A person who feels called to become a credentialed minister in the Church of God should discuss his/her calling with his/her pastor and ask the pastor to contact the North Georgia Church of God State Office Credentialing Department via email.

HOW TO BECOME AN EXHORTER

Application Due Dates:

CAMS Spring applications are due November 5^th.

CAMS Fall applications are due April 5^th.

1. Complete a “New Minister/Exhorter” application and return it to the State Office Credentialing department by email or mail.

• To obtain an application, have your Pastor to contact Tracy Roberts at tracy@ngacog.org or 770-274-1161.

2. Complete CAMS (Calling and Ministry Studies)

• Once the new minister application is approved, applicant is enrolled in CAMS.
• CAMS is a four-month training course designed to screen and help determine a person’s call to ministry.
• Applicants with a religion-based degree, prior ministerial credentials or ministerial experience may qualify for exemption.

3. Screening Interview with the State Ministerial Development Board

• For those completing CAMS, the screening interview is part of the last seminar.
• For those exempt from CAMS, an interview date and time will be scheduled.

4. Exhorter Exam

• Upon approval of the Administrative Bishop and State Ministerial Development Board, one may take the ministerial exam.

5. Exhorter Certificate Issued

Within approximately 4-6 weeks of passing the ministerial exam and processing of the application, then the International Offices will issue a ministerial certificate, and the Exhorter process is complete.

HOW TO ADVANCE FROM EXHORTER TO ORDAINED MINISTER

Application Due Date:

MIP applications are due June 5^th

1. Complete an “Ordained Minister” application and return it to the State Office Credentialing department by email or mail.

• To obtain an application, contact Tracy Roberts at tracy@ngacog.org or 770-274-1161.
• The MIP program application deadline is typically June 5th and is available one time a year.

2. Complete MIP (Ministerial Internship Program)

• Once the ordained minister application is approved, applicant is enrolled in MIP.
• MIP is a nine-month ministerial internship under their pastor at their local church.
• Applicants with a religion-based degree plus ministerial experience may qualify for exemption.

3. Ordained Minister Exam

• Upon graduation from MIP, applicants are eligible to take the ministerial exam.
• Applicants with a M.Div. degree may be exempt from the exam.

4. Ordained Minister Certificate Issued

• Within approximately 4-6 weeks of passing the ministerial exam and processing of the application, then the International Offices will issue a ministerial certificate for Ordained Minister, and the process is complete.

ADVANCEMENT TO ORDAINED BISHOP

The applicant for ordination as bishop must meet the Biblical requirements as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7.

An applicant for ordination as bishop may be ordained when he is twenty-five (25) years of age, provided he has had at least eight (8) years of active ministry, or he has three (3) years of active ministry accompanied by a ministry-related degree or its equivalency from an accredited institution or one certified by the Church of God Division of Education, or when he is thirty (30) years of age, provided he has had at least five (5) years of active ministry, if he is otherwise qualified. In those cases, in which a ministerial applicant has had verifiable active ministerial experience prior to receiving credentials, exceptions to the age qualifications can be made upon recommendation by the ministerial applicant’s administrative bishop and with the approval of the Executive Council (72nd A.,2008; 76th A.,2016, pp.183-84).

For additional information, see the most current edition of the Minutes of the International General Assembly of the Church of God.

A minister who meets the above qualifications may download or contact Tracy Roberts tracy@ngacog.org or 770-274-1161 in the State Office Credentialing department to obtain an Ordained Bishop Application. Along with the application, background check, and Local Church Endorsement form will be required.

There will be an additional form required for any Church of God minister with a previous marital issue wishing to advance in rank to Ordained Bishop whose marital status has not changed since he was last approved to receive or retain credentials in the Church of God. Approval of this form will be required from the International Executive Council prior to the applicant testing for the Ordained Bishop credential.

The pastor and local church along with the district overseer must endorse the minister for the application to be processed.