Candidacy Leaders' Handbook

A candidacy resource for synod bishops, synod staff, candidacy committee members and others

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Introduction
Welcome to the Candidacy Leaders Handbook. We give thanks for your ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Your commitment to the process of discernment, formation, and preparation of leaders for this church is vital in a Candidacy Process of hospitality, formation, and evaluation.

This Handbook includes information intended to assist candidacy leaders in their work. Each section may be printed for personal or committee use.

Candidacy Leaders Handbook
This resource is for synod bishops, staff, candidacy committee members, seminary faculty, internship supervisors, churchwide staff, and others who seek more insight into the Candidacy Process.

The articles and topics in this handbook have been compiled by ELCA candidacy staff (central office and deployed) — seasoned leaders who serve on behalf of this church. Each section may be used as a brief “learningopportunity” for committee development.

Sections included in the handbook are:

  • Discernment
    Discernment is a process of perceiving the will and way of God in the church and in a person's life. Potential rostered leaders — and all people of God — benefit from supportive discernment opportunities. Suggestions for synods are included in this section (see page 3).
  • Candidacy Committee Life
    This section includes helpful reflections on the practical details of how candidacy works in our committees. Topics include hospitality, retreats, and writing a report form, as well as how to deal with candidates from other traditions, confidentiality, psychological evaluations, and interactive endorsements (see page 9).
  • Candidacy Process for Committees
    Candidacy leaders in the ELCA share their perspectives and expertise in such areas as candidacy administration, exceptions, Spanish language resources, and the favorite “Commonly Asked Questions” (see page 21).
  • Seminaries and Candidacy
    Seminaries are key partners in preparation. Topics covered include affiliation with a seminary, SELECT video courses for Associate in Ministry Candidates, faculty representatives, and an affiliation plan worksheet (see page 38).
  • Candidacy Manual
    The Candidacy Manual provides a detailed step-by-step description of the process for becoming an ordained pastor, a commissioned associate in ministry, or a consecrated deaconess or diaconal minister in the ELCA. It reflects the policies and procedures established by the ELCA for preparing candidates for the four rosters of this church. The current Candidacy Manual (2005) is available on the ELCA Web site (click here).
  • Candidacy Forms
    All forms pertaining to the Candidacy Process are available for use by candidacy leaders. Formatta Filler® soft-ware must be downloaded to complete these forms. Instructions are available for installing Formatta and completing the forms on the ELCA Web site (click here).

Forms are organized into those for Synod Use, Individual Use, Congregation Use, and those relating to the Seminaries. Decision forms (Entrance, Endorsement, Approval) are to be submitted only by the synod. All applicants must be in contact with their synod office prior to submitting any forms.