PATHWAYS TO MINISTRY

Exploring Being a Candidate for Ministry

All Christians are called to ministry. However, some Christians experience a call to the set-apart licensed or ordained ministry of becoming a clergyperson. The Ohio Episcopal Area comprised of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church has a discernment process to help you further explore your call through preparation, participation, and prayer. The goal is faithfulness to discerning God’s call in your life right now, one step at a time.

Online Candidacy Summit | January 8-9, 2027

Attention church leaders: are there people in your congregation who display a gift for serving and who you feel may be called to a life of ministry? The Candidacy Summit is the first step in exploring a call to ministry.

Please take an opportunity to encourage those individuals and to ask them to speak with their pastors.  Persons cannot register for the Candidacy Summit unless they are recommended by their pastor and district superintendent. Since there is essential paperwork due prior to the summit, please speak to these people right away. Don’t delay. The last day to register for the Summit is December 1.

Please review these materials carefully and refer to them throughout the candidacy process to ensure that all requirements are completed in a timely manner.

Part 1: What Is Needed Before the Summit
Before attending the Candidacy Summit, please review the Step-by-Step Guide below. Currently, a background check is not required for the East Ohio candidacy process. Information regarding the background check requirement and process will be provided at a later date.

• 2025 OEA Step-by-Step Guide
• Autobiographical Statement
• Notarized Statement
• River of Life
• Medical
• PPRC
• Form 102
• Charge Conference
• Form 104
• Form 113

MAS Psychological Assessment Requirements
You are responsible for uploading the following required documents to PASSAGEUMC. These materials are required for the MAS meeting (ministerial assessment specialist) and will be utilized as part of the psychological assessment process. All completed forms must be uploaded to PASSAGEUMC prior to the meeting.

• Permission to Release Information Form
• Personal Data Inventory (found in Passage)
• Personal/Professional Reference Forms (three references required; family members may not serve as references)
• Self-Assessment Reference Form

You will find your MAS assignment in PASSAGEUMC. Please allow approximately one week after your initial mentor meeting for the assignment to be established. Once available, the MAS information will be posted in PASSAGEUMC, including the contact information needed to schedule your appointment. Please note that the psychological assessment report is not provided directly to the candidate. Upon completion of the assessment, the MAS will submit the report to the Office of Ministry, and it will be uploaded to eBridge for use in the candidacy review process.

Submission Instructions
All required forms should be completed, scanned, and either uploaded to PASSAGEUMC or submitted to your DCOM Registrar, as applicable, as soon as they become available. Timely submission of these materials is essential to ensure that your candidacy process progresses efficiently and without unnecessary delays.

Register for the online January 8-9 Summit.

Part 2: After the Summit
You are responsible for completing all required candidacy forms and submitting them to your District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) Registrar in a timely manner.

• PPRC Form 102
• Medical Form 103
• Reference Forms
• Form 104, Charge Conference Interview
• Form 113, DCOM Report

Contacts
Rev. Donnetta Peaks – Office of Ministry executive director
Rev. Karen Wolcott – EOC Candidacy Summit coordinator
Rev. Tammie Wilden – EOC Psychological Assessment coordinator
EOC District Offices