I have a calling. What do I do now?
Talk with the minister of your local Church of the
Nazarene about your calling. Your pastor will talk to you about your call
to ministry and the requirements for ministerial preparation.
Begin your ministerial educational preparation. The Manual
of the Church of the Nazarene states: "The
candidate must first be examined as to his or her personal experience of
salvation, knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible, and the order of the
church; he or she must also demonstrate that the call is evidenced by grace,
gifts, and usefulness. A local minister shall make a report to the local church
at its annual church meetings." - Nazarene Manual 2005-2009 par.
426.1 Review the Manual par. 426). For your local license in the Church of the
Nazarene, you must
1. Fill out an application for a local license.
2. Be interviewed
by the local church board or District Superintendent annually.
After you have been granted a local minister's license,
your pastor will need to contact the Secretary of the Dakota Ministerial
Development Board to report the local church board's action in granting you a
local minister's license and to request your enrollment in the Course of
Study. You must hold a local minister's license for one year to be
eligible to apply for a district minister's license. Your local pastor
will serve as your adviser until you receive a district license.
The
Licensed Minister:
To get a district license you need to complete the following actions:
(1) Have held a local
minister’s license for one full year
(2) Have completed
one-fourth of a validated course of study for ministers, or have passed the
Nazarene History and Polity course plus three additional courses in a validated
course of study for ministers. Or if in enrolled in a Nazarene college or
university or seminary, have completed one fourth of a validated
college/university course of study for ministers.
(3) Have been recommended for such work by the church board of the local church of which they are members, to which the recommendation be attached to the Application for District license. Fill out a District application for Minister’s license
(4) Have given evidence of grace, gifts, and usefulness
(5) Have been carefully examined, under the direction of the district assembly of the district within the bounds of which they hold their church membership, regarding:
a. Spiritual
b. Intellectual
c. And other fitness for such work as determined by the District Advisory Board
(6) Have promised to
pursue immediately a validated course of study prescribed by a district
assembly for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination.
(7) Have had any
disqualifications, which may have been imposed by District Assembly, removed by
explanation in writing by the District Superintendent and the District Advisory
Board of the District of where the disqualification was imposed.
(8) In case of a
previous divorce and remarriage, the recommendation of the DMDB along with
supporting documents will be given to the general superintendent in
jurisdiction, which may remove this as a barrier to pursuing a license or
ordination.
Once you receive a
district license, an adviser will be assigned to you from the Dakota
Ministerial Development Board. In order to receive a renewal of District
Minister's License, you must complete 2 courses annually (Manual par
427.3). If you have additional questions about your Ministerial
Preparation, contact your local pastor, your adviser, the DMDB Secretary, or the DMDB Chairperson.
The Dakota Ministerial
Development Board meets each year with students applying for a District
Minister's License. Candidates should be prepared to appear for an interview as
called by the Dakota Ministerial Development Board, at the date, time, and
place specified. A copy of your local license, District application for
Ministers license, and updated
educational transcripts or completion of studies documentation must be sent to DMDB Secretary before
your interview. Interview dates will be posted on District Modular Class
Schedule and Dakota District website.
A minister’s license shall terminate with the
close of the next district assembly. It may be renewed by vote of the district
assembly, provided:
(1) That the candidate
for renewal shall file with the district assembly the application for
Minister’s License carefully filled in and interviewed;
(2) Provided the
candidate shall have completed at least two courses in a validated course of
study;
(3) Provided that the
candidate has been recommended for license by the local church board of which
he or she is a member.
Eligibility
for Ordination
(1) Successfully
completed a validated course of study
(2) Has been district
licensed for not less than three years
(3) Has been recommended
for a district license by the church board of the local church or by the
District Advisory Board, when the pastor is in the Senior
pastor position.
(4) Has completed the
appropriate time allotted for ministerial service:
a. Not less than three
consecutive years as pastor or registered evangelist, or
b. Not less than four
consecutive years as an associate pastor, or
c. One year as pastor
and not less than two consecutive years as an assigned associate pastor, or
d. Served at least
four years as an assigned teacher in a religious department of any Nazarene
college/university
**** part-time
associate pastors should be given an extension on time of consecutive years,
depending on the level of involvement
(5) Must be serving in
a ministry assignment
(6) Any additional
requirements imposed by the District Assembly or District Superintendent. See Manual 429
Note: Ordination is a
privilege extended by the church and is not a right of the candidate obtained
by completing the course of study.