CREDENTIAL UPGRADE PROCEDURE
(For Ordination upgrade go here)


Individuals desiring to upgrade to the next level of credentials who have met the appropriate requirements are to make written request to the District Secretary/Treasurer’s office for consideration.

1. Upgrade to License:

A. Applicant returns completed application and reference forms to the District Secretary/Treasurer’s office along with $75.00 fee (non-refundable).
REFERENCES: References from several individuals will be requested. Provide complete addresses. It is preferred that the ministers used for references be ordained Assemblies of God ministers. Do not use a sectional presbyter or district official since they serve on the District Credentials Committee.

B. After the application has been processed, the applicant will be notified by the District Secretary Treasurer’s office to contact his or her sectional presbyter to arrange for taking the exam. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the sectional presbyter to make the arrangements for taking the exam. The examination is taken in the presence of the sectional presbyter unless he designates the assistant presbyter to serve as proctor. Applicants may bring the General Council and District Council Constitutions and Bylaws and their Bible (text only). Section I. Doctrine and Theology can be taken with the use of the Bible (text) only. The Bible (text), the General Council Constitution and Bylaws and the district council constitution and bylaws may be used when taking the remainder of the test. Once Section I is completed and Section II started, you are not to go back to or refer back to Section I. The exam must be completed prior to the interview with the District Credentials Committee (comprised of District Executive Officers and Sectional Presbyters.)

C. Interview: An interview with the District Credentials Committee may or may not be required at the discretion of the District Executive Officers. This is usually determined by the applicant having had received credentials previously in this District. The exam must be completed prior to any interview with the District Credentials Committee (comprised of District Executive Officers and Sectional Presbyters).

D. Candidates will receive credentials at the final discretion of the General Council Credentials Committee based upon the recommendation of the District Credentials Committee. The recommendation is based upon the completion of basic educational requirements, satisfactory application requirements, and satisfactory personal interviews.

E. Applicants who do not complete the credentialing process within 1 year forfeit their application fees and must re-complete the entire application process and re-pay all application feels.




2. Upgrade to Ordination:

A. Individual makes written request to the District Secretary Treasurer’s office to be considered for credentials.

B. After the District Credentials Committee reviews and approves the candidate’s request for consideration, an Official Application will be mailed to the candidate.

C. Applicant returns completed application and reference forms to the District Secretary/Treasurer’s office along with $100.00 fee (non-refundable).
REFERENCES: References from several individuals will be requested. Provide complete addresses. It is preferred that the ministers used for references be ordained Assemblies of God ministers. Do not use a sectional presbyter or district official since they serve on the District Credentials Committee.

D. After the application has been processed, the applicant will be notified by the District Secretary Treasurer’s office to contact his or her sectional presbyter to arrange for taking the exam. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the sectional presbyter to make the arrangements for taking the exam. The examination is taken in the presence of the sectional presbyter unless he designates the assistant presbyter to serve as proctor. Applicants may bring the General Council and District Council Constitutions and Bylaws and their Bible (text only). Section I. Doctrine and Theology can be taken with the use of the Bible (text) only. The Bible (text), the General Council Constitution and Bylaws and the district council constitution and bylaws may be used when taking the remainder of the test. Once Section I is completed and Section II started, you are not to go back to or refer back to Section I. The exam must be completed prior to the interview with the District Credentials Committee (comprised of District Executive Officers and Sectional Presbyters.)

E. All ordination candidates (and their spouses) are interviewed by the District Credentials Committee in January.

F. Candidates will receive credentials at the final discretion of the General Council Credentials Committee based upon the recommendation of the District Credentials Committee. The recommendation is based upon the completion of basic educational requirements, satisfactory application requirements, a Paasing grade on the examination, and satisfactory personal interviews.

G. Candidates who are recognized by the General Council Credentials Committee are officially ordained during District Council with the laying on of hands by the District Presbytery.

H. The ordination application process must be completed prior to the January meeting of the District Presbytery.