A deacon candidate professes a call of God to this ministry. The candidate currently holds a district license, and has at one time held a license for not fewer than three consecutive years. In addition, the candidate has been recommended for renewal of district license by the church board of the local church in which he or she holds membership or by the District Advisory Board. Further the candidate:
- has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the same,
- has successfully completed a validated course of study prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination as deacon, and
- has been carefully considered and favorably reported by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry to the district assembly.
The candidate may be elected to the order of deacon by two-thirds vote of the district assembly; provided he or she has been an assigned minister not fewer than three consecutive years; and provided further that the candidate must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in local church ministry, and that their testimony and service demonstrate that their call to ministry is primary to all other pursuits. Further, any disqualification that may have been imposed by a district assembly has been removed in writing by the district superintendent and District Advisory Board of said district; and provided further that his or her marriage relationship does not render him or her ineligible for ordination. (205.6, 320, 529)