BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
(Excerpted from General Council Bylaws, Article VII, Section 2)
The Assemblies of God gives recognition to the levels of ministry as noted on this web site. Applicants for
all credentials must be residents of or hold credentials in the district where they make application and appear before its
credentials committee (General Council Bylaws, Article VII, Section 3, Paragraph a).
A. Salvation.
Testimony to having experienced the new birth (John 3:5).
B. Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Testimony to having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues
according to Acts 2:4.The Spirit-filled life will enable a minister to fulfill the fourfold mission of the church
(Constitution, Article V, paragraph 10).
C. Evidence of call.
Clear evidence of a divine call to the ministry, evidenced by a personal conviction, confirmed by the work of the Spirit and
the testimony of fellow ministers.
D. Christian character.
A blameless Christian life and a good report of those who are without (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:7).
E. Doctrinal position.
A thorough understanding of and agreement with our doctrinal position as contained in the Statement of Fundamental Truths.
F. Assemblies of God.
A satisfactory working knowledge of the principles, practices, and purposes of the Fellowship through a study of the General
Council and District Council Constitution and Bylaws.
G. Voluntary cooperation and commitment to the Fellowship.
An active loyalty to our constitutional agreements, a cooperative spirit, and a readiness to seek and receive the counsel of
older mature Christians and those in positions of authority.
By voluntary it is meant that, upon learning the principles, doctrines, and practices of the Assemblies of God, and by seeing
the benefits to be derived from being associated with such an organization, persons of their own free choice decide to become
members, thus subscribing to all that for which the organization stands.
For the minister, by cooperation, it is meant, to the best of one’s ability, complying with all decisions setting forth and
defining duties and responsibilities incumbent upon members of the organization. It includes active participation and respect
for the will of the majority expressed through constitutional processes.
Hence, for the minister, voluntary cooperation means that when the minister decides to become a cooperating member of the Assemblies
of God, this cooperation and participation thereby becomes obligatory and not optional.
H. Basic education requirements.
Any level of formal academic achievement (diploma or degree) shall not be a requirement for credentials; however, credential
applicants shall meet the following criteria:
(1) All applicants are required to be interviewed by the District Credentials Committee, and in preparation for the
interview, pass a standard exam approved by the General Presbytery whereby they demonstrate knowledge of the Bible, Assemblies
of God doctrines, and ministerial practices; and either
(2) Successfully complete equivalent training to that indicated in paragraph (3) below, preferably, in an endorsed Assemblies
of God post-secondary school; or in a seminary, college, Bible college, or school approved by the District Credentials
Committee consistent with criteria established by the General Council Credentials Committee; or
(3) Successfully complete courses, prescribed by the General Presbytery, offered in correspondence through Global University
of the Assemblies of God, or pass the final examinations in the prescribed courses; or
(4) Be recommended by the District Credentials Committee as qualifying for credentials through self-study and ministerial experience.
Such candidates shall have proven and fruitful ministry of substantial duration. Requests from a district for such a candidate shall
be presented to the General Council Credentials Committee and may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
I. Mandatory screening
All applicants for ministerial credentials shall be screened through a designated screening agency established by the Executive
Presbytery. Said screening shall be done by the district council prior to the submission of the application to the office of the
general secretary.
J. Marriage status.
We disapprove of any married persons holding ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God or district councils granting
credentials to such, if either marriage partner has a former spouse living, unless the divorce occurred prior to his or her
conversion except as hereinafter provided.
K. Annulments, marriage dissolutions, and divorces.
TThe Executive Presbytery shall have the authority to determine whether an applicant qualifies for an ecclesiastical annulment.
In such cases there must be clear and satisfactory evidence of deception, fraud, or other conditions which have a profound impact
preventing the creation of a valid marriage union, unknown at the time of marriage by the applicant. The Executive Presbytery shall
have the authority to determine whether an applicant qualifies regarding a former marriage when the termination of that marriage is
consistent with the scriptural position of the Fellowship relating to the granting of holding of ministerial credentials; or if a
former marriage ended prior to conversion. In those cases involving preconversion divorce they shall be decided on an individual basis
just as those that deal with ecclesiastical annulments. Appeals from the decisions of the Executive Presbytery may be made to the
General Presbytery.
L. Eligibility of women.
The Scriptures plainly teach that divinely called and qualified women may also serve the church in the ministry of the Word (Joel 2:29;
Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5). Women who meet the qualifications for ministerial credentials are eligible for whatever grade of
credentials their qualifications warrant and have the right to administer the ordinances of the church and are eligible to serve in all
levels of church ministry, and/or district and General Council leadership.
M. Ministers from other organizations.
If a minister from another reputable body desires to affiliate with the Assemblies of God, the credentials committee of both the General
Council and the District Council are under no obligation to accept the applicant’s previous ministerial status, but will judge each candidate
on his or her merits as to level of credentials to be granted. Such applicants will be required to:
(1) Conform to Assemblies of God criteria for recognition.
(2) Complete an application for ministerial recognition.
(3) Submit a letter of recommendation from a neighboring Assemblies of God minister or the sectional presbyter for the applicant’s area.
(4) Submit a recommendation from the body with which the minister was formerly affiliated. If such is not available, letters of recommendation
should be sought from three reputable ordained ministers who are familiar with the applicant’s ministry, two of whom should be with the
applicant’s former credentialing body.
(5) Take the credential examination.
(6) Complete such courses as may be prescribed by the General Presbytery for ministers transferring from other credentialing bodies.
(7) Meet with the district credentials committee for an oral interview.
(8) Be recommended by the district credentials committee for action by the General Council Credentials Committee.
(9) All previously ordained ministers so approved shall receive recognition as ordained Assemblies of God ministers with the laying on of hands
by the district presbytery. All other applicants so approved shall receive the appropriate level of credential recognition.
(10) Ministers who receive Assemblies of God recognition shall relinquish their ministerial credentials with any other organization, unless an
exception is granted by the General Council Credentials Committee upon recommendation of the district council credentials committee for a
minister serving as a missionary in this country who holds a credential with a member body of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, or in
special and/or unique cases as determined by the General Council Credentials Committee.