Welcome to the Journey
Looking ahead in the process & Seeing who can help along the way
Preparing for ministry is a journey. The Guide to Ministerial Preparation and Ordination is a handbook designed to acquaint you with the journey and provide information and insight that will assist you in preparing well. This journey takes time along with a good dose of endurance. As you begin, think in terms of a 10K run rather than a sprint. Thankfully, you are not alone on this journey, though you must take responsibility for making wise, informed decisions. Along the way, prayerfully seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit and make every effort to connect often with trusted persons willing to partner with you.
Partners on the journey
Your pastor serves as the first partner resourcing your journey into ministerial leadership. If you have not already talked with your pastor about your interest in and call to ministry, open that line of communication today! Your pastor will come alongside you as you discern your call, seek
responsibilities in ministry, communicate with the district, find an educational provider, and begin the process of licensing in ministry.
Your local church is part of a network of churches called a district. The district leadership, including the district superintendent, District Advisory Board and District Board(s) of Ministry are also partners who will join together to prepare, challenge and mentor you. If your journey leads to
ordination for ministerial leadership in the church, it will be the role of the district to affirm your call and recommend you for ordination.
Educational providers collaborate with local churches and districts to prepare women and men for a lifetime in ministry. If you’re already on an educational path (such as attending a Nazarene college, university, or graduate school, or enrolled in a Nazarene non-degree ministry program), consider your instructors and advisors as partners on your journey in ministry. If you haven’t begun the educational process, this handbook will help you select an educational provider.
Looking ahead
Although the path in ministry is unique to each individual, there are five common components that shape the journey of ministerial preparation.
The first component is The Call. For some who sense a call to a lifetime of ministry, that call is immediate and clear. For others, discerning God’s calling is a longer process, with times of doubt and uncertainty as well as excitement and hopefulness. Whatever your experience may be, the discussion on calling will help you and those partnering with you discern God's leading.
A broad and rich Educational Preparation is the second component and is essential to faithful and effective ministry. The Church of the Nazarene has provided several pathways by which you may satisfy the educational requirements. Since this part of the journey takes several years to complete, it is important to carefully select a pathway that will be most fitting, challenging, and formative for your future in ministry. Beginning your educational preparation may help you if your sense of calling is not yet clear. It seems God often uses the learning process itself to bring clarity.
As you progress in your educational preparation and continue to participate in ministry, you may sense God continuing to affirm his calling you into ministerial leadership. If so, making further progress on your journey to ordination requires ministerial Licensing and Ministry Experience, the third component. Licensing involves the affirmation and continued confidence of the church regarding God’s call upon your life. Ministry experience is about gradually expanding the level of your ministry responsibilities as a further validation of your progress in preparation. Gaining experience in ministry will help you and those who are partners in your development identify your strengths in ministry and areas in need of growth.
Ordination is the public act of the church’s affirmation of God’s calling you to a lifetime of service to the church. This component of the journey is not something to be entered into lightly; and it is important that you understand not only the process of ordination, but also its spiritual and
theological significance.
While ordination is a profound recognition of your calling and preparation for ministry, it is not the end of your journey! Every minister is expected to continue growing and developing in his or her understanding and practice of ministry by participating often in Lifelong Learning opportunities. This is the final component common to each person committed to effective ministry for a lifetime.
It is likely you are feeling a degree of trepidation as you begin pursuing God’s call on your life. At the same time, filled with great excitement as you think and pray about the possibilities of your future in ministry, there is a sense of anticipation as you enter into this season. Welcome to the Journey!
Looking ahead in the process & Seeing who can help along the way
Preparing for ministry is a journey. The Guide to Ministerial Preparation and Ordination is a handbook designed to acquaint you with the journey and provide information and insight that will assist you in preparing well. This journey takes time along with a good dose of endurance. As you begin, think in terms of a 10K run rather than a sprint. Thankfully, you are not alone on this journey, though you must take responsibility for making wise, informed decisions. Along the way, prayerfully seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit and make every effort to connect often with trusted persons willing to partner with you.
Partners on the journey
Your pastor serves as the first partner resourcing your journey into ministerial leadership. If you have not already talked with your pastor about your interest in and call to ministry, open that line of communication today! Your pastor will come alongside you as you discern your call, seek
responsibilities in ministry, communicate with the district, find an educational provider, and begin the process of licensing in ministry.
Your local church is part of a network of churches called a district. The district leadership, including the district superintendent, District Advisory Board and District Board(s) of Ministry are also partners who will join together to prepare, challenge and mentor you. If your journey leads to
ordination for ministerial leadership in the church, it will be the role of the district to affirm your call and recommend you for ordination.
Educational providers collaborate with local churches and districts to prepare women and men for a lifetime in ministry. If you’re already on an educational path (such as attending a Nazarene college, university, or graduate school, or enrolled in a Nazarene non-degree ministry program), consider your instructors and advisors as partners on your journey in ministry. If you haven’t begun the educational process, this handbook will help you select an educational provider.
Looking ahead
Although the path in ministry is unique to each individual, there are five common components that shape the journey of ministerial preparation.
The first component is The Call. For some who sense a call to a lifetime of ministry, that call is immediate and clear. For others, discerning God’s calling is a longer process, with times of doubt and uncertainty as well as excitement and hopefulness. Whatever your experience may be, the discussion on calling will help you and those partnering with you discern God's leading.
A broad and rich Educational Preparation is the second component and is essential to faithful and effective ministry. The Church of the Nazarene has provided several pathways by which you may satisfy the educational requirements. Since this part of the journey takes several years to complete, it is important to carefully select a pathway that will be most fitting, challenging, and formative for your future in ministry. Beginning your educational preparation may help you if your sense of calling is not yet clear. It seems God often uses the learning process itself to bring clarity.
As you progress in your educational preparation and continue to participate in ministry, you may sense God continuing to affirm his calling you into ministerial leadership. If so, making further progress on your journey to ordination requires ministerial Licensing and Ministry Experience, the third component. Licensing involves the affirmation and continued confidence of the church regarding God’s call upon your life. Ministry experience is about gradually expanding the level of your ministry responsibilities as a further validation of your progress in preparation. Gaining experience in ministry will help you and those who are partners in your development identify your strengths in ministry and areas in need of growth.
Ordination is the public act of the church’s affirmation of God’s calling you to a lifetime of service to the church. This component of the journey is not something to be entered into lightly; and it is important that you understand not only the process of ordination, but also its spiritual and
theological significance.
While ordination is a profound recognition of your calling and preparation for ministry, it is not the end of your journey! Every minister is expected to continue growing and developing in his or her understanding and practice of ministry by participating often in Lifelong Learning opportunities. This is the final component common to each person committed to effective ministry for a lifetime.
It is likely you are feeling a degree of trepidation as you begin pursuing God’s call on your life. At the same time, filled with great excitement as you think and pray about the possibilities of your future in ministry, there is a sense of anticipation as you enter into this season. Welcome to the Journey!
With every step of this journey in Christian ministry remember, you are not alone. You
join a company of saints and servants, many of whom will encourage, inspire and pray
for you along the way. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit of God goes before and
behind you. There is no path on this journey where God’s grace cannot meet you.