Ministerial Development

Discover Your Calling, Choose Your Path!

The Ministerial Development Journey is for those who have an overwhelming desire to serve God at a deeper level in a vocational or bi-vocational role. Their spiritual gifts and talents have been placed in them for the purpose of being unleashed by the Holy Spirit as a Kingdom worker into the world. God has blessed them with a heart for a specific ministry, and the call to serve has been affirmed by those around them.

Map Out Your Journey

Even the longest journey begins with a single step

Discover The Call

Respond to the Ministry Call

- Pray about & discern your unique call

- Consult the pastor of the local Wesleyan Church of which you hold membership.

- Seek a recommendation from your local church and pastor to begin your ministerial development track by becoming a student.

Exploring The Call Guide

Exploring The Call Course

These are great resources for supervising Pastors and their ministerial students!

Ministerial Preparation

Become a Student!

STEP THREE:

Transfer College Transcripts

If you have previous college experience, send your official college transcript to education@wesleyan.org. They will assist you in adding these to your student profile. Only the first and last transcript sent to them needs to be an official copy; intermediate transcripts can be what you download from the university.

STEP ONE:

Start Onboarding

Connect with your Regional Board of Ministerial Development Director to begin an onboarding conversation. We welcome your supervisor pastor to be part of this conversation. Please complete the Getting to Know You document and give the Initial Reference Form to your supervising Pastor by clicking the button below.

Please contact us at rbmd@theglr.org

Forms

STEP TWO:

By doing this, you will gain access to the Ministerial Development Portal, where you can view your profile and transcript records at any time.

STEP FOUR:

Complete a Background Check with the GLR

Complete the registration/background check form for the Great Lakes Region (GLR). You may use the provided PayPal link to submit the $50 fee for the background check.

Submit Application & Payment

STEP FIVE:

Complete Required Assessments

Create a plan to complete the required assessments within the first year as a ministerial student.

View Assessments

Choose Your Educational Path

Choose the path that works best for your unique situation

Option One: Pursue a Degree

Choose a degree program at a Wesleyan University or Seminary.

View Degree Programs

Option Two: Pursue a Certificate

Choose a Certificate level course through Kingswood Extended, Oklahoma Wesleyan University Cross Training, The GLR Kickstarter Program, or FLAMA for those who are Spanish Speaking.

GLR Kickstarter

Kingswood Extended

All Nations Bible Institute

FLAMA (Español)

Oklahoma Wesleyan University Cross Training

Pursue Your Credentials

a. Special Worker- God has called certain lay people to specific ministries, such as directors of small groups, lay evangelists, youth directors, children's workers, directors of music, lay missionaries, lay counselors, etc. Special Workers serve under the guidance of their pastor and/or the district/general church. They are nonvoting members of the district conference. This license is held by the district and is voted upon by district conference.

b. Lay Minister-These are lay people whose local church has licensed them to preach and serve under their pastor's direction as opportunity affords. Lay ministers have no plans

for ministry except in connection with their local church. This license is held by the local church and voted upon by the LBA and/or LCC.

Ministerial Students who are wishing to become ordained will achieve the category of Licensed Minister as the first credentialing step towards ordination. Licensed Ministers will remain in this category until educational and service requirements are met for ordination. Under this category, the individual has the authority to administer the sacraments and perform the duties of a pastor of a local Wesleyan church. Licensed Ministers under local church appointment may be voting members of Regional Conference, but they may not serve in positions of district government.

Those who do not sense a call to ordained ministry but wish to be credentialed and appointed to the service of their local church may consider the option of Licensed Minister Permanent. If their local church and the RBMD adopts this terminal licensing option, the RBMD will work with the individual to determine academic and service requirements. This category retains the same rights and privileges of a Licensed Minister.

This is a high-level credential within the Wesleyan Church, but it is only an option for certain people. It was established for those with limitations due to advanced age, health issues, or learning disabilities. Those who have attained this category do not have all the rights and privileges as an Ordained Minister. Once the RBMD has entered a person into this category, they are considered voting members of Regional Conference, but they may not serve in positions of district government.

This is the highest credential bestowed by the Wesleyan Church to an individual who meets all academic, spiritual, service, and governmental standards of the church. Ordained Ministers have authority to preach, administer the sacraments, transfer from one district to another, are voting members of Conference sessions, and serve in any position in District/Regional government for which they qualify.

Licensing

How to get credentialed as a licensed minister:

1- Complete the educational coursework required for Licensed Minister status

2- Complete one full year of supervised ministry as a Ministerial Student

3- Obtain appointment to a category of ministerial service at your local church

4- Complete all required assessments

5- Email the RBMD Team for Licensure Interview Packet via rbmd@theglr.org

Ordination

How to get credentialed as an ordained minister:

1- Become Licensed

After you’ve completed two years full-time, or a minimum of 3,000 hours, as a Licensed Minister, you will be ready to begin the application and interview process for becoming an ordination candidate.

2- Complete Educational requirements for ordination.

3- Set up an ordination interview with our Regional Board of Ministerial Development team via rbmd@theglr.org

Once licensed, you could choose to remain licensed or move on to becoming ordained. At this point, that license will give you the rites to perform rituals (weddings, baptisms, and serving communion).

Common Credentialing Questions