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Commissioning

Description of Credential

Webster’s dictionary defines the word commission 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.

Who is eligible for the credential?

Those who seek commissioning are called to staff ministry, have bachelor’s-level training in an area of specialization, and do not wish to pursue a master’s degree.  Candidates must meet the following requirements in order to be commissioned:

• Be engaged in full-time staff ministry.  The candidate serving in a non-ministry position shall demonstrate its relationship to a local ECC congregation.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, including 13 semester hours in an area of specialization (submit transcripts).
• Be a member of an ECC congregation.

What are the requirements of the credential?

• Complete five years of successful full-time staff ministry prior to commissioning, three years of which must be in an ECC congregation or institution.
• Take additional graduate-level courses from a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.  This coursework must include survey courses in systematic theology, Old Testament, New Testament, and church history (each course must be 3 semester hours or equivalent).
• Complete a year of residency at North Park Theological Seminary or complete the Covenant Orientation.
• Candidates preparing for ministry primarily in the Hispanic community, and for whom Spanish is the primary language, may receive their training from CHET.
• Spend two years in a mentoring relationship approved by the Board.
• Participate in the pension plan of the ECC.
• Submit a completed minister’s profile form, signed baptism statement and background check, and criminal record screening.

Detailed Procedure

• Once the candidate has completed the above requirements, he/she notifies the Department of the Ordered Ministry and is placed on the commissioning candidate list at a June meeting of the Board of the Ordered Ministry.
• The Department of the Ordered Ministry sends all potential candidates a letter in June asking if they wish to be commissioned at next year’s Annual Meeting.
• The candidate responds to the letter before July 15.
• The Department of the Ordered Ministry sends all candidates an application for commissioning, and questions for the final ordination/commissioning/transfer paper. 
• The candidate sends the completed commissioning application (including recommendation of Covenant church where membership is held) and commissioning paper to conference office by September 1.
• The Conference committee on ministerial standing interviews the candidate based on the commissioning paper.  The committee makes its recommendation and may require the candidate to rewrite sections of the paper.
• The Conference committee on ministerial standing sends its written report on the interviews to the Department of the Ordered Ministry.
• The Board of the Ordered Ministry interviews the candidate at its Midwinter meeting and makes a recommendation.
• The candidate must receive a favorable recommendation from the Board of the Ordered Ministry, a favorable recommendation from the regional conference ministerial association at its annual meeting, approval of the Covenant Ministerium, and approval of the Covenant Annual Meeting.
• The candidate must participate in the ordination/commissioning service at the Covenant Annual Meeting.