX
Kathy Exell
Lee Trigg
3200 E Rosedale St
Fort Worth, TX 76105
817/945-6574
kathyezell@ctcumc.org
www.ctcumc.org
Great Plains Licensing School
Contact Licensing School
Karen Jeffcoat
PO Box 4187
Topeka, KA 66604
785/414-4215
registrar@greatplainsumc.org
www.greatplainsumc.org
Louisiana License to Preach School
Wesley Center
Woodworth, LA
John Black
Robert Johnson
2350 Methodist Parkway
Woodworth, LA 71485
318/449-4500
www.thewesleycenter.com
North Texas Conference
Ministry Center and Prothro Center
Plano and Pottsboro, TX
Marsha Middleton
Duane VanGiesen
4901 Paige Road
The Colony, TX 75056
817/228-3016
marsha.middleton@fumctc.org
www.fumctc.org
Oklahoma Annual Conference Local Pastor’s Licensing School
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK
James B. Graham
Chuck Nordean
1501 NW 24th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
405/530-2007
cnordean@okumc.org
www.ofumc.org/localpastors
Perkins School of Theology (licensing School in Spanish)
Perkins School of Theology
Dallas, TX
Phil Wingeier-Rayo
Jose De Haro
5915 Bishop Blvd
PO Box 750133
Dallas, TX 75275
214/768-2768
philipwr@mail.smu.edu
www.smu.edu/Perkins/PublicPrograms/MAP/LicensingSchool
Rio Texas Conference Local Pastor Licensing School
Cathedral Oaks Retreat Center
Weimar, TX
Scott Bradford
Marcus Freeman
16400 Huebner Road
San Antionio, TX 78248
888/349-4191
skipreach@gmail.com
www.riotexas.org
Texas Local Pastor Licensing School
Lakeview Methodist Conference
Cener
Palestine, TX
Ivy Umeko
Jerome Brimmage
400 Private Rd 6036
Palestine, TX 75801
936/631-3237
pastor@lufkinfirst.com
https://lakeviewmcc.org
Southeastern Jurisdiction Course of Study Regional Schools
Alabama-West Florida Conference Licensing School
Holiday Inn – Eglin Air Force Base
Niceville, FL
Nathan Atwood
Jeremy Pridgeon
4719 Woodmere Blvd
Montgomery, AL 36106
334/356-8014
jeremy@awfumc.org
www.awfumc.org
Florida Local Pastor Licensing School
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL
Wiate Willis
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr
Lakeland, FL 33801
863/680-4183
wwillis@flsouthern.edu
www.flsouthern.edu
Holston Local Pastors Licensing School
Alcoa, TN
Daniel Taylor
Marci Villanueva
PO Box 850
Alcoa, TN 37701
865/690-4080
daniel@holston.org
www.holston.org
Kentucky Annual Conference Licensing School
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY
Jim Coleman
3000 Frederica St
Owensboro, KY 42301
502/553-0504
jcoleman@kwc.edu
https://www.kyumc.org/licenseforministryschool
Memphis Conference Licensing School
Beersheba Springs Assembly
Beersheeba Springs, TN
Heidi Geib
304 S Perimeter Park Dr, Suite 5
Nashville, TN 37211
heidi.geib@tnumc.org
www.tnumc.org
Mississippi Local Pastor Licensing School
Millsaps College, Center for Ministry
Jackson, Mississippi
Paige Swaim-Presley
Betty Wheat
150041 Millsaps College
Jackson, MS 39210
601/974-1488
info@centerforministry.com
www.centerforministry.com/licensing-school.html
Missouri Local Pastor Licensing School
Central Methodist University
Fayette, MO
Karen Taylor
Kevin Shelton
201 Monroe St
Jefferson City, MO 65101
816/223-8957
ktaylor@jcfumc.org
https://www.moumethodist.org/eventdetail/12108376
North Alabama Licensing School
Camp Sumatanga
Gallant, AL
Laura Belding – BOM Administrative Assistant
Ron Schultz – BOM Executive Director
898 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35204
205/681-9762
laura.belding@umcna.org
www.umcna.org/licensingschool
North Carolina Conference Licensing School
United Methodist Building
Garner, NC
Amie Stewart
Tim Russell
700 Waterfield Ridge Place
Garner, NC 27529
amie@nccumc.or
North Georgia Local Pastors Licensing School
Candler School of Theology
Atlanta, GA
Amy Walker
1531 Dickey Dr
Atlanta, GA 30322
www.candler.emory.edu/programs-resources/licensingschool.html
South Carolina Conference School of Pastoral Ministry
White Oak Conference Center
Winnsboro, SC
Mel Arant
Kenneth Nelson
201 Sweetheart Nook, PO Box 646
Pendleton, SC 29670
clergyservices@umcsc.org
www.umcsc.org
South Georgia Local Pastors Licensing School
Candler School of Theology
Atlanta, GA
Amy Walker
1531 Dickey Dr
Atlanta, GA 30322
www.candler.emory.edu/programs-resources/licensingschool.html
TN Conference Licensing School
Beersheeba Springs Assembly
Beersheeba Springs, TN
Heidi Geib
304 S Perimeter Park Dr, Suite 5
Nashville, TN 37211
heidi.geib@tnumc.org
www.tnumc.org
Virginia Conference Licensing School
Virginia Wesleyan College
Norfolk, VA
Meredith McNabb
PO Box 5606
Glen Allen, VA 23058
804/521-1126
clergyexcellence@vaumc.org
Western North Carolina Conference Licensing School
Lake Junaluska Assembly
Lake Junaluska, NC
David Greene
Kim Ingram
23 West I Street
Newton, NC 28658
828/464-8422
dgreene@wnccumc.net
Western Jurisdiction Course of Study School
Escuela Para Licencia de Pastor Local en Espanol
Escuela de Teologia Iliff
Denver, Colorado
Kay Palmer Marsh
Laurie Day
6110 Greenwood Plaza Blvd
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303/733-3736
laurie@rmcumc.com
www.rmcumc.org
Local Pastor Licensing School of the Rockies
Iliff School of Theology
Denver, Colorado
Thomas Barlow
2323 E Iliff Ave
Box 41
Denver, CO 80210
lplsr.dean@gmail.com
Western Jurisdiction Licensing School
Claremont School of Theology
Claremont, CA
David Nieda
1801 D St
Suite 7
Vancouver,WA 98663
888/818-4288
dnieda@gmail.com
www.cst.edu
