Almost every United Methodist — lay and clergy – can point to a member of the church who inspired and influenced them at some point in their journey, perhaps who even encouraged them to consider a particular vocation or to pursue a gift.

The congregational vitality of The United Methodist Church begins in the local church, where faith is formed and nurtured in people of all ages, especially the young. Equipping congregations to speak the language of call and move intentionally toward discovering and nurturing their vocation will contribute to the health and vitality of their own faith, community, and of the denomination. 

God calls everyone into ministry, but ministry means more than ordination. Called: One Word, Many Ways explores how to listen for God’s voice, discern what you’ve heard, and respond faithfully.

Below you will find several resources and experiences to help you discern God’s call on your life. We also encourage you to talk with your pastor and/or conference superintendent.

Check out these videos of Called stories from the Dakotas Conference here.
If you would like to receive information about exploring your call, please contact us by e-mail here.

Recommended resources

Laity gather for training.

If you want to learn more about ordained ministry, contact the Office of Leadership Development via e-mail or call 605-990-7796 for these resources.

The Christian as Minister: An exploration into the meaning of God's call:  This is 100 page book that is an introduction and explanation of the different types of ministry available for people considering God’s call to ministry in The United Methodist Church.

Ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church: This DVD provides moving accounts by elders, deacons, chaplains, and pastoral counselors about what it means to be called to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The DVD and accompanying brochure highlight what it means to be called and the different ways to serve in ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church.