Credentialing
The Purpose of Ministerial Credentials
The purpose of a ministerial credential is (1) to affirm God's call upon a person's life; (2) to verify that this person meets the qualifications and standards for ministry in The Evangelical Free Church of America; (3) to approve this person for ministerial service under the auspices of The Evangelical Free Church of America; and (4) to provide legal status in the exercise of that person's ministry.
The Requirements for Ministerial Credentials
General requirements for candidates serving Free Church ministries to be credentialed under The Evangelical Free Church of America.
A candidate:
- Must be a member in good standing of a local Evangelical Free Church.
- Must subscribe without mental reservation to the Statement of Faith of The Evangelical Free Church of America and agree to reaffirm that commitment every five years.
- Must be engaged in a full-time ministry (minimum of 30 hours per week) that qualifies for a ministerial credential.
- Must demonstrate a cooperative spirit with the purposes and policies of The Evangelical Free Church of America and a lifestyle consistent with biblical standards of Christian conduct.
- Must be examined and approved by a district ordination council or committee.
- Must complete the prescribed course on Free Church history, doctrine and polity as directed by The Evangelical Free Church of America.
- Must conform to Evangelical Free Church policy concerning persons with a divorce in their background. The Evangelical Free Church of America does not normally issue ministerial credentials to a person who has a divorce in their background. Any person who has been divorced, or who is married to, or anticipates marrying a person who has been divorced, must be granted a Divorce Policy Exception.
Preliminary Application for Ministerial Credential
If you have questions, you can contact Paul Schliep, Director of Credentialing, at or
