Pastoral Candidacy and Application Process

Applying for Pastoral Leadership in Mennonite Church Canada

Thank you for your interest in serving as a pastor in Mennonite Church Canada.

There are 7 steps to the application process:

1. Interest form

Complete and submit the form below. After receiving your interest request we will contact you with a link to the next step.

2. Reflection Process (online form)

The purpose of Step 1 is to help us become acquainted with you as a pastoral leader while also providing an opportunity for you to become more familiar with Mennonite Church Canada as a faith community. This initial exchange of self-understanding and denominational understanding establishes a foundation for the discernment that will continue throughout the remainder of the MLI process.

3. Conversation with Regional Leadership

After submitting your responses to the Reflection Process you will be contacted by either Church Leadership Minister or Executive Minister in your area to discuss your candidacy.

4. Ministerial Information Form (MLI) (online form)

Following your meeting with a regional leader, you will be sent a link to the online Ministerial Information Form (MLI).  This is a lengthy form that will ask about your education, experience, competencies, priorities, skills, and employment expectations. 

5. References

As part of the MLI form, you will be asked to provide 3 references who we will contact.  You will be provided with a summary of those reference responses.

6. Vulnerable Sector Check

You will need to submit an up to date (less than 3 years old) completed by your local police.

7. Opportunities Conversation 

When all the previous steps are completed, your local regional leader will contact you to discuss what opportunities you would like to pursue.

Desired Outcomes

Through this process, we hope to see:

• A candidate who becomes increasingly familiar with the key convictions, values, and distinctives of Mennonite Church Canada, as well as the expectations placed on credentialed pastoral leaders.
• A candidate who reflects thoughtfully on how their own ministerial identity, calling, gifts, and experience align with these convictions and expectations.
• An opportunity for engagement with a Regional Church leadership representative following completion of this form, providing an early sense of whether there is a good fit between the candidate's pastoral identity and Mennonite Church Canada's understanding of credentialed leadership.

We view this process as one of mutual discernment. It is an opportunity for both you and Mennonite Church Canada to listen carefully, learn from one another, and explore together the possibility of ministry within our shared community of faith.

We look forward to getting to know you.

Mennonite Church Canada Documents Concerning Faith and Leadership

Before completing the MLI form

• Become familiar with the Shared Convictions of Mennonite World Conference, which articulate the shared faith commitments of Mennonites worldwide, including Mennonite Church Canada.
• Review the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995), and Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions  available through Mennonite Church Canada. These documents provide an important theological and historical foundation for understanding the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith tradition and heritage. 
• Understand and be prepared to minister within the framework of the Guiding Ministerial Leadership in Mennonite Church Canada (GMLC) policy, which outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and covenantal commitments of ministerial leaders. 
• Become acquainted with the polity, governance, and bylaws of Mennonite Church Canada by reviewing the denominational bylaws available on the Mennonite Church Canada website.