Each person feels God’s call in a different way. Sometimes during prayer or communion, you may feel a strong urging or encouragement to consider full-time ministry. During a mission trip or at a church retreat, you might sense that God seems to be inviting you to consider ministry as a vocation. Sometimes, however, you may sense that calling while you’re in the middle of one of your everyday activities—attending class, working at your job, or spending time with friends. Perhaps someone has said something to you that started this train of thought.

However the invitation comes, you have to decide how you will answer. Is God calling you to use your gifts and talents as an ordained minister?

You also need honest feedback. Talk with your family, friends, and your pastor, or another ordained deacon or elder. Share your thoughts and plans with these people and ask their advice. How do they see you sharing your skills, gifts, and talents with others?

Explore Calling: How Do I Begin?

If you decide you are called to ordained ministry…

Talk to your pastor, campus minister or chaplain, or someone else who is ordained. They will be able to help you contact your District Superintendent (DS).
Let your DS know that you would like to enroll in the candidacy process. Ask the DS for the name of the person you should contact on the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM). It is at this time that the DS will help the dCOM assign to you a mentor who will help you navigate the ministry process.
If at all possible, you want to become a “certified candidate” before you enter seminary so that you will qualify for more scholarship opportunities from The United Methodist Church and from your annual conference.
You should always check with your district committee or the annual conference’s candidacy registrar to be sure you are following the process in the correct order – it may be different in different conferences. The DS can give you those names.

Why we need ordained leaders in the United Methodist Church?

The church and society are in a time of exponential change. We need leaders, as never before, with convicted moral and spiritual courage, excellence in preparation and training, and a compelling sense of mission or call.

You are invited to consider becoming part of a generation of Christian leaders who commit boldly to Jesus Christ and are characterized by intellectual excellence, moral integrity, spiritual courage, and holiness of heart and life, and a sense of vocational fulfillment.

(adapted from the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry)

Resources to help you learn if God is calling you to ministry:

"Is God Calling You?": Provided by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

A Call to Ministry: A witness by Jeffry Bross

Checklist: Ordained Ministry Candidacy Checklist