Entry points for ordination Candidates

Not every candidate seeking Ordination into Pastoral Ministry is starting at the same place. Some are coming right out of seminary and have little experience. Some have less formal training but a lot of ministry experience. Some have both formal training and years of experience and some have been ordained outside the Charis Fellowship.

With this reality in view, the Pastoral Ordination Process has a variety of ENTRY POINTS. Although the entry points are flexible, the purpose of the Process remains to assist and protect the local church by assessing theological understanding, doctrinal convictions, ministerial skills, personal life & integrity and an understanding of the mission of the church of the candidate. The District Examination Board will determine the best entry point for each candidate based on an evaluation of ministry experience and Biblical training.

ENTRY POINT A - The Beginner
Those with limited ministry experience or Biblical training will be assigned a mentor by the District Examination Board who will help him prepare for the written and oral exam as well as intentionally evaluate his life and ministry skills. This process is expected to take up to but no longer than 3 years.

ENTRY POINT B - The Veteran
Those who have received sufficient Biblical training and have more extensive ministry experience will be assigned a mentor by the District Examination Board who will help prepare for the written and oral exam as well as intentionally evaluate his life and ministry skills. The length of this process is more flexible than for the Beginner because of his ministry experience.

ENTRY POINT C – Already Licensed.

Those who have already been licensed within the Charis Fellowship, but have not yet been ordained, have already passed a rigorous and thorough written and oral exam by a District Examination Board. These men will complete the Pastoral Ordination Application, submit it to the District Examination Board and then be assigned a mentor to review the Application. These discussions are intended to be a time for evaluation of the candidate’s personal doctrinal convictions, personal life, ministerial skills and integrity. The District Examination Board will then meet with the candidate to review the completed Pastoral Ordination Application before making a formal recommendation to the local church for Ordination.

ENTRY POINT D – Already Ordained
Those who have been ordained outside the Fellowship will complete the Pastoral Ordination Application, submit it to the District Examination Board and then be assigned a mentor to review the Application. These discussions are intended to be a time for evaluation of the candidate’s personal doctrinal convictions, personal life, ministerial skills and integrity. (Depending on the candidate’s alignment with our Charis Identity, the mentor may recommend the candidate take the National Written Exam.) When the Mentor is confident the candidate is in alignment with our Charis Identity to the extent the he can live and serve harmoniously within the Charis Fellowship, the mentor will recommend him to the District Examination Board. The District Examination Board will then meet with the candidate to review the completed Pastoral Ordination Application before making a formal recommendation to the local church for Ordination.