Enrollment

The Course of Study for Ordained Ministry has been established by the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church as an alternate educational route for persons seeking to serve as pastors in United Methodist congregations. Duke Divinity School cooperates with the Board to offer the course of study program each summer and on a part-time basis on weekends throughout the academic year. Advanced courses, for pastors who have completed the basic course of study and are seeking ordination in full connection, are offered in the summer session only. Course instructors include faculty and staff of the Divinity School and other universities and institutions. University course credit is not granted.

The Course of Study is open to ministers of all communions and is recognized as the official course required by the United Methodist Church for candidates for the ministry who are following the local pastor route. Students following the local pastor route shall have been certified as candidates for ordained ministry, completed the requirements for license as a local pastor, and received the endorsement of the annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry prior to enrollment in the Course of Study. In all but exceptional cases, students are expected to be under appointment to a congregation with supervision by a district superintendent and a pastoral mentor. The full process leading to ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church is specifically set forth in The Discipline, which should be read carefully and discussed with a member of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry or a District Superintendent.

Full-time local pastors are required by the Board of Higher Education and Ministry to attend summer session courses. They may attend weekend courses on an exceptional basis only with the permission of their Annual Conference local pastor registrar and the Course of Study Director. Part-time local pastors may attend weekend or summer sessions.

Full-time local pastors are required to complete four courses per year in a Course of Study School and upon completion of the five–year program are expected to be involved in continuing education. Full-time local pastors cannot be enrolled as a full-time student in any college or university (see (¶318.1e 2004 Book of Discipline). Part-time local pastors are required to complete two courses per year in a Course of Study School. It is expected that full-time local pastors will complete the full course of study curriculum within eight years and part-time local pastors within twelve (see ¶319.3 2004 Book of Discipline).

Local Pastors may apply for and be elected to associate membership within an annual conference once they have satisfied the condition established in ¶322.1. If a local pastor or an associate member wishes to pursue membership in full connection within an annual conference, the Discipline provides that they may be received as probationary member so long as they satisfy the requirements of ¶324.6. If Course of Study students have questions about conference membership, they are encouraged to speak to the appropriate conference representative or to the director of the Course of Study school.

Summer Session students must be on the campus of Duke University for the full four-week session. Students enroll in four courses during each session and complete one year of study each summer session. Classes meet Monday – Friday at the Divinity School. Please be aware that although classes do not meet on Saturdays and Sundays, students are STRONGLY encouraged to remain a part of the Duke Course of Study community on the weekends. It is important to remain at Duke during those times because weekends are a valuable time for study and fellowship, which contributes to the Course of Study experience.

2008 Summer Course Sunday, June 30 -- July 25

Weekend Sessions are designed for part-time local pastors who cannot attend the month-long summer program. Classes meet for three consecutive weekends (Friday 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. – noon) at the Divinity School. Students complete one course in each weekend session and complete one year of study by completing all four weekend sessions.

2007-08 Weekend Course

September 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 (2008)
November 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 (2008)
January 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 (2009)
March 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 (2009)