This three-fold approach is applied to two separate paths:
Consecrated Deacon Ordination as an Elder
Both paths begin in the same way: When one senses a call to ministry, s/he will meet with their local church pastor to begin a process of prayerful discernment. If the individual, the pastor, and the church board are in agreement, the woman or man sensing a call to ministry will begin the journey at the first stage as a Local Ministerial Candidate (LMC). After a certain pre-determined level of mentoring, coursework, and ministry experience is met, the candidate and mentor will prayerfully determine the next steps: apply their training to continued lay ministry, enter the path toward Consecrated Deacon Candidate, or begin the path of Conference Ministerial Candidate (CMC) toward possible ordination as Elder in the Free Methodist Church.
We seek to develop the heart, head, and hands of women and men called into ministry through a process involving mentoring relationships, academic courses, and practical hands-on ministry. The Head, Heart, Hands model outlines 15 outcomes that are developed through the Ordination Process.
The required steps in the ordination process are outlined in the Free Methodist Book of Discipline.
Paul’s Path (Academic Theological Education / Seminary)
Peter’s Path (Guided Community & Theological Formation / Cohort)
Caleb’s Path (For Experienced Leaders or Transfer of Credentials)