The district board of ministerial development is the district body charged with overseeing the development and progress of each candidate up to the point of ordination or commissioning.  It is responsible to test the validity of the candidates' calls, identity their strengths and weaknesses, counsel them, encourage them, direct their academic preparation in cooperation with the Department of Education and the Ministry, guide them in personal, social, spiritual and leadership development, and advancement in ministry.  The DMBD is responsible to consider and/or examine each candidate through personal interviews, initially and annually.