Qualifications and Certification

Ministers are men and women called of God to serve the church in an official leadership capacity who normally have special education for such a ministry, whose leadership roles are certified through licensure, and who receive financial remuneration for their services. This includes ministers such as pastors, pastoral counselors, evangelists, Christian education or youth ministers, chaplains, or persons directly involved in the theological training of people for ministry.

 

Qualifications
a. Ministers shall meet the following biblical qualifications:

    1. spiritual maturity and Christian character as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit as given in Galatians 5:22-23 and by the qualities required for Christian leaders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9;
    2. gifts of leadership confirmed by the church of which they are members (Ephesians 4:11-14); and
    3. a servant spirit which enables them to submit to the authority of God as they lovingly exercise that authority in ministering to the people of God (John 13:1-17; 1 Cor.4:1-2; Phil.2:1-11).

    4. read and agree to the ODB, Articles of Faith

    5. agree to Our Daily Bread, Missions Board Code of Ethics for Ministers

Continuing Education Guidelines for Ministers

      6. licensed or ordained by either ODB, other church or denomination, 

      7. or recognized by anther organization as a chaplain in one of the chaplaincy fields, i.e., prison ministries

b. Ministers shall meet the following educational qualifications:
    1. a high school diploma or its equivalent; and
    2. additional education as set forth in the description of licensed and ministers. (Note: Special consideration may be given after consultation with the candidate, the district superintendent, and the president or his representative and approval of the district executive board.)

 

c. Ministers shall meet the following denominational qualifications:
    1. participation in and completion of a prescribed program of study;
    2. a commitment to hold and to teach the denominational "Articles of Faith";

     3. a commitment to support the programs of the Church;
    4. a commitment to communicate by word and example a Christian view, authority, and lifestyle as reflected in the Articles of Faith;
    5. membership in a local Church unless otherwise approved by the district executive board due to extenuating circumstances; and
    6. all credentialed ministers are required to attend district conference annually unless there are extenuating circumstances which are reported to and approved by the district superintendent prior to conference.

Ministerial Categories and Procedures for Credentials
Procedure
(a) Establish membership in a local Church;
(b) Counsel with their pastor and district superintendent as to the nature and condition of their call from God to the ministry;
(c) Receive an official recommendation from the board of their local church; and
(d) Submit a completed Application for Ministry/ and or Courses (if not licensed by another church) for Ministerial License to Our Daily Bread, Missions Organization, Box 1934, Redmond, OR 97756.

Applicants for the ministry living in an area where there is no Church shall comply with steps (b) and (d) immediately above.

Applicants for the ministry residing outside district conference boundaries may make application to the Missions Board with licensing subject to the approval of the Executive Committee of the General Board. Our Daily Bread, Missions Organization believes that all are ordained by God according to John 15:16; however we realize that there is a need for licensing and credentialing of individuals seeking to work with the public and gain access to certain facilities where recognition is needed to gain access.