Updated Board of Ordained Ministry Library and Handbook Now Available

The updated Board of Ordained Ministry Library is now live on the GBHEM website, offering 2025 candidacy forms and essential resources to support the work of annual conferences.

Organized by area, the library includes tools for candidacy, licensing, ordination and conference relations, as well as videos and downloadable flyers to assist with spiritual formation and vocational discernment for clergy, congregations and individuals exploring ministry. Visit regularly as new materials are added.

In addition, the updated Board of Ordained Ministry Handbook — a vital resource for the training and preparation of conference Boards of Ordained Ministry — is being released in phases. This first release incorporates key legislative changes from the 2020/2024 General Conference and updated guidance aligned with The Book of Discipline 2020/2024.

Revisions include updated paragraph references and practices related to candidacy, licensing, ordination and conference relations. New content also provides enhanced guidance on:

• Clergy and candidacy mentoring, recruitment and formation
• The Ministerial Education Fund
• Young clergy recruitment and retention
• The order of deacons, the order of elders and the fellowship of associate members and local pastors to strengthen the network of clergy within their annual conferences

Further updates to the handbook will be released in the coming weeks. For questions about the handbook or library, contact ministry@gbhem.org.