Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
Procedures for Those Licensed for Pastoral Ministry (¶315.1)
and Provisional Elders (¶315.1 and ¶326.2)
Requesting an Extension Ministries Appointment
In the Virginia Conference, for all provisional elders and those licensed for pastoral ministry seeking an
appointment to an extension ministry, a review of the ministry setting and recommendation to the
Bishop and district superintendents by the Board of Ordained Ministry is required prior to the
appointment (¶315.1 and ¶326.2, 2012 Discipline). The following are required:
1. Consult with your District Superintendent prior to any interviews relative to such an appointment.
2. Make a request in writing to the Bishop, with copies to the Center for Clergy Excellence and your
District Superintendent, by February 15 preceding the Annual Conference for which the appointment
is being requested. Include the name of the institution or agency, the position title, and the effective
date. Ad interim requests between Annual Conference sessions may be considered by the Bishop.
3. The institution or agency desiring to employ a provisional elder or licensed local pastor shall request
in writing to the bishop and secure approval before completing any agreement to employ the
provisional elder or licensed local pastor. If the institution or agency is located in another area, the
bishop of that area shall also be consulted.
4. An interview with the Extension Ministries Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry is required.
Interviews are held annually in the spring. In preparation for the interview, the following materials
should be sent to the Center for Clergy Excellence by February 15:

The letters required in items #2 and #3 above

A written paper responding to the questions which follow on page 2

Provide written information about the extension ministry setting including:
a. Purpose of institution or agency
b. A list of the Board of Directors, including the names and biographical information
c. A financial statement from the institution or agency (including income and budget)
d. For clergy initiating their own ministry setting, incorporation as a non-profit (501c3 or
LLC) will be required by the end of the first year of approval. If not completed by the
time of the interview, documentation can be submitted later when completed.
e. Statement of accountability related to supervision and annual evaluation
5. The interview will focus on the questions and information provided in these documents as well as the
issues listed as “Criteria for the Interview” which follow on page 3.
Revised and updated 7/2013
Revised and updated 10/2015
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Questions for Candidates Seeking Appointment Under the Provisions of ¶315.1
1. Within the context of your call to ministry, identify your sense of call to the particular form
of ministry which you propose to enter.
2. The Church in Mission

How does ministry in the setting you propose fulfill and enrich the effectiveness of
the church in mission?

In what ways does serving in your proposed setting minister to identifiable needs in
the world that relate to the mission of the church?

In what specific ways does your proposed ministry respond to the needs of persons in
special circumstances and unique situations?
3. ¶340 outlines the responsibilities of the four-fold ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order and
Service.

If Word is understood as the study, interpretation, proclamation, and practice of the
gospel, how do you intend to witness to the Word? How do you intend to live
redemptively in the world as a rehearsing of God’s activity in Christ?

If sacrament is understood as a means of grace witnessed by symbolic self-giving in
love, in what sense is your proposed ministry a lifestyle symbolic of the self-giving
witnessed in the Eucharist? What do you perceive to be the sacramental dimensions
in your proposed setting?

If order is understood as the ordering of the life of the church so as to enable the body
of Christ to live redemptively in the world, how does serving in your proposed setting
forward that task? How would you shape the meaning of discipleship for your
community?

If service is understood as being the visible body of Christ through servant ministry in
the midst of a broken and suffering world, how does your proposed ministry
demonstrate the involvement of Jesus with human need? How will your ministry be a
witness to the church’s involvement with persons on behalf of the community of
faith?
4. Specifically, how will you carry out the functions of a provisional elder or licensed local
pastor in your proposed ministry setting?
5. What are your plans for completing the requirements for provisional membership and/or
ordination?
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Criteria for the Interview
The following questions may be used to assess the request:

Within the context of the basic call to ministry, is there discernable evidence that the
person is responding to a call to the particular form of ministry being proposed?

Does the proposed ministry fulfill and enrich the effectiveness of the church in mission?

Is the proposed ministry congruent with the annual conference’s missional commitment
in and to the world?

What identifiable needs in the world are involved in this ministry that make it affirmable
as a part of the mission of the church?

Is the proposed ministry one in which the duties of those licensed for pastoral ministry to
word, sacrament, order and service, understood in holistic fashion, can be responsibly
fulfilled?

Does the proposed setting for ministry provide a context that is positive for the person’s
fulfilling the covenant relationship that forms the interdependent and complementary
ministry of United Methodist clergy?

Does the person possess the specific/special gifts, training, education, work experience,
and experiences of grace required for the proposed ministry?

Does the proposed setting for ministry provide the possibility of the kind of
accountability integral to our understanding of responsible participation in our covenant
community?

If the ministry setting is in pastoral care or counseling, has this person received
“ecclesiastical associate status” with the United Methodist Endorsing Agency through the
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry?

In the context of being a part of our voluntary covenant community, is this person
prepared to accept an appointment to a local church if requested to do so?
11/2010
Revised and updated 7/2013
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