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Candidacy Process

CANDIDACY IN THE ELCA BY STEPS

Candidacy in the ELCA is the churchwide process of preparation and formation leading to ordained ministry, rostered lay ministry as a deaconess, diaconal minister, or a commissioned associate in ministry. It involves a partnership of the candidate, congregation, synod, synod candidacy committee,seminary, and Division for Ministry of ELCA.

A candidate's journey in the candidacy process consists of the following steps:

  1. Talks with Pastor Beth Kearney of bishop's staff, Pastor Louise Hilbert, candidacy committee chair, or Associate in Minisry Wayne Nelson about your call to ministry and the North Carolina synod candidacy process.
  2. In preparation for the ENTRANCE DECISION:
    • Submit APPLICATION, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, TRANSCRIPTS AND CONGREGATIONAL REGISTRATION and $200 REGISTRATION FEE to the candidacy committee registrar, Ms. Melanie Bookout, 1988 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144. Forms may be downloaded here.
    • Completes INITIAL INTERVIEW
    • Completes PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND CAREER CONSULTATION and releases the information to the candidacy committee
    • Interviews with the candidacy committee and is approved for ENTRANCE. Normally entrance interviews are in April or May prior to fall enrollment in seminary. Interviews are also possible in August/September or November. (See calendar)
    • ENTRANCE APPROVAL should normally precede seminary enrollment.
    • Normal time for Supervised Clinical Work is after the first year at seminary. Candidacy Committee will receive reports on the Supervised Clinical Work from the candidate and the candidate's supervisor.
  3. In preparation for the ENDORSEMENT DECISION, the candidate:
    • Writes an essay (provided by the Division for Ministry of ELCA and the synod) and submits it to the seminary faculty and candidacy committee
    • Interviews with seminary faculty and candidacy committee and is ENDORSED, usually in the Fall of the second year at seminary
    • Candidate must have ENDORSEMENT before entering internship.
    • Normal time for internship is after second year at seminary. Candidacy committee will receive reports on the Internship from the candidate and candidate's supervisor.
  4. In preparation for the APPROVAL DECISION:
    • Writes an essay (provided by the Division for Ministry, ELCA, and the synod) and submits it to the candidacy committee.
    • Interviews with the candidacy committee seeking APPROVAL for ministry.
  5. Participates in the ELCA assignment process.
    • Submits application to ELCA upon Approval for Ministry.

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • If considering a non-Lutheran seminary, discuss plans with candidacy committee.
  • If attending a non-Lutheran seminary, must affiliate with a Lutheran seminary.
  • If attending a non-Lutheran seminary, must complete one (1) year of residency at a Lutheran seminary.

EXPECTATIONS:

  • That the candidate will take the process seriously, to devote the time, energy, and dedication to honor the preparation for his or her call.
  • That the candidate will follow the time line and be prepared in a timely manner for each step in the process.
  • That the candidate will keep the candidacy committee informed about his/her progress, problems, and issues.
  • That the candidate will meet with the candidacy committee at least once a year at a regularly scheduled meeting.
  • That the candidate will be prepared for the candidacy committee to ask him/her to come to committee meetings for Developmental Interviews as the committee feels there is a need or the committee feels it needs to check on the candidate's readiness.

That the candidate will keep the NC Synod office (Bishop's staff liaison to candidacy committee) informed as to their correct address and telephone number at each move in the process.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE CANDIDACY COMMITTEE:

  • That committee members will prayerfully support candidates as they discern their calls to ministry, be available to their contact persons for conversation and assistance with understanding the process, and regularly attend committee meetings.
  • That committee members will provide time for an annual interview with each candidate through interviews at committee meetings and retreats, visits to seminary campuses, and or internship site visits.
  • That committee members will make decisions with consideration of the best interests of the candidate, the synod, and the wider church.