ORDINATION/CREDENTIALING CHART © Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary 2016 NATIONAL OR LOCAL DENOMINATION TIME FRAME & STEPS FIELD EDUCATION RECIPROCITY CONTACTS & INFO ASSOCIATION EDUCATION REQUIRE- OR NETWORK MENTS Definitions: Time Frame & Steps = How long it will take for a seminarian to become ordained with this group from the start of seminary to ordination, as well as the steps or process involved. Field Education: What this group may require in regard to field ministry while a student is in seminary, and whether or not it is required that this be done in a church of that denomination or in that group. In addition, whether the student needs to be a formal member of that group. Education Requirements: Whether or not a certain advanced degree (bachelors or beyond) is expected or required for credentialing of clergy. Reciprocity: Whether this denomination or association accepts and/or hires applicants for ministerial positions who come from or have been credentialed by a different denomination or association. Time Frame: 1-2 years altogether. Once a candidate makes it Field Education: Education Reciprocity: www.acts29network.org Acts 29 Network through the interview process, most people spend anywhere from Once approved, most Requirements: Not a Matt Chandler, President 6-18 months as a candidate before they are considered a full church planters Depends on the “denomination” [email protected] (association) member. spend 6-18 months “sending” that “ordains” Acts 29 Network discharging their full- denomination pastors in the 2111 Justin Rd Suite 106 1. Phase 1: A thorough online application must be time ministry as from which the traditional sense. A Flower Mound TX 75028 completed. “candidates” under candidate network that 2. If approved, the candidate pays an initial application fee Acts 29 supervision originates (see assesses potential and begins to prepare for their assessment interview by before they are Reciprocity) church planters submitting various essays, completing various finally considered full who already have assessments, and providing various references. Such members. “sending” churches things include: or denominations a. Resume □ This assumes they who have ordained b. References have already planted them. Planters who c. Testimony & Calling to Plant Questionnaire or are about to begin are non- d. Marriage & Family Questionnaire planting a church. denominational or e. Church Planter’s Wife Questionnaire independent are f. Financial Questionnaire □ It also assumes the also eligible to g. Theological & Pastoral Questionnaire planter has already enter the h. Church Planting Strategy & Timeline been approved by application process. Questionnaire their “sending” i. Confidential Questionnaire denomination. Initial, □ Men only as j. Personality Profiles (DISC, Myers Briggs, and seminary field planters Entrepreneurial Assessment) education k. Networking* requirements □ All of the l. Preaching Sample therefore depend on application and Also included is a Training & Online Boot Camp class. the sending assessment process 3. A 90-minute assessment interview will be conducted denomination. is based on the 10 with the candidate over the phone. Characteristics of a 4. Phase 2: A personal (face-to-face) assessment interview Church will be conducted with the candidate, with experienced Planter: http://ww Acts 29 planters as the assessors. They will sit down with w.acts29network.or the candidate to talk about his background, plans, and g/article/ten- strategy; helping them evaluate their strengths and qualifications-of-a- weaknesses. They may make specific recommendations church-planter/ regarding the candidate’s readiness and potential for church planting. 5. Following the assessment interview, the candidate will receive a comprehensive report detailing the Assessment Team's conclusions. This report will include descriptions of areas of strength, areas of growth, and recommendations for next steps in regards to church planting. 6. If the Assessment Team recommend the candidate as ready to plant, he will be approved as an Acts 29 Candidate. The Acts 29 Network will help the candidate to establish an action timeline and include him in the Acts 29 community as he gathers his core group and plants his church. Time Frame: 1-4 years, depending on the candidate’s ministry Field Education: Education Reciprocity: Advent Christian experience and how long it takes them to complete their M Div. Ministry experience Requirements: Reciprocity is Rev. Dr. Gordon Isaac, Prof. of For those thus qualified, the process has historically taken about a through field M Div. certainly possible. Advent Christian Studies, GCTS (denomination) year. education is There are several 978-646-4099 required, though it AOG pastors, for www.adventchristian.org 1. Those who become ordained typically sense the call does not necessarily example, now through their involvement with their local church have to be with an serving AC Eastern Region community, and it is the candidate’s life and ministry AC church. It would congregations. Greg Twitchell, Superintendent amidst this context which serves as the first step toward be up to the However, PO Box 1913 ordination. individual church and conference 32 Four Rod Rd. 2. Prospective candidate consults with the Conference superintendent presidents have Rochester, NH 03866 President. whether their recently begun 603-332-1412 3. Candidate makes contact with the Ministerial ministry experience requiring Fax: 603-332-1648 Committee of the respective Conference to which they should be with the prospective pastors http://www.aceasternregion.or belong. AC. to sign paperwork g 4. The candidate fills out an application. demonstrating E-Mail: 5. The candidate meets with the Ministerial Committee □ CPE has not been acceptance of AC [email protected] and shares his theological convictions in writing. required historically, polity and theology, 6. The candidate’s references are interviewed but it is encouraged. and demonstrating A list of conference presidents 7. The candidate is observed in ministry by the committee a clear commitment for the Eastern Region, along 8. Should the committee vote to approve the candidate, a □ Superintendents to the with contact info, can be found date for ordination will be set. prefer someone who denomination. at: 9. An ordination service will be held and the candidate will has experience http://www.aceasternregion.or receive his credentials. working on a team. g/Directory/RegionalBoard.asp x The process of ordination, once handled on the regional level, is now carried out locally by conference. The pastors of local churches, and the president of their conference, determine specific ordination requirements. Each conference has their own ordination committee. Ministry candidates are encouraged to contact their respective conference president to determine ordination requirements and to start the process. Time Frame: 5 years or less depending on the progress of the Field Education: Education Reciprocity: First Episcopal District: African Methodist candidate The AME has no Requirements: Ministers from Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram special requirements M Div., for those other 3801 Market St Episcopal 1. The candidate, through involvement with a local AME for seminary field who want to denominations who Philadelphia, PA 19104 (denomination) church, discerns their ministry gifts. education. serve as full-time wish to change 215-662-0506 2. The candidate, in communication with their local pastor, pastors, i.e., their affiliation to the Steward Board, and the church conference is given □ For those who are “itinerants,” AME must go Local GCTS Alumna: the opportunity to preach their initial sermon. Their already involved in beyond their local through a similar Rev. Dr. Sandra Whitley preaching ability as well as fitness for ministry are the process of home process of People’s AME Church evaluated. ordination with the congregation. formation and Chelsea MA, 2150 3. The candidate is recommended by their local pastor and AME, this field examination. The [email protected] the church conference to the Presiding Elder (area education will count □ Those who wish board of 617-312-0957 director) and quarterly conference. toward their only to serve at admissions, in 4. At the Presiding Elder’s quarterly conference, he reviews obligation to remain the local level are considering the and approves of worthy candidates to receive a local active in local not required to experience and license to preach and be referred to the District ministry. complete an M education of such a Conference. Div. But they minister, will make 5. The candidate, once approved by the District Conference □ But even for those must still recommendations is referred the annual conference. who are not yet complete the on a case to case 6. At the annual conference, the Board of Examiners officially involved in AME’s 5-year basis as to the recommends to the Bishop those candidates who have the ordination “Institute” extent of training been deemed suitable. These individuals are enabled to process, field education and preparation begin their training through the ministerial institute. ministry in an AME program. which would be 7. Candidates begin their studies via the A.M.E. Ministerial context would necessary. In all this Institute, which last 5 years. greatly help the the bishop has the 8. During this time students are cared for and evaluated by process of final say and makes the board of examiners. It is assumed they will continue