Evangelical Christian Church

Credentials

Disciples making disciples

Ministerial credentials are a partnership between the local church and a life vocation in ministry, in which the God-given leadership gifts a believer exercises are recognized and affirmed.

What Credentials Mean

A spiritual covering and a legal standing.

Download the Application FormOr speak with the Central Office first

Ministerial credentials enable the local church and this fellowship to affirm the Christian character, testimony and spiritual maturity of its clergy, and to extend authority to those exercising servant leadership within the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada (Christian Disciples).

Credentials affirm the spiritual qualities of leadership found in the New Testament pattern of the church. They extend legal status to the exercise of a person's ministry, mark the completion of preliminary and preparatory steps, and testify to the concurrence of the minister and the denomination — affirming the gift-mix of the servant, continuity in ministry, and a level of maturity achieved.

The ecclesiastical body of the General Assembly is made up of clergy who serve independent church agencies and fellowships while holding ministerial credentials with the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada.

Eligibility

Four covenants of recognition.

  1. 01

    The Covenant of Certified Christian Worker

    Issued when requested by a pastor or mentor on behalf of someone they believe has a potential calling and is preparing to fulfil it. It acknowledges a willingness to serve under the supervision of the pastor and local church leadership until regular ministerial credentials are recommended. Sunday School superintendents and teachers, church administrators, hospital and nursing home workers, house-to-house visitation workers, altar workers, and street and jail ministry workers may be accepted for this credential.

  2. 02

    The Covenant of Licence

    Granted to persons engaged in pastoring, preaching or evangelizing. Those authorized by a recognized organization or denomination also meet the requirement; where possible, applicants should submit a copy of a former licence. A licence entitles the holder to perform all church functions — including baptism, burial services and the Lord's Supper — and to use the title "Reverend." Marriage ceremonies require separate authorization at the discretion of the Credentials Standing Committee.

  3. 03

    The Covenant of Ordination

    Ordination is considered an important ordinance. Applicants already ordained must provide proof of ordination at the time of interview. Candidates seeking ordination are examined in Christian maturity, experience in ministry, and biblical training, and must meet all requirements of the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada. Only credentials obtained through a recognized organization or denomination will be considered for transfer.

  4. 04

    Certified Pastoral Counsellor

    Recognition of a qualified pastoral mental health practitioner, requiring skill in both counselling and ministry. The candidate must hold an ordination certificate from a reputable denomination or organization, and must have the necessary counselling education or be willing to complete certificate or diploma courses through Waterloo Bible College.

Who We Recognize

Ministry takes many shapes.

These roles are found in local churches, para-church organizations, counselling agencies, the marketplace, and in ministries serving other denominations.

  • Local churches and house-church networks
  • Small groups and evangelism
  • Missionaries
  • Prison, hospital and hospice chaplains
  • Police and military chaplains
  • Transport for Christ chaplains
  • Senior, assistant and bi-vocational pastors
  • Children and youth pastors
  • Music directors and counsellors
  • Funeral directors
  • Para-church and marketplace ministries
  • Bikers for Jesus