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Rethinking Credentials: What Makes Us Qualified to Minister?

The normal track for credentialing pastors includes college, seminary and an ordination council. But what about credentialing pastors who take nontraditional routes? Is there space in your denomination for that? Should there be?

Furthermore, is there a biblical way to respect the office of pastor while providing additional paths to pastoral ministry?

I think the obvious answer is yes.

I want to consider an Alternative Credentialing Track (ACT).

The traditional credentialing process often stifles church planting.
 

A Credentialing Crossroads

I work with a lot of different denominations and networks, and credentialing pastors is often a topic of discussion. New networks are asking what their role is—or is it the role of the local church? What about pastors in movements that go astray?

Now, I recognize that you Anglicans have your Bishops and the Anabaptists ordain locally in their churches. So, for a moment, let’s skip the discussion on polity for a moment and let’s acknowledge that a lot of denominations and networks are struggling with how to do credentialing, even when their polity is different—same issue, different application.

Denominations (often with high credentialing standards and a sometimes onerous process) are asking how to open up new pathways to immigrant, bivocational and other leaders. And at the same time, networks are asking what their responsibility is to the local church and the pastor if they are in the network.

Either way, a lot of groups are dissatisfied with their credentialing.

Statistically, the future is less mainline denominations (with high credentialing) and more nondenominational evangelicals (who are trying to figure it out). Denominations typically credential pastors, so with the rise of nondenominational Christians, a new standard may need to be put in place.

And the discussion continues …

For some of you, this is not an issue—and I understand. However, this is a real issue in a lot of movements. I have publicly been asked, and weighed in on, credentialing conversations with the LCMS and the Assemblies of God, to name less than half that come to mind. I only list these denominations and networks to demonstrate how frequently this conversation is taking place.

I think credentialing is at a crossroads and, as we get there, I want to make sure that there is more than one path so that the mission is advanced, churches are planted and we don’t just credential one type of pastor.

We do that through the creation and promotion of an alternate credentialing track.

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Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola Univeristy and Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, is the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. Dr. Stetzer is the host of "The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast," and his national radio show, "Ed Stetzer Live," airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates.