In the ELCA, rostered leadership takes two forms:

  • Pastors – Ministers of Word and Sacrament
  • Deacons – Ministers of Word and Service (this includes those who were commissioned as associates in ministry or consecrated as deaconesses and diaconal ministers).

Discernment

Discernment is an ongoing process which continues throughout the candidacy process. Discernment involves not only listening to God’s call to you, but also God’s call to you through others. This is the time to talk with your pastor, friends, family, and other people in the congregation about your gifts for public ministry.

This is also a time to discern the timeline for entering into the Candidacy Process. Even someone who has been called by God to serve will need to get some things in order to give them the best start at seminary and in their public ministry. Attention should be paid to family readiness, finances, education preparedness, ability to accept a all to the whole church, and gifts and areas of growth. Part of disinterment is also a personal assessment of our own discipleship practices: worship, prayer, study, giving, encouraging, and serving.

ELCA Candidacy Resources

Candidacy Process – How to become a leader

Entrance

Entrance begins a process of discernment that explores an individual’s potential for rostered ministry and readiness to begin the process of seminary preparation and candidacy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). One year of active membership in an ELCA congregation is required prior to entrance.

Checklist for Entrance Process:

  • Application
  • Essay
  • Fee
  • Health Assessment
  • Psychological Evaluation
  • Background Check
  • Congregational Registration
  • Congregational Support
  • High School/College Transcripts
  • FERPA

An Entrance Interview is held in consultation with the Candidacy Committee after which application is typically made to a seminary.

ELCA Seminaries

Endorsement

Endorsement encourages and affirms those who clearly demonstrate gifts and qualities for a specific ELCA roster of ministry as well as identifies areas for growth and development.

Candidates at this stage take part in an Endorsement Panel, with at least two Candidacy Committee members and an ELCA seminary faculty advisor, typically in the fall of the second year of study. A recommendation is made to the Synod Candidacy Committee for an Endorsement decision.

A candidate attending a non-ELCA seminary must affiliate with an ELCA seminary prior to Endorsement. Affiliated candidates will participate in an Endorsement Interview with the Candidacy Committee. An appropriate faculty advisor may be consulted or invited to participate.

Once endorsed, candidates will complete an approved ELCA internship that happens under the supervision of an ELCA seminary. Only endorsed candidates may participate in an ELCA internship.

Checklist for Endorsement Process:

  • Essay
  • CPE Reports
  • Boundaries Training
  • Interview

Approval

Approval occurs when a candidate articulates the call to ministry and demonstrates readiness to assume a leadership role as a rostered minister in the ELCA. Approval comes near completion of all academic and practical requirements. This final step includes preparation of the Approval Essay and participation in the Approval Interview with the Candidacy Committee. A positive decision must be made in order to be available for assignment and the corresponding process of ordination.

Checklist for Approval Process:

  • Essay
  • Internship Reports
  • Form D – From the Seminary

Scholarship and Debt Assistance