The "Book of Discipline" devotes a considerable number of pages to The Ordained Ministry. The United Methodist Church requires those seeking ordination as elder and deacon to study the history, theology and polity of the Church. "The Discipline" states, "There are persons within the ministry of the baptized who are called of God and set apart by the Church for the specialized ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order" (paragraph 402). Each Annual Conference has a board of ordained ministry whose responsibility it is to examine the candidates for ordination and to assist them in preparing themselves for ministry in the church. The process of examination is now under way in most annual conferences. It is a time-tested procedure that is thorough, supportive, instructional and pastoral.

The work of the board of ordained ministry is the work originally done by John and Charles Wesley alone. On four different occasions in 1751 John and Charles Wesley met with groups of preachers (in Bristol, twice in Leeds and once in Newcastle). According to Wesley historian Richard Heizenrater, the particular purpose of these meetings was to examine the preachers "as to their grace, gifts and fruit." On these occasions two new ones were admitted and two were dismissed "on the spot."

One particular problem was William Darney. He had a "round of societies in the Todmorden area [and] had been absorbed into the Methodist connection in 1747. He had been recommended by William Grimshaw." Darney was more of a problem to Charles than to John (whom Charles claimed was "too patient" with divergent preachers). At a Leeds conference, Charles had Darney promise that he would not preach doctrines outside the accepted Wesleyan understanding and that he would refrain from "railing, from begging [and] from printing any more of his nonsense [poetry he claimed was divinely inspired] without the Wesleys' imprimatur."

Thus William Darney was placed on probation and, at Charles' insistence, "was not allowed to sit with them [the other preachers] at Conference, so as to not emphasize his not being in full connection."

Seems rather strict and punitive. Compared to the process used today, it was very strict and demanding. In reality today the board of ordained ministry is determined to help candidates prepare themselves properly and fully for the serious responsibilities that await them. The board wants the candidates to succeed. The "Book of Discipline" clearly states the competencies that must be demonstrated. The board works individually to help the candidates move through the rigorous requirements of ordination. It is a process worthy of the people called Methodist.