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Steps to Credentialing |

Steps to Credentialing  

(excerpts)

The purpose of a ministerial credential is:

  • To affirm God's call upon a person's life.
  • To verify that this person meets the qualifications and standards for ministry in the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA).
  • To approve this person for ministerial service under the auspices of the EFCA.
  • To provide legal status in the exercise of that person's ministry.

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  Types of Ministerial Credentials

There are four types of credentials for ministry issued by the EFCA:
  • Certificate of Ordination
  • Certificate of Christian Ministry
  • Ministry License
  • Recommendation for Ministry

 Certificate of Ordination

This credential is specifically for those involved in pastoral ministry. It may be issued to candidates with the following qualifications:
  • Male in gender.
  • Involved in pastoral ministry (seminary professors, military chaplains, and missionary church planters are also eligible).
  • Completed a Master of Divinity (m. Div.) degree or its equivalent in an evangelical seminary. An exception may be made by the Board of Ministerial Standing in recognition of the candidate's knowledge and experience.
  • Approved by an examining council.
  • Demonstrated gifts in ministry to the satisfaction of the Board of Ministerial Standing.
The candidate for ordination must have held a ministry license for a full licensing period of three years in the EFCA. This requirement may be waived in certain situations for military chaplains who are assured a chaplain's appointment.
A transfer of ordination from an acceptable ordaining agency is possible, and the three-year licensure period will be waived. However, the candidate must meet the same qualifications and follow the same procedure for transfer as the individual movign from licensure to ordination.

  Certificate of Christian Ministry

This credential is designed specifically for those involved in professional church ministries other than pastoral ministry. It may be issued to candidates with the following qualifications:

  • Involved in ministry, for example:

    • associate or assistant pastor

    • administrative pastor

    • youth pastor

    • minister of music

    • pastoral counselor

    • women's minister

    • children's minister

    • institutional minister

    • military chaplain

    • missionary ministry

    • evangelistic ministry

  • Completed an appropriate degree for thier area of ministry from a recognized college or seminary. An exeption may be made by the Board of Ministerial Standing in recognition of the candidate's knowledge and experience.

  • Completed the requirements of a ministerial license

  • Approved by an examining council.

  • Demonstrated gifts in ministry to the satisfaction of the Board of Ministerial Standing.

The candidate must have held a ministry license for a full licensing period of three years in the EFCA.

 Ministry License

This credential is designed specifically for those who are preparing for a permanent credential but have not yet fulfilled the requirements. It is valid as long as the holder remains in full time vocational ministry. It will be issued for three years and, thereafter, one year at a time until a permanent credential is obtained (up to two additional years).

Type 1:

License Leading to Certificate of Ordination. The applicant for this ministry license must be male in gender. During the licensing period, the candidate will have all the rights and privileges of ordination. This license may be issued to those serving in pastoral ministry (seminary professors, military chaplains and missionary church planters).

 

Type 2:

License Leading to Certificate of Christian Ministry. A ministry license may be issued to candidates who are involved in church ministry (such as associate/assistant pastor, administrative pastor, youth pastor, minister of music, pastoral counselor, women's minister, children's minister, etc.), institutional ministry, military chaplaincy, missionary ministry and evangelistic ministry.
The one who holds this credential will have the same rights and privileges as the one holding the Certificate of Christian Ministry. It does not carry the ordination title and does not lead to ordination (but this is not to say that the holder is excluded from pursuing the ordination track if they are otherwise qualified).

 Recommendation for Ministry

This credential is designed specifically for certain lay ministers and student ministers. The candidate must be male in gender, and either a layman engaged in pastoral ministry or a theological student carrying out pastor/teacher functions in the local church (this is not intended for internships unless the candidate is serving as a senior pastor).

A copy of the complete document or a credentialing application packet can be obtained by providing the request, along with your mailing address, to office@efcacentral.org.

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