PASTORAL MINISTRY HANDBOOK | CHAPTER 9
Provisional Ministers
¶111 Description
1. The provisional license is granted by the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team to those persons called to serve in a congregation of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, as a senior pastor, full-time staff pastor, or pastor in transition in these situations:
a. When holding credentials with another group.
b. When planting a church for the United Brethren in Christ, USA.
c. When not holding any credential.
2. This license is granted as the entry level for two distinct tracks of ministerial pursuit.
a. Ordination. For those seeking ordination, the provisional license is the first of three steps toward ordination.
b. Specialized Ministry. For those desiring to serve in a specialized ministry area for a local church, but not in an ordained capacity, the provisional license serves as the first of two steps in order to receive a specialized ministry license.
¶112 Qualifications
To become a candidate for a provisional license, persons must do the following:
1. Hold a high school diploma (or equivalent).
2. Demonstrate a level of faithfulness and competency which warrants consideration for this license.
3. Demonstrate the following:
a. Faithfulness to the membership, family, and social standards of the church (UB Discipline, chapters 4-6).
b. Conformity to the general expectations of ministers (UB Discipline, chapter 7).
¶113 Licensing of Provisional Ministers
The following procedure is established for the provisional license.
1. Examination
The Ministerial Licensing and Ordination Team shall examine the candidate to determine matters of:
a. Personal integrity.
b. Commitment to the Christian faith.
c. Ministerial call.
d. Relationships with others.
e. Spiritual maturity.
f. Understanding of the doctrinal distinctives, history, and polity of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.
2. References
The candidate shall provide five references giving evidence of the candidate’s faithfulness in Christian living and suitability of service using the Ministerial Reference for Ministerial Licensing form. References should be obtained from the following individuals:
a. A faculty member in the candidate’s major area of study, or a previous employment supervisor.
b. A leader from the candidate’s previous church or place of service.
c. The minister’s spouse (if married); friend or relative (if single).
d. A pastor who knows the candidate.
e. Another person of the candidate’s choosing.
3. Written Responses
The candidate shall provide written responses to the following, along with Scripture references and personal examples to support the answers:
a. Do you agree with the Confession of Faith set forth in the Discipline of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA?
b. Describe your conversion experience, your faith journey, and your call to ministry.
c. How do you support your belief that the Bible is the Word of God and that it reveals the only way of salvation?
d. What is your motive for desiring this license with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA?
e. What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer? How is this demonstrated in your life?
f. What do you believe regarding the nature of humanity and the individual need for salvation?
g. Define the following terms: depravity, redemption, faith, repentance, justification, regeneration, and sanctification.
h. Demonstrate proficiency with a plan of salvation and identify individuals you have led to Christ.
i. Will you agree to abide by the official actions of the denomination in all matters related to ministry?
j. Will you faithfully pursue the course of study and/or additional requirements needed for ordination or a specialized ministry license?
k. What current debts do you have?
l. Have you ever pled guilty to or been convicted of a crime?
m. Have you ever been charged with child neglect or abuse?
n. Has your driver’s license ever been suspended or revoked?
o. Is your use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs consistent with the standards detailed in Discipline, Chapter 6, Paragraph 143? If not, please explain.
p. To what degree do you agree with the Family Standards as defined in the Discipline? Are you living consistently with those standards?
q. To what degree do you agree with the Membership and Social Standards as defined in the Discipline? Are you living consistently with those standards?
r. To what degree do you agree with the General Qualifications of Ministers as defined in the Discipline? Are you willing to abide by those statements?
4. Background Check
The candidate shall submit to a background check as determined by the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team. This shall be at the candidate’s expense.
5. Other Documents
The candidate shall also provide:
a. A copy of his/her academic transcripts.
b. An updated Minister’s Profile.
6. Recommendation
a. Following the examination, the examining committee shall report its findings to the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team to make any recommendations it deems consistent with its findings.
b. Pending a favorable recommendation from the PMLT, a provisional license shall be granted.
¶114 Annual Renewal
This license must be renewed each year by the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team. Renewal will be determined subject to the following conditions:
a. An annual report must be made to the bishop’s office for review by the PMLT.
b. Progress is being made in the required course of study (see below).
c. A course in United Brethren church history must be completed.
¶115 Advancing to National Conference License
1. Referral for National Conference License
a. Provisional ministers seeking ordination may be referred to the national conference when they meet the qualifications for national conference license.
b. Should a provisional minister be referred and not received as a national conference minister, the previous status as a provisional minister will be retained.
2. Requirements for National Conference License
Provisional ministers may hold a national conference license when the following conditions have been met:
a. The provisional license has been held for a minimum of 12 months.
b. They have completed the equivalent of two years of college.
c. They have completed the course in United Brethren church history.
d. They have met the requirements for national conference license (see handbook chapter “National Conference Ministers”).
¶116 Advancing to Specialized Minister License
1. Referral for Specialized Minister License
a. Provisional ministers not seeking ordination may be referred to the national conference when they meet the qualifications for specialized minister license.
b. Should a provisional minister be referred and not received as a specialized minister, the previous status as a provisional minister will be retained.
2. Requirements for Specialized Minister License
Provisional ministers may hold a specialized minister license when the following conditions have been met:
a. The provisional license has been held for a minimum of 12 months.
b. They have completed 30 semester hours of college level work in their field of specialization, including a minimum of 12 hours of Bible.
c. They have completed the course in United Brethren church history.
¶117 Transferring the License
When provisional ministers transfer their membership from one United Brethren church to another, the license is automatically transferred once the receiving church has confirmed the transfer of membership.
¶118 Ministers from Other Denominations
If a minister from another denomination with the equivalent of this provisional license seeks to be licensed by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, a license will be granted providing that all other requirements for a provisional license have been met.
¶119 Expectations of Provisional Ministers
In addition to the general expectations of all ministers and members in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, provisional ministers are expected to faithfully fulfill the following requirements:
1. Annual Reporting
All provisional ministers are expected to file an annual report of their activities with the bishop.
2. Accountability
Since this license is granted by the national conference, provisional ministers are accountable to the national conference in addition to the normal accountability procedures in the local church where they serve.
3. Ministerial Service
a. Provisional ministers shall work under the direction of the bishop.
b. Provisional ministers may officiate at funerals and weddings and administer the ordinances of baptism and communion only under the supervision of a senior pastor.
4. Course of Study
All provisional ministers are expected to pursue a course of study leading toward a Master of Divinity degree or a Master of Ministry degree through an approved seminary, or courses to meet the 24 areas of study outlined in the chapter “Ministerial Education.”
