Equipping disciples for ministry and service through leadership as local pastors.
Announcing Licensing School 2026!
The 2026 Western Jurisdiction Licensing School will be held online May 13th-June 24th
Online classes will begin May 13th and continue on Monday and Wednesday nights from 5:00-7:30 pm Mountain Standard Time (if you are curious what time that is right now, click here).
The program involves independent reading (see below for the book list), lecture presentations, learning modules, group projects, weekly writing assignments, a preaching practicum, and other activities. Click here to register now!
All participants must have some kind of confirmation from their DS that they have permission to take this course. Please see our registration form for more information.
We must have 5 students registered by April 15th to hold this session. To participate, you must be enrolled by May 10th.
Costs
The program cost has not changed. The cost per student is $1,000. We recommend mailing your payment or a partial payment as soon as possible. The mailing address is: Western Jurisdiction Licensing School, 1625 Skyhawk Rd., Escondido, CA 92029. If we have not received your full payment by June 1st, you will be dropped from the program. If you have concerns, please contact Beth Rambikur at brambikur@gmail.com, subject line: Licensing School Payment
Please check with your DS, local pastor registrar, District Committee on Ministry, Board of Ordained Ministry, conference director of leadership development, and/or United Methodist Foundations as scholarship money is often available to cover some or all of this cost.
What can I expect?
Zoom class meetings will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00 pm-7:30 pm “Arizona” time and include lectures, practicums, presentations, and class discussions. Each week, participants will also be required to read, watch videos, and complete homework, including reflection papers, quizzes, and group assignments. This program provides 80 hours of education in United Methodist Tradition, Public Worship and Liturgy, Preaching, Leadership/Administration, Spiritual Formation, Educational Ministries, Pastoral Care, Mission and Evangelism, and Conference-specific education. Students must receive a passing grade in order to receive credit for this program. We cover what we think participants will need to know in order to begin their ministry as licensed local pastors. This course is A LOT of work, participants may spend up to 20 hrs a week on learning modules and assignments. Talk to your employers, families, friends, District Superintendents, and co-workers now to start planning for this time.
Licensing School’s primary purpose is to prepare participants for appointment as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church. This is a pass/fail course, with passing set at 80% of the graded total. You must pass to be eligible for appointment as a local pastor. Attendance at all sessions is required to pass. While Licensing School is required by many conferences to obtain the license to serve as a Local Pastor, we DO NOT license you! Nor does attendance mean you will be given an appointment or a license by your annual conference. We fulfill the disciplinary requirement of The Book of Discipline 2020/2024 paragraph 315.2.a.3 as part of the licensing process.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Beth Rambikur at brambikur@gmail.com, with Licensing School in your subject line!
Book and resources
You will need to have access to the following to complete the homework.
- The Book of Discipline 2020/2024 Click Here For Access
- United Methodist Book of Worship
- United Methodist Hymnal
- This Holy Mystery Click Here For Free PDF
- By Water and The Spirit Click Here For Free PDF
- Living Our Beliefs by Kenneth Carder, 2009 edition
- Worship with United Methodists, revised edition by Hoyt L. Hickman
- Quick and Easy Guide to United Methodist Polity, Second Edition by Thomas W. Elliott and Anne Burkholder
- The United Methodist Clergy Book of Firsts by F. Belton Joyner Jr.
- The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation: Creating a Culture of JustPeace by Thomas Porter
- A scholarly study Bible, such as The Harper Collins Study Bible or the New Interpreter’s Study Bible.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Beth Rambikur at brambikur@gmail.com
Registration and Deadlines
The 2026 registration is now live! You can register before you have an appointment or have become a certified candidate for ministry if you have the permission of your District Superintendent. Enrollment will close on May 10th. Click here to register now.