Welcome to TRC's Credentialing Process

Ordination has three stages:

• An individual, sensing the call of God and the church to pastoral ministry, is first licensed as a local ministerial candidate (LMC). The call is affirmed by service in the local church where initial training begins.
• Stage two involves acceptance by the annual conference as a conference ministerial candidate (CMC).  The candidate also prepares for the third step through course work and service.
• ​In the third stage, a candidate is elected to ordination to a full member and ordained Elder of the Free Methodist Church.

---

Local Ministerial Candidacy

Individuals that sense of call into pastoral ministry should be encouraged, under the mentorship of their senior pastor, to enter into the Local Ministerial Candidacy process. The first step in doing this is to register with The River Conference by completing and submitting the Credentialing Application.
​
Below are a number of documents that will help pastors and local ministerial candidates to systematically complete this process and begin the journey toward vocational ministry.

Our Regional MEGs (rMEG) are here to help. TRC is comprised of six regions. Each region has it's own rMEG that will be your contact at TRC. Contact TRC's MEG Coordinator, Tim Auw, for more information and assistance.

Next Steps

1. If not already, become a member of your local Free Methodist Church
2. Establish a local Prayer and Accountability Team
3. Submit the Background Check Authorization Form to Tim Auw.
4. Obtain Local Board of Administration Approval as a Local Ministerial Candidate
5. A mentor will be assigned to you to guide you through the process.
6. Complete and submit to Tim Auw your:

• Testimony / Call to Ministry
• Personal History
• Spiritual Autobiography
• Reference Form
• LMC Formation Plan
• StrengthsFinder Profile
• Transcripts
• LMC Theological Proficiency Assessment ​

Conference Ministerial Candidacy

Conference Ministerial Candidates should be actively working with a pastor and their assigned mentor toward achieving the outcomes expected of an ordained elder in the FMCUSA.  This will involve:

• Assessments 
• ​A plan developed to achieve outcomes, which may include continuing formal education,
• Continued on-the-job training
• Intentionally reading, writing and practical assignments guided by a mentor and Regional MEG representative.  

​​Below are a number of documents that will help CMCs to complete their journey toward ordination.

Next Steps
Complete and submit to Tim Auw your:

• CMC Formation Plan
• CMC Theological Proficiency Assessment
• MHP Report or Equivalent
• Divorce Clearance - if applicable
• Credentialing Interview

Academic Recommendations

• *History and Polity of the Free Methodist Church (required)
•  Basic Christian Doctrine
• *Wesleyan Theology (required)
•  Systematic Theology
•  Inductive Bible Study
•  Bible Courses (one Old Testament, one New Testament)
•  NT Survey
•  OT Survey
• *Homiletics and Hermeneutics
• *Pastoral Counseling and Self-Care
• *Church Administration
•  Leadership
•  Spiritual Formation
•  Evangelism/Church Growth
•  Cross-Cultural

Credentialing Resources

* Indicates courses offered by TRC's River Institute

Contact Information

THE RIVER CONFERENCE
PO Box 280942 / Lakewood, CO 80228                       (720) 305-1529

MEG COORDINATOR
Tim Auw - themeg@theriverconference.org

FMCUSA
770 N. High School Rd / Indianapolis, IN 46214 / Toll-Free – (800) 342-5531 Local – (317) 244-3660