The District Minister's License
A District Minister’s License is the next level of licensing. A district licensed minister has an expanded sphere of ministry and responsibilities in the church (Manual 530.7) and is a member of the clergy rather than a lay member of the local church. For this reason, both the process and the requirements for receiving this license differ from what is involved in obtaining a Local Minister's License. Each District has a board that oversees the credentialing process for the granting of District Licenses and recommendations for ordination. Some districts organize themselves as a single Board of Ministry while other districts divide the responsibilities between two separate boards: the District Ministerial Studies Board, responsible for helping shape lifelong learningopportunities for all ministers and for guiding those individuals completing the Course of Study; and the District Ministerial Credentials Board, responsible for a variety of duties including recommending individuals for district licensing and for ordination.
Applying for a District Minister’s License
You may apply for a district license on the following conditions:
1. You must have held a Local Minister's License for at least one full year;
2. You must have completed at least one-fourth of the required Course of Study through participation in a validated Course of Study program;
3. If you have ever been divorced, the Board of General Superintendents must have granted approval for you to apply for a District Minister’s License (for information on this, click here).
4. Your local church board must recommend to your District Board of Ministry that you be granted a District Minister’s License or that your District Minister’s License be renewed.
In addition to interviewing candidates for district licenses and ordination, many districts include a broader assessment process, often in the format of an intensive weekend event. The purpose is to help you continue to explore and define your call and to better equip the District to prepare you for a lifetime of effective ministry. Approach assessment experiences with openness and excitement.
If you believe you’ve met the first two conditions listed above (and the third, if applicable), have a conversation with your pastor and church board about the possibility of receiving a recommendation for a District Minister’s License. Normally, this will involve an interview with your local church board similar to seeking renewal of your Local Minister’s License.
Depending on your progress in the Course of Study and evidence of gifts and graces for ministry, the church board may recommend you for a district license. In this case, your pastor should talk with you about the “Application for District Minister’s License” along with the information you need to submit it in time to participate in the credentialing interviews held annually by your district’s Board of Ministry. Normally, interviews are scheduled two to three months before district assembly. If you have further questions or want to find the contact information for your district, click here. Continuing in the educational process and remaining involved in local church ministry can help you, the pastor, and the church board gain a clearer sense of God’s calling and direction on your life.
The District Interview Process
Meeting with the District Board of Ministry is one of the most important steps in the public journey toward ordination. Once you have an interview time established with the board, make all the arrangements necessary to be there. Approach the interview prayerfully and with seriousness. The board may ask your spouse to participate in your interview for your first District Minister’s License. If the board makes such a request (even in subsequent years for renewal of license), you and your spouse need to make every effort to comply.
District boards conduct and structure the interviews for district licensing in a variety of ways. Regardless of the approach and schedule, be prepared for searching questions that cover such important areas as:
Your understanding and experience of a call to ministry
Your understanding and experience of entire sanctification
Your understanding and support of the doctrinal teachings of the Church of the Nazarene
Your theology of ministry
Your financial stability and whether indebtedness could limit places where you could be assigned for ministry
Your willingness to work within the structures of the church
Your commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission
The overall health of your personal and family life
Of course, your District Board of Ministry understands you are in a formative season as you gain experience in ministry and in life, and as you complete the required educational preparation. As you move through the process, the depth of the conversation during your annual interview reflects your level of progress.
After the Interview
Following the interview, the District Board of Ministry may recommend to the District Assembly that you be granted a District Minister’s License. If you are recommended for licensing, your name will be presented to the District Assembly who then votes on the Board of Ministry recommendations. Upon approval by the District Assembly, a license certificate signed by the presiding General Superintendent, the District Superintendent, and the District Secretary, will be issued. Ideally, your pastor will present your license to you during a public worship service.
If the District Board does not recommend that you be granted a District Minister’s License, this does not mean you must abandon your preparation for the ministry. It means, rather, that your pastor and local church board will continue to work with you to discern God’s leading in your life, and to provide direction and guidance. If you anticipate applying for a District Minister’s License in the future, it is important that you continue to hold a Local Minister’s License. Work closely with your pastor on these matters. She or he will provide guidance and involve your church board appropriately.