The Candidacy Process

The Candidacy Committee of the Virginia Synod seeks to support, encourage and counsel any baptized member of this synod who would undertake the preparation needed for rostered ministry--ordained ministry, associate in ministry (AIM), diaconal ministry-- in the ELCA. The committee seeks to be a constructive and critical resource in helping the candidate to discern his or her sense of call, gifts for ministry, and readiness for service. At the same time, our charge also includes that of serving as an advocate for the needs and hopes of the whole church, and to exercise, on behalf of the church, our best discernment of a candidate’s readiness for a particular area of call or rostered service.

Although we may oversee the candidacy process, we do not overlook the vital participation of the home congregation and pastor(s), the seminary community, mentors and friends in Christ—all of whom have important ministries to, and interactions with a candidate. Home pastors are specifically invited to our August Vocations Conference, so that our committee may share with them the church’s candidacy process and develop an early working relationship with them. Either in person or through regular written reports, a seminary informs us of a candidate’s progress in classes, clinical pastoral education, and internship. Psychological testing is provided at the beginning of the process and before internship to assist the committee and the candidate in determining the candidate’s readiness for ministry and identify areas of growth. Every candidate is matched with a committee member who serves as a contact person for regular communication of a candidate’s concerns, questions, discoveries and struggles.

The candidacy process in our church now stipulates that our committee makes three decisions during candidacy:

1. The Entrance decision indicates our judgment concerning a person’s readiness for seminary work and study, and should normally be made by June of the year prior to entrance into seminary.

2. The Endorsement decision indicates our judgment concerning a candidate’s seminary progress and readiness for an internship. It comes in the first semester of a candidate’s second year at seminary.

3. The Approval decision indicates our judgment concerning a candidate’s readiness for rostered ministry and is contingent upon graduation from seminary. This decision is usually made in January of a candidate’s final year at seminary.

These decisions apply not only to candidates for Ordained Ministry, but Diaconal Ministry, Associates in Ministry, and persons seeking ordination via alternate routes (special situations). The candidates who fall into these categories are also listed on the Roll of Church Vocations Candidates.

The August meeting is centered around our annual Church Vocations Conference. This is an event which all candidates are encouraged to attend; especially "inquirers" who may desire to learn more about rostered ministry and further discern their call to service in the church. For those candidates who are already in the process, it is a time for sharing their sense of call with others who are at various stages of the candidacy process.

It is a rare privilege to serve with a committee of dedicated, talented, and capable pastors and lay persons who freely offer their many gifts in support of candidates for rostered ministries in the church. We continue to be blessed as the power of the Spirit leads and works in the work of this committee and in the lives of our candidates.