Credentialing
We offer training and grant ministerial credentials to those called to serve vocationally in Covenant churches or affiliated ministries.
We provide the relationships and resources you need to thrive as a well formed, equipped, and supported minister.
Call Process
What Is Vocational Ministry?
Vocational ministry begins with a personal sense that God is calling you to be set apart for ministry within and to the body of Christ. This calling must be tested and authenticated by the larger church. When the church affirms this calling, it offers the appropriate credential which endorses you to serve and lead within the various roles of ministry.
The credentialing and endorsement process is crucial in creating a healthy context for ministry. This process makes the pastor accountable to the local church and denomination as well as to the community of pastors in the Covenant Ministerium.
The Evangelical Covenant Church grants or revokes credentials to ministers and establishes programs to encourage ministers in discipleship and in their calling. The Covenant establishes the Rules for the Ordered Ministry and administers them through the Board of the Ordered Ministry and the Covenant Ministerium.
Credentialing in the Covenant begins at the conference level. If you feel ready to begin the process, please contact your regional conference office. The Covenant grants several different types of credentials. Some are permanent credentials and some are annually renewable credentials (licenses).
Ministerial Licenses
The Evangelical Covenant Church grants annually renewable ministerial licenses upon persons who are called to serve in various pastoral ministries in Covenant churches, institutions, and other approved places of ministry. Licensure is reserved for those who, by demonstration of character and gifts and by virtue of place of service, require credentials in order to perform pastoral ministry.
Ministerial licenses refer to those which are bestowed by laying on of hands at the Covenant Annual Meeting on candidates who have been carefully examined in matters of faith, theology, and call. The licenses available in the Covenant Church are:
Ministry License
Bi-Vocational Ministry License
Global Service License
Ministry License
Candidates for ordination to word and sacrament, ordination to word and service, transfer of ordination, or commissioning apply for this license while in process. It is the appropriate license for all individuals serving as senior or solo pastors who do not qualify for ordination to word and sacrament. The holder of a ministry license is accountable to a minister ordained to word and sacrament within the local area of service, or to the regional conference superintendent. At the time of a call to another Evangelical Covenant Church congregation or ministry in a different conference, the holder of a ministry license will have an interview with that conference’s committee on ministerial standing. This license is valid for one year and authorizes the holder to perform all ministerial functions, subject to state regulations.
Bi-Vocational Ministry License
The Bi-Vocational Ministry License shall provide credentials for those persons who are involved in the pastoral ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church while also engaged in secular work as the major source of livelihood. It may also be appropriate for persons serving a Covenant congregation or institution part-time. This license shall be valid for one year and authorizes the holder to preach the gospel and exercise pastoral leadership. A bi-vocational minister may administer the sacraments and perform other pastoral acts when circumstances require, with the approval of the minister ordained to word and sacrament within the congregation or the superintendent of the regional conference. Those holding a Bi-Vocational License and receiving pay may qualify for the clergy tax benefit for the funds paid directly for pastoral ministry. The Bi-Vocational License does not require participation in the pension program of the Covenant.
Global Service License
The Global Service License is for persons who are called to be global personnel by the Evangelical Covenant Church. It is intended to provide credentials for those who do not qualify for ordination to word and sacrament, ordination to word and service, or commissioning but are serving as Covenant global personnel. This license is valid for the duration of the global personnel’s call and authorizes the holder to perform appropriate functions, subject to government regulations.
Permanent Credentials
The Evangelical Covenant Church maintains high standards for its ministerial credentials, recognizing that those who are called and gifted to serve in vocational ministry are trusted with sacred responsibilities. We strongly believe that the call to such ministry is discerned not only individually, but corporately. Candidates for credentialing in the Covenant must demonstrate a multi-voiced call, receiving the affirmation of the local church, the regional conference, and the denomination.
In order to seek permanent credentialing in the Covenant Church, you must be called to ministry, be affirmed by the church or ministry setting, and be enrolled in the Covenant Pension Plan or Ministers’ 403(b) plan (if serving a Covenant church/institution).
Permanent credentials refer to those which are bestowed by laying on of hands at the Annual Meeting of the denomination on candidates who have been carefully examined in matters of faith, theology, and call.
The permanent credentials in the Covenant Church are:
Ordination to Word and Sacrament
Ordination to Word and Service
Commissioning
Consecrated to Global Service
Each credential is appropriate to specific callings within the structure of a church or other ministry setting. The Evangelical Covenant Church accepts transfer of ordination candidates for both ordinations offered.
Ordination to Word and Sacrament
When the church ordains to word and sacrament, it sets apart persons with the authority to preach and teach the word, administer the sacraments and rites of the church, and exercise pastoral care and leadership. Theologically, the question is, ordained to what end? The end or purpose is that to which the person senses a call and the church, by its designated processes, attests that such a call has been discerned appropriately. The person responding to this call has a broad classical theological education, usually a master of divinity, and holds the church true to the whole gospel. He or she functions as theologian in residence and missional leader, overseeing, empowering, and enabling all forms of the church’s ministry. This office is performed in three areas of competency: preaching well, teaching well, and caring well. The emphasis on word and sacrament through all aspects of ministry ensures that the basic apostolic vocation keeps the beginnings of the faith alive in whatever contemporary configurations emerge in the various ministries of the church. Those seeking ordination to word and sacrament normally hold a ministry license while working toward this credential.
Ordination to Word and Service
Those ordained to word and service are called broadly to preach and teach, administer the sacraments, and be involved in the life of the whole church. Within that context, they are called to serve in an area of specialty. Their call includes being a leader in their area of specialty to the local church and the church at large. They are in service together with the person ordained to word and sacrament whose leadership and care exercises oversight of the congregation’s entire ministry. Their training comes from broad theological work, usually a master’s degree in a theological discipline, or a secular master’s degree with additional theological studies. Those seeking ordination to word and service normally hold a ministry license while working toward this credential.
Commissioning
The word commission is defined as “an authorization to perform certain duties or tasks or to take on certain powers.” To commission is to “send with a mandate or authority; to empower; to delegate.” In the Evangelical Covenant Church, we commission individuals called to a particular area of expertise to perform those duties within the context of the larger church. This call is seen as a long-term commitment to an area of staff ministry. The focus is primarily on their specialty, giving them a single purpose rather than broad-based contribution to the life of the church. The church recognizes these individuals as qualified in their particular task and sends them out to serve in this role. A commissioned person understands the parameters and limitations of the call and recognizes that it is always done standing with an ordained person. There is a co-mission aspect to the call necessitating this relationship with a team leader. The normative threshold of education is a bachelor’s degree with additional academic work in theology at the graduate level. Those seeking commissioning normally hold a ministry license while working toward this credential.
Consecrated to Global Service
Consecration to global service in the Evangelical Covenant Church is an act of the church by which a person called by God is recognized and set apart for global service. The Covenant consecrates only after determining through careful examination that the candidate has been called of God, is genuinely committed to the apostolic message, lives in conformity to it, and is gifted for the specific service to which they are called. In consecration the church gratefully accepts the person as one called by God and given to the church to minister in the spirit of Christ. The Covenant consecrates the global personnel to be the servant of the gospel by word and deed through the global work of the Covenant and its partners. The consecrated to global service credential is appropriate for global personnel who do not meet the educational requirements of the other permanent credentialing categories of ordination to word and sacrament, ordination to word and service, and commissioning.
Transfer of Ordination
Pastors who are ordained in another denomination and who currently serve a Covenant church or institution may be eligible for transfer of ordination to the Evangelical Covenant Church. It is possible to transfer an ordination into either category of ordination: ordained to word and sacrament or ordained to word and service. The decision to which ordination standing one can transfer will be made after examining a) the nature of the pastor’s current ordination, b) how that pastor understands his/her calling, and c) the pastor’s educational preparation for ordination. The following guidelines are to assist in discerning which category of ordination to pursue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Credentialing is an umbrella term used to refer to all of the ministerial credentials within the Evangelical Covenant Church’s structure.
- Licensing refers to the three types of ministerial license – the Ministry License, Bi-Vocational Ministry License, and Global Service License. Licenses are annually renewable, and therefore temporary in nature. They are tied to the ministry setting, and if the license holder goes out of call, the license expires immediately.
- Ordination is one of the permanent credentials in the Evangelical Covenant Church credentialing structure. There are two ordinations – Ordination to Word and Sacrament and Ordination to Word and Service. The Covenant also has two other permanent credentialing categories – Commissioning and Consecrated Missionary. The permanent credentials are different from licenses in that they are lifelong and do not expire.
The Evangelical Covenant Church believes in the accountability that the credentialing process brings. It protects both the credentialing candidate and the broader church. It protects the candidate by bringing that person into the structure of care and support provided by the conference and the denomination. It protects the church by ‘vetting’ each candidate via an involved examination process, which includes a background check, references, and an in-person interview with ministry peers. The requirements of the credentialing process help to ensure that the ministerium is continually learning and growing and that its members are in alignment with Covenant principles and theology.
Receiving ministerial credentials is a privilege and carries with it the responsibility to act in accordance with the Ethical Principles for Covenant Ministers and other ECC policies and guidelines. If a person is not ready to commit to the requirements of credentialing, he or she should not enter the process. In addition, a person needs to qualify by performing certain ministerial acts as part of his or her position. This is a discernment of the individual, the ministry setting, and the conference office. If you do qualify and are ready to commit to the requirements, then credentialing offers benefits to both you and your ministry setting. For you, it offers a connection to a larger body of accountability and support. You will be part of a collegium of ministers that meets regularly and builds each other up through learning and fellowship. You will also have access to the resources of the Ordered Ministry in times of crisis. For the church, the credentialing process allows the denomination to ensure that its ministers meet a certain standard of education and competence and ensures that ministers are adequately oriented to ECC theology and principles.
Yes. Any license holder is authorized to perform sacraments, as well as any other ministerial duties required by his or her position, such as the ministries surrounding death and marriage.
Possibly. In addition to completing the paperwork for licensure, you will also be asked to fill out the Petition to Serve in a Non-Covenant Setting. The conference office will review the petition and make the final determination regarding whether you qualify.
The Board of the Ordered Ministry offers the option of ordination equivalency plans for ministers who are at least 35 years old and have at least 10 years of ministry experience. Through an application process, candidates may have their portfolio of existing education and experience evaluated by the Board. The Board will then offer the candidate a pathway toward ordination. Contact Ordered Ministry for more information and a consultation.
Yes, assuming you meet the qualifications, but be aware that the transfer process is not necessarily quick, and requires a period of discernment on the part of the candidate and the ECC.
No. The ECC does not issue licenses just for weddings. A person must meet the qualifications for licensure and complete the procedure before receiving a license.
To be ordained, a candidate must have 2 years of post-seminary degree experience. Or, a candidate must have been serving in ministry while in seminary. In those cases, the candidate must have earned the degree by January of the year he or she wishes to be ordained. In either case, a candidate must hold a ministerial license in the ECC before being ordained.
A license is not primarily for the individual, it is for the church or ministry setting. According to the Rules for the Ordered Ministry, credentialing is contingent upon call. This means that a person must be in a ministry position to qualify for credentialing. Therefore, a person must wait until he or she is in a qualifying ministry position before applying.
We are pleased when people find out about the Evangelical Covenant Church and are drawn to our fellowship. We encourage you to spend significant time reading the ECC’s documents on the Who We Are page, as well as documents such as Covenant Affirmations. We also recommend that you have several conversations with other Covenanters, especially Covenant pastors, and get a feel for our ethos. We encourage you to attend a Covenant gathering, such as the Midwinter Conference, to get a sense of our common life. If at that point you still feel that the ECC is a good fit, see if you meet the qualifications for licensure. If so, contact your regional conference office and have a conversation with the staff to further discern if you qualify.
Those with a permanent credential (Ordained to Word and Sacrament, Ordained to Word and Service, Commissioned, or Consecrated Missionaries) may move to Inactive status if they are not actively serving in a paid, called ministry position. Inactive status simply means that a person is not presently in a ministry position. Those on Inactive status are still listed on the roster of ministers and they may still seek a call. They are not obligated to pay dues, complete a Vocational Growth Tool, or maintain a current profile. However, they may choose to if they wish. Those on Inactive status have a voice but no vote in ministerial business meetings. Those on Inactive status may not hold office in ministerial associations. A minister on Inactive status may perform occasional ministerial functions (such as a wedding) with the permission of the conference superintendent or the Ordered Ministry.
Those with a permanent credential (Ordained to Word and Sacrament, Ordained to Word and Service, Commissioned, or Consecrated Missionaries) may move to Leave of Absence status for purposes of childrearing, convalescence, continuing education, or other life events. Leave of Absence is different from inactive status in that there is a 5-year limit to Leave of Absence. Those on Leave of Absence understand that they are taking a break from ministry, but they intend to return to vocational ministry within 5 years or less. Those on Leave of Absence status are still listed on the roster of ministers. While on Leave of Absence status, it is optional to maintain the elements of good standing. If they choose to pay dues, they may vote in ministerial business meetings. A minister on Leave of Absence status may perform occasional ministerial functions (such as a wedding) with the permission of the conference superintendent or the Ordered Ministry.
The reason is based on accountability. You are still representing the ECC while using your credentials to perform ministerial functions; it is not simply yours to use. The ECC’s credentialing structure presumes call precedes credentialing. By virtue of call, a minister is automatically accountable to the ministry setting he or she serves, and performs ministerial acts in that context. We do not credential ministers “at large” which means that a minister, even if ordained, cannot hold an active credential indefinitely without being in a called position. If you are on Leave of Absence or Inactive, the understanding is that you are not in an active ministry position to which you are accountable. Therefore, you should not be performing ministerial duties (sacraments, weddings, pastoral counseling) regularly. You may perform the occasional ministerial act, but we ask you to check in with the superintendent or Ordered Ministry, either by email or phone call, so that others may be aware of what is being performed on an ECC credential.
If you are on Inactive or Leave of Absence status and you receive a call to a qualifying ministry position (paid, called, pension-eligible), you may begin the process to return to active status. This may be accomplished through an interview with the Conference Committee on Ministerial Standing (COMS). Contact your conference office to notify them of your change in call and to be placed on the interview schedule.
You need to first secure a qualifying ministry call, either in a Covenant congregation, or other qualifying ministry. The best first step is to create a minister’s profile form on CovConnect, the online portal that connects ministers seeking a call with churches seeking a minister. To gain access to CovConnect, you must either be a North Park Theological Seminary student in the call to ministry process or enrolled in Covenant Orientation. Contact your conference office for information on how to get access to CovConnect.
Keep in mind that faster is not always better. Ordination involves a discernment process. Allow yourself time to ask yourself deep questions such as: Am I ready to speak vows declaring my intention to serve in pastoral ministry in the Covenant for the duration of my ministry life? The ECC also needs time to examine you and determine if ordination is the right step for you at this time. For this reason, the Committee on Ministerial Standing (COMS) may delay a candidate if they feel he or she is not ready.
Formal education for clergy has been a foundational value of the ECC from the beginning. One of the first acts of the denomination was to establish a school (North Park) for the training of its ministers. The ECC continues to uphold the Master of Divinity as the standard degree for Ordination to Word and Sacrament. The ECC believes in the value of prolonged, directed study and in being required to submit one's work to authorities in a given field. Seminary broadens understanding and exposes students to a diversity of ideas and interpretive methods that they may not have been exposed to in the local church or in their own private study. The life of a vocational minister is a life of study. Seminary gives both novice pastors and experienced pastors the tools to enhance their journey.
The Ministry License is the standard license for those in full-time vocational ministry in the Covenant. It is appropriate to require a minimum level of formal theological training for those endorsed for full-time ministry. The “core four” refers to survey courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, and Church History. If a candidate does not already have seminary training, he or she will need to complete the core four within eight years of receiving the first-time license. In addition, Covenant Orientation is required for those who did not earn a degree at North Park Theological Seminary. Covenant Orientation is vital for sharing with newcomers the ethos of the ECC. Since the ECC is non-creedal, our beliefs must be more “caught” than “taught.” It is essential that licensed pastors understand and appropriate Covenant theology and values so that they may in turn teach them to their congregations. The completion of the core four and Covenant Orientation can reasonably be accomplished in eight years if the candidate takes one course per year. A candidate may complete courses more rapidly if he or she desires.
No, there is no hierarchy among the credentials. They are differentiated only in calling. In regard to credentialing, we must always ask ourselves “to what end?” The person Ordained to Word and Sacrament is classically trained, usually with a Master of Divinity, and sees him or herself as a theologian in residence. The person Ordained to Word and Service is a specialist, with graduate education supporting their specialization, who feels a lifetime call to staff ministry. It would not be appropriate for a candidate to use Ordination to Word and Sacrament as a stepping stone to Ordination to Word and Service. Each permanent credential is an end in itself. This preserves the integrity of each credential and honors the calling and preparation of those who hold that credential. Occasionally, those who hold one permanent credential feel called to pursue a different permanent credential. In those cases, please contact the Ordered Ministry for a discussion about requirements and process.
If you hold a ministerial license, then when you retire, your license will simply expire, and you will no longer appear on the roster of ministers. If you hold a permanent credential, such as ordination, you should notify the Ordered Ministry of your retirement. The Ordered Ministry staff will then discuss with you moving your credential status to “retired.” When on retired status, pastors may still perform ministerial functions but should do so with the permission of their superintendent or the Ordered Ministry. This is for accountability reasons. Those on retired status are not required to pay dues, complete the annual Vocational Growth Tool, or maintain an active minister’s profile form. Retired ministers are still expected to act in accordance with the Ethical Principles and other Covenant policies and guidelines. Retired ministers have a voice and vote in ministerium business meetings.
Contact your regional conference office for a consultation and a conversation. The staff at each conference is trained in credentialing procedures and should help you in discerning the proper credentialing category for you. When you are ready to apply, the conference staff will send you the application paperwork.
An interim license is any license granted between denominational annual meetings. All applicants need to be interviewed by the conference committee on ministerial standing in order to receive an interim license. A first-time license is one that has been approved by both the conference and denominational annual meetings and is always granted on July 1 (after the Covenant Annual Meeting).
Covenant Orientation seeks to assist pastors new to the denomination in becoming more fully connected to the Covenant. The orientation programs explore the life and mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church, help pastors to establish collegial relationships, and offer education in Covenant heritage and distinctives.
As a non-creedal denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church highly prizes our characteristic interconnectedness stemming from shared life in Christ. While emphasizing theological freedom, the Covenant has placed a high priority on developing these relationships within the context of theological education and exploration of the Covenant characteristics. In short, orientation introduces the Covenant to pastors and pastors to the Covenant. Note that pastors may hold a ministerial license while completing a Covenant Orientation program.
All pastors seeking any kind of credential within the Evangelical Covenant Church are required to enroll in a Covenant Orientation program. Orientation programs are modified for those seeking a Bi-Vocational Ministry License and those seeking a Global Service License.
Candidates may become oriented to the Evangelical Covenant Church through a variety of programs.
- Study at North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS). Students may be oriented to the Covenant by completing a degree program at NPTS or by completing the required orientation courses. Orientation through NPTS may be accomplished through residential on-campus study, or through the distance learning program. This is an excellent choice for those who have not yet finished their seminary work.
- Covenant Orientation. This two to six year program includes orientation courses held at denominational and regional gatherings, required participation in various Covenant events, and an intentional advising relationship. This program is the best choice for pastors who need to be oriented while continuing in their normal ministry and/or who have already completed a seminary degree.
- Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos (CHET). CHET is an ECC institution dedicated to training ministers serving in a Hispanic context.
- Western Alaska Ministry Training (WAMT). This is a special program offered for those serving in the Western Alaska context.
