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Becoming a Deaconess or Home Missioner: Qualifications and Steps

• Qualifications for Becoming a Deaconess or Home Missioner
• Steps to Become a Deaconess or Home Missioner

What are Deaconesses and Home Missioners?

Deaconesses, who are lay women, and Home Missioners, who are lay men, are defined as a community who have responded to the call of God in their lives and have been commissioned by The United Methodist Church to full-time ministries of love, justice and service. They form a covenant community that is rooted in scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope and global in outreach.

Qualifications for Becoming a Deaconess or Home Missioner  

1. A call from God to full-time (an average of at least 21 hours per week) mission-oriented service.
2. Membership in The United Methodist Church.
3. Have basic qualifications (i.e. education, training, professional certifications, life experiences, etc.) for the ministry in which one is called.
4. Employment at the time of commissioning in an approved appointment which may be in a church-related or helping profession.
5. Openness to itinerating (suggested, not required)
6. Biblical and theological grounding in the following studies:
   • Old Testament
   • New Testament
   • Theology (with a focus on mission)
   • Church History (including United Methodist)
   • Doctrine and Polity of the United Methodist Church
7. Commitment to functioning through "diverse forms of service directed toward the world to make Jesus Christ known in the fullness of his mission, which mandates that his followers:
   • Alleviate suffering
   • Eradicate causes of injustice and all that robs life of dignity and worth
   • Facilitate the development of full human potential
   • Share in building global community through the church universal."*

Steps in becoming a Deaconess or Home Missioner

The applicant completes and returns the Personnel Information Form (standard application form for all mission personnel through the General Board of Global Ministries).

1. The Personnel Information Form is sent to the Deaconess and Home Missioner Program Office for review and distribution to the CCMP - Conference Committee on Mission Personnel (if applicable).
   
2. The Personnel Information Form is reviewed by the Personnel Services staff team.
   
3. A letter is sent to the applicant regarding the action of the Personnel Services Staff Team.
   
4. Once approved, the applicant receives a staff interview and psychological testing/interview (generally in New York).
   
5. A letter regarding the final action of the Personnel Services Staff Team is sent to the applicant.
   
6. A letter is sent to the applicant regarding the action of the Personnel Services staff team.
7. Upon the recommendation of the Personnel Services staff team, the applicant receives a staff interview and a psychological evaluation.
8. A letter regarding the final action of the Personnel Services staff team following the interview and psychological examination is sent to the applicant.
9. If approved, the applicant moves to the candidate stage and begins or completes Core Studies.
10. Upon completion or near completion of Core Studies, the candidate participates in orientation / preparation training as scheduled by the Deaconess and Home Missioner Program Office.
11. Arrangements are made for the approval of the candidate's appointment to 21 hours or more per week in a church-related or helping profession.
12. The candidate is commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries as a Deaconess (lay woman) or Home Missioner (lay man).
13. The approved appointment is made official by the bishop of the annual conference in which the Deaconess or Home Missioner will be serving. A Deaconess or Home Missioner must hold local church membership in the annual conference in which they will be serving.

For additional information, please contact: