Ordination | Venture Church Network

Thank you so much for your interest in being ordained with our network of church in the Venture Church Network – N. California/Nevada regions. We hope that is will be a helpful resource to you. For further inquiries, please email our Director of Connections, Sally Hahn sally@venturechurches-ncnv.com.

If you would like ot know more out association history, click here.

Licensing vs Ordination

Licensing is a function of the local church and is for a specific ministry setting. The person desiring licensing should submit a statement of faith and call to ministry to their Church Board for review and approval.

The approval for licensing must be part of the Church Board’s official minutes. A copy of the minutes should be maintained by the Church and a copy retained by the person being licensed. There are two types of licensing:

For the ministry while affiliated with the licensing church. The person’s license is no longer valid after leaving the licensing church.
For the Gospel ministry from the date of licensing forward.

If “For the Gospel ministry from the date of licensing forward” is selected, the church would have the right to revoke the license in the event it should become necessary due to such issues as heretical teaching or moral failure. If that step is taken, a letter stating the license has been revoked must be sent to the licensee. Christian bookstores have these two types of certificates of license available.

**Within two years of being licensed or ordained, the pastor may file for exemption from Social Security if his beliefs are consistent with the exemption statement. A tax advisor should be consulted and this should be entered into only with great seriousness.

Ordination

The ordination process begins and ends with a leader called by God to the Gospel ministry. It also involves the recognition of this call by the local church where the leader is serving. The Venture Church Network family of churches and church leaders are also involved in advising the church and in serving the ordination candidate. Thus, the ordination process is detailed below for VCN churches and leaders:

The Ordination Process:

The candidate or church representative contacts VCN informing them of the desire to hold an ordination council. (Fill out the online information form)
A representative from VCN will contact the candidate and send them information on the steps to ordination.
The Candidate will submit their doctrine statements and call to ministry.
The VCN representative will schedule a pre-ordination meeting with the candidate.
The VCN representative will coordinate with the ordaining church and the candidate to schedule an ordination council.
Representatives from VCN churches will be invited to be a part of the ordination council.
During the ordination council the candidate will be asked questions about their call to ministry, theology, and practical ministry.
Immediately following the examination of the candidate, the members of the ordination council will confer and either vote to recommend the candidate for ordination or recommend further study and evaluation.
VCN will present a certificate of ordination to the ordaining church.
The ordaining church will hold an ordination service to honor the newly ordained minister.

Additional information

Our desire is to provide as much support to the candidate and the church throughout the process. For more information on licensing or ordination, please contact the VCN ordination representative.

Ordination Interest Form

"*" indicates required fields

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION

Do you attend a VCN Church?*

Yes

If yes, which church and who recommended you?

If no, which church do you attend? Did someone recommend you?

Why would you like to seek ordination?*

CONTACT INFORMATION

First Name*

Last Name*

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Email*

Date of Birth:*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Home Phone

Cell Phone

Office Phone

RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION

Martial Status

Date of Wife's death

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Date of Marriage

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Wife's Name

If yes, date of divorce:

MM slash DD slash YYYY

If yes, date of separation:

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Reason for separation:

Have you or your wife even been divorced?

Yes

Is your wife supportive of your ministry?

Reason for divorce:

Do you have children?

Yes

Names and birthdates of your children:

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS INFORMATION (Please share your degree or certification, if completed)

College:

Graduate School:

Special Training:

Seminars:

Certifications:

Internships:

Other:

MINISTRY INFORMATION

List ministry experiences and roles that you have had either in a lay or paid staff capacity.

Identify your strengths in ministry and show how your past Christian service experience has demonstrated those abilities (e.g. preaching, teaching, administration, counseling, strategic planning, evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, etc.)

Considering the teaching of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, do you have any serious problems that the ordination council would need to know as they evaluate you as a candidate for ordination?

Yes

If yes, please explain

Where and in what capacity are you currently serving in Christian ministry?

Where do you intend to serve as an ordained minister?

Are you currently licensed?

Yes

If yes, when and where did this take place?

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Licensing vs Ordination

The Ordination Process:

Additional information

Ordination Interest Form

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION

CONTACT INFORMATION

RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS INFORMATION (Please share your degree or certification, if completed)

MINISTRY INFORMATION

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