“For i know the plans i have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” jeremiah 29:11

Exploring a Call to Ministry

You don’t have to have it all figured out. Sometimes a call to ministry begins with a moment, sometimes it grows slowly over years. Sometimes it starts with a question you can’t ignore:

“Could God be asking something more of me?”

If you are exploring ministry - whether you feel confident or completely unsure - you are not alone. Candidacy Summit and Candidacy mentoring is a space to listen, pray, ask honest questions, and take the next faithful step.

What Does “Call” Mean?

In the United Methodist tradition, a call to ministry is not only about a career choice. It is about God’s invitation - to love, serve, lead, and help build the church for the sake of the world.

A call may be expressed through:

  • A deep desire to serve Christ and others

  • Gifts for leadership, teaching or care

  • A growing passion for justice and compassion

  • Affirmation from your faith community

  • A persistent sense that God is stirring something new

Calling is not always loud. Often, it is gentle. The candidacy process helps us to pay attention to God’s prompting.

Ministry in the United Methodist Church

You may be discerning a call as:

  • A lay leader or ministry volunteer

  • A leader in fresh expressions or community outreach

  • A certified lay minister

  • A licensed local pastor (ministry of shepherding a specific congregation in mission and discipleship)

  • An elder (ministry of word, service, sacrament, and order)

  • A deacon (ministry of word, service, compassion and justice)

  • A chaplain or specialized minister

By nature of our baptismal covenant, we are all called into ministry. Ministry takes many shapes. Some are set apart as ordained or licensed, some are lay, and all are vital. A call to set apart ministry involves a discernment process in which a person not only senses a call from God, but is also affirmed in that call by the Body of Christ. 
 
If you are sensing God calling you to ministry begin by taking these next steps in your discernment process: 

Take the Next Step

  1. Contact your pastor or campus minister and discuss with them your sense of calling. 

  2. Order the following resource to read and discuss with your pastor: The Christian as Minister available at www.cokesbury.com. 

  3. Work towards completing Safe Ministry Certification available at https://riotexas.org/safesteps

  4. Prepare to attend a Candidacy Summit.

If you have any questions about the candidacy process or Candidacy Summit, feel free to contact the Rio Texas Vocational Discernment Coordinator, Rev. Adrienne Zermeno at azermeno@riotx.org. 

Candidacy Summit

The Rio Texas Conference is committed to providing a clear, consistent framework for discernment, formation and public affirmation for those exploring and discerning a call to licensed or ordained ministry. We call this Candidacy Formation.  At the heart of our Candidacy Formation process is the Candidacy Summit and Group Candidacy Mentoring.  

The Candidacy Summit is a 6 hour retreat which all candidates for licensed and ordained ministry must attend. The Summit is offered in January and August. Group Candidacy Mentoring happens by zoom for 4 sessions following Candidacy Summit. 

During this Summit you will receive accurate information about the Candidate Formation Process; meet with Rio Texas leadership and others exploring ministry; begin to meet with the Candidacy Mentoring Group and set up future meeting dates.

Upcoming Candidacy Summit Dates

  • August 14, 2026, San Antonio, TX (Deadline: July 20th)

  • January 2027, San Antonio, TX

  • August 2027

2026 Candidacy Summit Application, including

  • Statement of Call

  • Statement of Ministry Involvement & Fruitfulness

  • Certification of Safe Gatherings/Safe Ministry completed

  • Payment for Candidacy Formation Materials and Assessments ($200 in a check or money order, made payable to Rio Texas Conference).

Submit to Eve Albert evealbert@riotx.org, 16400 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, 78248

Please print, fill out, and bring these forms with you to the Candidacy Summit:

Additional Forms & Info After Group Mentoring

Board of Ordained Ministry Glossary

Forms for Local Church Vote

Assessment through Conference Sent Directly to DCOM

  • Credit Check Form

  • Psychological Assessment (You will get these forms through Candidacy Group Mentoring)

    • Candidate References (4: self-reference, 3 non relatives)

    • Personal Data Inventory

Other Forms for 1st Meeting with District Committee on Ministry

Before Licensing School or 1st Appointment

The purpose of Sexual Ethics Training and Safe Gatherings/Safe MinistryTraining is to ensure that our churches are safe places for all of God's children and to provide our churches with leadership who help set that culture of safety. Thank you for taking the time to learn and adopt these practices, as a part of the Rio Texas family.