Ten Steps to Member or Ordained Chaplain

Our ten-step process to membership is the same for Ordained Chaplains, Pastors and Member Chaplains, but the educational requirements, ministry experience, and continuing education requirements will be different. In both cases, we expect all Pastors and Chaplains to be serious about the hard work of study to show themselves worthy through continuing education, certification courses, and even higher education. Ordained Chaplains and Pastors must complete a minimum of 25 approved CE course each year. Member Chaplains do not.

Chaplains may begin their journey with at least a high school education. Pastors are required to have or agree to enroll in a degree program that might lead to a master's degree in ministry or divinity. Chaplains are encouraged to enroll in Clinical Pastoral Education, while our Pastors are required to do so. It may be a journey, a journey in self-awareness and the love of learning that contributes most to your success with our ministry. And we will be in the boat together with you, coaching you to keep moving forward!

STEP ONE - ALIGNMENT & AGREEMENT

  • Please be sure to read the membership requirements, statement of faith, core values, code of conduct, and our missional purpose as a ministry. We are a Biblical, Evangelical, Protestant Christian Ministry, an Association of Churches that is set apart for the Biblical, Evangelical, Protestant, Christian Church to teach, ordain, endorse, and train qualified believers for ministry.
  • Make certain that you, your church, and denomination (if there is one) are fully aligned and desires to associate with our ministry before you apply. Our doctrinal positions are described in our Statement of Faith and there can be no daylight or disagreement on these positions if you join.
  • Be sure that you understand what a Chaplain is and how it is different from being a Pastor or an Evangelist, while certainly recognizing the need to be pastoral and to share the Gospel as appropriate.
  • Be sure that you understand what a Pastor is and our expectation for Pastors to equip the Saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12). We train our Pastors to develop Chaplains who lead teams on mission in their community. Pastors making disciples who make disciples and training leaders to produce leaders and growing the church through development of mature believers on mission together in community, like a family, serving together with Jesus to the people they are called to serve.

STEP TWO - SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

  • When you are ready to proceed, submit an application for membership consideration and pay the non-refundable fee. This covers our staff time, background check, and will result in an interview with a member of our Membership and Ordination Council. .
  • Chaplain candidates will choose the membership option they would like to obtain. All applicants will go through the same basic process of discernment and basic training. Choose either Ordained Chaplain or Member Chaplain.
  • Pastor candidates will choose the Pastor option which has higher expectations, educational requirements, and ministry experience. Our Pastors strive for higher degrees. If you do not have a degree, we can still consider you and may issue a provisional ordination while coaching you through higher education toward a master's degree and completing clinical pastoral education. We do not require the degree to be completed before you start, but we do expect progress in order to maintain your ordination with us.

Life is a journey of progressive sanctification. We are with you and for you. We will help you grow!

STEP THREE - DISCUSS AND DISCERN YOUR CALLING

  • After submitting your application, our staff will obtain the required pastor and personal references, background check, a suitable photo of you, and guide you through the application process. Once submitted and accepted, you will be directed to schedule an appointment by MS Teams Video Conferencing for your first interview. Please wait for the directions after your application is completed. 
  • During your interview we will discuss your testimony, personal growth, self-awareness, ministry experience, education, and goals. We will also coach you in choosing the most appropriate membership option at this time. We look forward to hearing your story and your sense of call from God to enter into a Chaplain or Pastor ministry - or both!
  • After this meeting we will reach a decision on how to guide you. The decision for moving forward may be "Yes," or "No," or "Not Yet" depending on the leading of God. Know that we are for you! We are praying for you and for God to confirm His plan and purpose for you.

STEP FOUR - REQUIRED COURSEWORK AND EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENTS

  • After your first interview, if approved to continue forward, we will identify the course requirements you will need and work on a plan to get you moving forward. Required courses will depend upon your objective: Pastor or Chaplain.
  • All candidates, both Chaplain and Pastor, will take the beginning "Basics of Chaplaincy" and "Certificate in Grief Counseling" as the first step toward membership. You will be enrolled in our award winning Populi Learning Management System.
  • All candidates take the two required courses, Basics of Chaplaincy and Grief Certification. You will be enrolled in a term that begins on the first of each month. Additional courses or certifications may be recommended depending on your experience.
  • Pastor candidates with at least some college and a minimum of two years of ministry experience will have a customized process that can lead to ordination. A provisional ordination may be approved depending on experience. Clinical Pastoral Education will be required. If the candidate does not have a master's degree in theology, ministry, or divinity, this will be required within 5 to 10 years of being ordained. We will coach you through to a workable plan for this. If you already have a master's in theology, ministry, or divinity, you will only need to take Clinical Pastoral Education through our program.

STEP FIVE - SPIRITUAL RETREAT AND DISCERNMENT

  • At this point in the process, usually after the basic course requirements have been completed, you will engage in the work of self-reflection to assess the reality of God's call on your life. Are you called to become an ordained?
  • You will engage with specific and proprietary assessments including: 1) DISC Personality for Christians, 2) Spiritual Gifts Inventory, 3) StrengthsFinder 2.0, 4) Core Values, and 5) Leadership Styles.
  • You will schedule at least 1 day (preferably 3 days) for a personal spiritual retreat to spend quality time with God. We will provide you with a retreat template to guide you.
  • You will consider a document "Am I Called to Membership" and reflect on three tests of a genuine call, 1) Called by God, 2) External Qualifications - Commitment to Learning, and 3) Confirmation from believers.
  • Finally, you will report what you learned about yourself, how your call is confirmed, and the result of your spiritual retreat in a short paper. This will form the basis of discussion during your interview for Membership. 

STEP 6 - MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSION AND DECISION

  • After you complete all required course work, spiritual retreat, and submit your ordination paper we will meet for your second interview for membership and to discern if Ordination is appropriate.
  • Your paper becomes the basis for discussion during the interview. You will meet with one or more of our Membership Council. Relax, this is not a judgmental meeting. This will be a hospitable, loving conversation to zero in on how God is, or is not confirming a call on your life to be one of our member Pastors and/or Chaplains. 
  • Trust the process. We will be praying for you throughout the process and journey. Seek God and remember, The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9 ESV).

STEP 7 - MEMBERSHIP AND COVENANT AGREEMENT

  • If approved for membership you will sign a membership covenant and agreement.
  • At minimum you will commit to good communication with us, answering emails, participation with other pastors, churches, and clergy in our network, attending our monthly online meetings and annual conference as often as possible, meeting your annual renewal requirements, maintaining your church membership in good standing, abiding by our Code of Conduct and Ethics, and continue in your personal spiritual growth.
  • We have high expectations of you. Yet, we are here in this together and will serve you as well as we can and expect you will pour into us as well. It is our desire to contribute to your spiritual growth, self-awareness, continuing education, and a growing skill in the craft of spiritual and pastoral care.
  • If you become one of our members, we become partners together in the Kingdom work we share. You will be expected to make disciples who make disciples, produce leaders who produce leaders, participate in a missional community and recruit others who might join our ministry and become members of your local team.
  • Failure to abide by the covenant agreement may result in revocation of your credential. 

STEP 8 - ORDINATION AND RECOGNITION

  • If you are accepted, you will become a member of Christian Chaplains & Coaching. We will provide you with a Photo ID Badge recognizing you as a member or ordained Chaplain or Pastor.
  • You will receive a Certificate and the right to wear the branded patch and custom embroidered uniform clothing available through our store at Landsend, found on our website.
  • Membership and ordination is not perpetual. It will be renewed automatically every year as long as you remain faithful to our code of conduct and membership expectations as appropriate for your level.
  • For those who become ordained, we would love to participate in laying on of hands in your formal ordination, but distance makes this difficult. Perhaps, if you are ordained, your local church will do that for us. And know that if you attend our annual conference, we do have an ordination ceremony for newly ordained Chaplains and Pastors of our ministry so that all of us can pray over each one.

STEP 9 - ANNUAL RENEWAL PROCESS

  • After you become a member, the ongoing requirements must be met annually.
  • Annual dues are paid in December each year in advance. You will submit your annual renewal form in a timely manner and pay your annual dues when you submit the form. These are required by or before December 31st each year.
  • A membership renewal form will be sent in October of each year. On this form you will update your contact information, verify compliance with our code of conduct, and document your church membership, and continuing education. For those ordained during the year, the continuing education requirements are met by the courses taken for ordination. But the form must be completed annually including in your first year of ordination with us.

STEP 10 - CONTINUED GROWTH AND ONGOING SERVICE

  • We will be with you and for you on this journey of personal growth, ministry, and continuing education.
  • We expect our members to be dedicated learners, for that is what the word "Disciple" means, "a learner."
  • We encourage you to take courses that we make available and read books from our recommended reading list each year.
  • We encourage you to continue in pursuit of higher education, like a Bachelors or Masters, or Doctoral degree. We have a growing number of collaborations with wonderful institutions of higher education to work with. These colleges and seminaries work with us to accept credit from our certification courses and CPE. Keep moving forward.
  • Be on mission with other believers. Make disciples who learn to make disciples. Make leaders who also produce leaders. Create your own ministry team of Chaplains and Pastors. Reach people for Christ and grow the church.
  • Never forget that our mission is, and shall always be what Jesus says the mission is!

Remember, if you are still breathing, you're not done yet!