• Talk to your home church pastor
• Meet with the Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy, Pastor Dana Blouch-Hanson – call 717-652-1852, ext. 111; 800-692-7282, ext. 111 (PA only) or email dblouch-hanson@lss-elca.org, to set an appointment.
• Suggested Readings
• Meet with other pastors, chaplains, and deacons to speak about their call to ministry and yours
• Complete application and autobiographical essay
• Submit Congregational Registration and Support Forms (You must have been an active member of an ELCA congregation for one year.)
• Complete psychological/career evaluation
• Complete criminal and child abuse background checks
• Complete ELCA Required Questions Form
• Complete a Personal Health Assessment
• Complete Financial Statement and Financial Planning Worksheets
• Submit copies of all post-secondary transcripts and continuing education certificates
• Provide two letters of recommendation
• Complete initial interview – a structured interview with the person or people to be your relators on the candidacy committee
• Complete entrance interview with the candidacy committee

Note: The seminary admissions process is a separate entity and can occur concurrently with the candidacy process. However, final seminary admission to a degree program is contingent upon a positive entrance decision from the candidacy committee

(For information on ELCA seminaries visit https://elcaseminaries.org/)