An Intentional Time of Discernment of God's Will

Speak with your pastor and/or deacon about your call to ministry.

You are invited to make use of Called to Lead: God’s Call, Your Vocation—a very helpful resource for discerning how God is calling you to use your gifts for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the world.

Contact Deacon Wendy Roberts for more information and to begin the formal Candidacy Process.

Upon receipt of all necessary materials, the NC Synod Candidacy Committee will schedule an Entrance Interview at one of its regularly scheduled meetings—usually held in the months of April, August, and November.

Optional Tools & Resources to Explore

• journi.faith
• Summary of Candidacy
• ELCA Definitions of Rosters

Begin exploring seminary options, including these ELCA seminaries: 

• Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary: Berkeley, CA 
• Luther Seminary; St. Paul, MN
• Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; Chicago, IL
• Wartburg Seminary; Dubuque, IA
• Trinity Lutheran Seminary; Columbus, OH
• United Lutheran Seminary; Gettysburg & Philadelphia, PA
• Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; Hickory, NC

If you are considering a non-ELCA seminary or divinity school, you need to affiliate with an ELCA seminary as soon as possible. Please contact Deacon Wendy Roberts for more information.

Need help with discernment? Check out ELCA Discernment Cohorts.

The Formal Beginning of the Candidacy Process

The Entrance process in candidacy is the first formal discernment by a candidacy committee and applicants of their readiness for candidacy.

A decision to grant Entrance officially accepts an applicant into candidacy, which means the committee recognizes potential for rostered ministry.

Normally, a candidacy committee will grant Entrance prior to an applicant’s beginning seminary studies. (In unusual circumstances, an applicant may begin seminary studies for a period of six months before an Entrance decision is granted.)

Be familiar with Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline. All candidates for ministry are expected to live in accord with its standards of conduct as a candidate and as a rostered minister in the ELCA.

Candidates should be in touch with the synod or the candidacy committee at least once per year.

One of the practices that candidacy committees have found useful for facilitating annual contact and building relationships between the committee and candidates is a developmental interview with the candidate and members of the committee (Candidacy Manual 2023).

Developmental interviews are usually opportunities for checking in with the candidate to make sure candidacy is progressing smoothly, and the candidate is following up on any recommendations made by the committee during the previous interview. Sometimes the interviews are held to solve a particular problem. The committee tries to have a developmental interview with every candidate during their process.

Official Action Affirming A Candidate's Demonstration of Appropriate Gifts & Characteristics for Ministry

Endorsement follows about halfway through the candidacy process and is the point when the candidate specifies, and the committee and seminary faculty validate, a specific roster category.

A candidate is Endorsed by the Candidacy Committee for one of two rosters:

• Ministry of Word and Sacrament (Pastor)
• Ministry of Word and Service (Deacon)

PRIOR to Endorsement, a candidate must complete:

• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) [usually coordinated through your seminary]
• A seminary course in Lutheran Confessions

A candidate must be Endorsed in order to proceed to Internship.

Candidate Is Ready to Serve as a Rostered Minister

Approval is the last official decision a candidacy committee makes, affirming the candidate’s readiness for rostered ministry.

The candidacy committee discerns the candidate’s gifts and readiness to serve and lead in this church.

PRIOR to Approval, a candidate must complete:

• A formal internship (generally coordinated through your seminary)
• An approval essay

Once Approval is granted, the candidate is ready to begin the formal ELCA First Call Process.