Licensing & Ordination Qualifications

Applicants for License shall be persons that:

Have an active ministry where, for example, they are involved in ministry such as Pastoring, Evangelism, Missions, Teaching, Church Administration, worship, the arts, Para-Church ministries or Itinerate ministry
Meet the Scriptural qualifications for ministry as described in l Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9.
Have received ministry training at a ministry training school or Bible college and/or received "on the job" ministry training.
Applicants shall be no younger than 18 years of age.

Once licensed you are eligible to advance to the ordination level after 2 years of active ministry at the Licensing level.

Applicants for Ordination shall be persons that:

Have a proven ministry (this is why we require three references, a written ministry statement & relational connection to leaders that we are in relationship with) and are involved in ministry such as Pastoring, Evangelism, Missions, Teaching, Church Administration, worship, the arts, Para-Church ministries or Itinerate ministry
Must be at least 22 years of age.
Be an approved & faithful member in a local church or fellowship

The qualifications for bishops, as presented in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, are the norm for all ministers today. In addition, the following groups of attributes are recommended for the ordained minister:

Spiritual Attributes

Love (for God, the ministry, people, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:11, 12; 1 John 3:16)
Faith (Romans 12:3-8; 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6; 5:18-20; Ephesians 3:7;4:11; Colossians 1:23-29; 1 Thessalonians 1:3)
Humility (Proverbs 15:33; Romans 12:3);
Convictions (Jude 3);
Dedication (total commitment to God’s will)

Moral Attributes

Integrity (basic honesty and wholeness of character; aspects of integrity are spiritual honesty (Psalm 51:6), intellectual honesty, honesty in preaching, and in everyday dealings)
Moral Purity (Isaiah 52:11; Galatians 1:10; 2:11-14; 1 Timothy 6:11-14; 2 Timothy 1:7, 9)

Emotional Attributes

It is quite likely that more inefficiency and failure in the ministry are caused by emotional and personality deficiencies than by ill health, moral defection, and lack of training, education, or talent. Because of this it is most important that the preacher be very mature in self-understanding and healthy emotionally.

The following seven emotional attributes of character are important to the minister: A sanctified temperament (Galatians 5:22, 23); a sense of proportion (balance of humor and seriousness); enthusiasm; realism; a sense of the beautiful (Philippians 4:8; Titus 1:15); sympathy (Romans12:15; Hebrews 5:1); and patience (Romans 5:1-5; 2 Peter 1:5-8).

Social Attributes

Sociability
Lack of Prejudice
Cooperative Attitude
Conciliatory Disposition
Honoring
Able to be taught
Loyalty (to family, church, associates, and friends)

It should be noted, that applicants that have previously been ordained with a Recognized, Spirit-filled Fellowship, or have an extensive history of ministry and leadership, do not necessarily have to begin with a license, but can be recommended to Ordination. Contact us for more information.

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