Ordained Ministry in the Free Methodist Church

In the Free Methodist Church, ordination has three stages:

1. An individual, sensing the call of God and the church to pastoral ministry, is first licensed as a local ministerial candidate. The call is affirmed by service in the local church where initial training begins.
2. The second step involves acceptance by the annual conference as a conference ministerial candidate. During this period the candidate prepares for the third step through course work and itinerant service.
3. In the third step a candidate is elected to ordination as an elder and becomes a full conference member.

If you are sensing a call to pastoral ministry, please visit our Getting Started page. If you would like more details regarding the coursework and itinerant service requirements necessary for each step of the ordination process, click on the following links:

Steps to Getting Started

Charted Guide to Ordination
in the Free Methodist Church

Transfer to the Free Methodist Church

Local Ministerial Candidate Handbook