Ministerial Services

The Office of Ministerial Services provides staff support to the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Beth Downs is the director of Ministerial Services, and Phyllis Crow is the administrative assistant.  

This office, working through the Board of Ordained Ministry, assists with areas of call, development, and support for clergy, diaconal ministers, and certified lay professionals. Assistance is provided for:

• Candidates for licensed or ordained ministry and for professional certification
• Mentors

• Ministers of other denominations and local pastors from other United Methodist annual conferences who want to serve in Virginia

• Continuing education for clergy, diaconal ministers, and certified lay professionals
• Seminary students (educational requirements, financial assistance, etc.)
• Local Pastors (Licensing School, Course of Study).  

Contact this office by phone at 804-521-1126 (Phyllis Crow) or 804-521-1127 (Beth Downs) or 1-800-768-6040.  Or e-mail to BethDowns@vaumc.org

ExploreCalling.org
Here is a new Web site that helps young people discern how God is calling them to serve The United Methodist Church as clergy or lay people: www.ExploreCalling.org. ExploreCalling.org invites young people to consider God's call in their lives, answers questions about United Methodist candidacy and ministry, and promotes conversations to help ministry candidates move from one phase of vocational exploration to the next.