Candidacy in the ELCA

Find information about how you can answer the Holy Spirit's call to Rostered Ministry in the ELCA.

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The first step in the process is discernment.

“The goal of discernment is to walk with a person of faith in such a way that he or she comes to a firm sense of what God is inviting in his or her life. Whatever the final outcome might be, the process will have been faithful to its objective of accompanying people of faith in discernment, if the individual takes ownership of his or her discernment outcome and completes or exits the process with a positive sense that the direction so discerned is a good fit for his or her gifts and interests” (ELCA Candidacy Manual, p. 68)

 

ELCA Candidacy Manual

This manual describes in detail the candidacy process for Candidacy Committees and candidates.

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Guidelines for Candidates

This is a simplified version of the process of candidacy for candidates.

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Summary of Candidacy

The ELCA provides this summary of the candidacy process to all registered candidates.

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Personal Financial Planning Guide

Despite the institutional offers of free tuition, seminary is not free. Candidates are encouraged to examine their personal finances as they enter this process.

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