Course of Study
- Course of Study School for Local Pastors
- Staff
- Forms (registration, housing, etc.)
- Advanced Course of Study School
- Extension Schools
Candler School of Theology
Advanced Course of Study School
Documents
- 2010 Advanced Course of Study Application [WORD]
- Quick List of Courses [WORD]
- 2010 Advanced Course of Study Housing Form [WORD]
- 2010 Advanced Course of Study Registration Form [WORD]
- Fall 2009 UM Doctrine Precourse Work [WORD]
Registration Deadlines and Cost
Winter Weekend - December 1, 2009Spring Weekend - March 1, 2010
Summer Session 1 & 2 - March 31, 2010
Fall Weekend - August 1, 2010
Registration Fee
Weekend Courses $200 per course2 Week Summer Session $200
4 Week Summer Session $350
Course Fees
Each course has a $400 course fee in addition to the registration fees.
1 Weekend/Summer Course = $4002 Summer Courses = $800
3 Summer Courses = $1200
4 Summer Courses = $1600
LATE FEES - if your paper work is submitted after the deadline there is a $25 late fee penalty per course.
The Purpose of Advanced Course of Study
From “The Ministry of the Licensed Local Pastor” published by The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry:
The Advanced Course of Study is a curriculum which will enable a local pastor to meet the educational requirements for probationary membership, full conference membership, and ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church. It consists of 32 semester hours of graduate theological study of its equivalent as determined by GBHEM (see ¶ 324.6 of the 2004 Book of Discipline). Included in this curriculum must be United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity for a minimum of two semester hours in each field of study. There are other guidelines regarding advanced Course of Study, and it is important to seek this information from the Annual Conference and GBHEM, Section of Elders and Local Pastors.
Information from the 2004 Book of Discipline ¶ 324.6
Local Pastors may fulfill the requirements for probationary membership and commissioning when they have:
- Reached 40 years of age;
- Satisfied all requirements of Sections 1-3 and 7-14 of ¶ 324
- Completed the 5 year Course of Study for ordained ministry, of which no more than four courses may be taken by correspondence or Internet; and
- [Completed] an Advanced Course of Study consisting of 32 semester hours of graduate theological study or its equivalent as determined by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry that shall include the areas of evangelism and United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity.
- Complete the application for Admission to the ACOS program. This can be found on our website or request a copy by calling our office 404.727.4587.
- Admission requirements include
- A completed application and application fee by the appropriate deadline.
- Autobiographical statement
A two – three paged typed, double-spaced autobiographical statement is a critical element in the evaluation of your application. Please consider your response carefully, attending to content, style, grammatical correctness, and organization of the essay. The statement is a way to introduce yourself to our Review Committee. With this in mind, write a reflective essay about your life that addresses the following topics. - Significant life experiences that have affected your view of self, God, and the world. Include references to family members and significant others, courses, and experiences in previous education, church, serviced-related activities, and employment.
- Your plans following completion of Advanced Course of Study.
- Church history statement
Our Review Committee would like to know more about your church journey. Please give a detailed list of appointments you have served since becoming a United Methodist Local Pastor. If you transferred to the UMC from another denomination please include a list of churches you served and what denomination those appointments were with. This outline should include: - Appointment name, location, and conference
- Dates served
- Position (Associate, Sr. Pastor, Youth Minister, Etc.)
- One thing that really challenged you at each appointment
- COS Transcripts
- If you have attended another ACOS program please submit that transcript.
- Once all materials are received, your materials will be reviewed, and once accepted, you will be registered for courses you have requested.
- Once you are accepted into the program there will be a general registration form that you will need to complete to register for class each session.
Contact Information:
Michelle Levan, Program Coordinator
Candler School of Theology
1531 Dickey Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States
Telephone: 404.727.4587
Fax: 404.727.2494
michelle.levan@emory.edu