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License for Theological Students

Description of Credential

This license is for full-time theological students serving ECC congregations or institutions in fulfillment of the requirements of their educational program. It is valid for one year and authorizes the holder to perform all ministerial functions subject to state regulations.

Who is eligible for the credential?

The License for Theological Students is for degree-seeking students in a qualified theological school. The work for which a candidate receives the license must be a part of the seminary requirement, normally internship or field education. The license is only valid for the time the student is engaged in such internship or field education.  It may be renewed if the student continues to meet the requirements of the credential.

What are the requirements of the credential?

• Membership in an ECC congregation.
• Submission of a completed minister’s profile form, signed baptism statement and background check, criminal record screening, and statement of faith paper.

Detailed Procedure

• If attending North Park Theological Seminary or CHET, the candidate applies directly to the school. The license is signed by the president and dean of NPTS or the president of CHET and forwarded to the Department of the Ordered Ministry to process. The candidate will then be recommended to the Board for final approval.
• If attending any other seminary, the candidate contacts his/her conference office for a license 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 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 regional conference ministerial association at its annual meeting, approval of the Board of the Ordered Ministry, approval of the Covenant Ministerium, and approval of the Covenant Annual Meeting.
• The candidate will be in a relationship with a supervisor from his/her seminary while the license is held.
• The Department of the Ordered Ministry sends out license certificates in July.
• If the candidate needs the license renewed for the following year, he/she must contact the conference office (or NPTS or CHET, if enrolled there) and request another license application.