Beginning the Candidacy Process
- 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/)