Home > Denominational Ministries > Ordered Ministry > Departmental Ministries > Ministerial Credentials > Licenses > License for Pastoral Office

License for Pastoral Office

Description of Credential

This license is primarily for those who are in process toward ordination to word and sacrament, or for those who are transferring their ordination and have not yet received provisional ordination status from the Annual Meeting.  This license is valid for one year and authorizes the holder to perform all ministerial functions, subject to state regulations.  The holder of a license for pastoral office is accountable to a minister ordained to word and sacrament within the local area of service, or to the regional conference superintendent. This license may be renewed annually up to a maximum of five years.

Who is eligible for the credential?

The License for Pastoral Office is intended for persons serving at least twenty hours a week in ECC congregations, ECC institutions, or other approved ministries and organizations.  The license is for those involved in pastoral ministry who also fulfill sacramental and other pastoral functions.

What are the requirements of the credential?

• Membership in an ECC congregation.
• Before applying for the license, completion of half of a Master of Divinity degree program.
• Enrollment in the CEOP (if not attending North Park Theological Seminary).
• Participation in the pension plan of the ECC (if paid for 30 hours or more per week).  If paid for less than 30 hours, pension is optional but recommended.
• Submission of a completed minister’s profile form, signed baptism statement and background check, criminal record screening, and statement of faith paper.

Detailed Procedure

• Once the candidate meets the requirements for the credential, he/she contacts the conference office for a license application, baptism statement, background check, criminal record screening, minister’s profile form, guidelines for statement of faith paper, and CEOP packet.
• The conference office sends the packet to the candidate.
• The candidate completes all of the necessary paperwork, making sure to sign the license application, check all boxes, and obtain the signature of the local church chairperson on the back of the application.  He/she then sends all of the paperwork back to the conference office.  (The statement of faith paper is not due until the time of the conference interview.)
• The conference office receives this paperwork, making sure that none of it is incomplete or missing.  If necessary, the conference office contacts the candidate to inform him/her of what is missing.
• Once the paperwork is complete, the conference office makes copies for its records, and then sends all originals to the Department of the Ordered Ministry.
• At this time, the Department of the Ordered Ministry will issue an interim license, which will be in effect until the candidate is approved at the Covenant Annual Meeting.  (Interim licenses expire on June 30.)
• The conference committee on ministerial standing interviews the candidate in the fall or spring, using the statement of faith paper as the basis for the interview.  The committee makes its recommendation.
• The conference committee on ministerial standing sends its written reports on the interviews to the Department of the Ordered Ministry.
• To receive a first-time license, 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 Department of the Ordered Ministry sends out license certificates in July.
• Each spring, the conference office sends out applications for renewal of licenses (except for those who have retired and are designated LPO/R on the roster).
• The conference committee on ministerial standing will re-interview the candidate every three years as long as he/she holds a license.