Application for Ministerial Credentials

Introduction

Thank you for taking time to complete the application for ministerial credentials. The following pages will request your contact and family information (if applicable), educational history, vocational and volunteer history, community involvement, a summary of your spiritual journey, references, affirmations associated with being a credentialed minister of BIC U.S. and lastly an acknowledgement of the BIC U.S. background check requirement for credentialed ministers. Upon submission, you will receive a copy of your submission and the respective Bishop of your region will receive the submission for review and further processing. At any time you can save your progress by clicking the save and continue button at the bottom of each page. You will receive an email with a link to continue later. You must use that link to access your previous progress. If you have any questions, please email Donna Sturr at dsturr@bicus.org.

Ministry Role for Assignment(Required)

Lead Pastor

Pastoral Staff Member

Assignment as Missionary

Pursuing Further Study

Member of Leadership Council

Serving an Inter-Church Organization

Special assignment recognized by Leadership Council

Regional Conference(Required)

Congregation/Organization(Required)

Personal Information

Name(Required)

First Middle Last

Gender(Required)

Female

Male

Date of Birth(Required)

Home Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Primary Phone Number(Required)

Other Phone Number (Work)

Primary Email(Required)

A copy of your application will be emailed to this address after submission.

Work Email (if different)

Please upload a current headshot of yourself for your credential card.(Required)

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, Max. file size: 10 MB.

Family Information

I am:(Required)

Single/Never Married

Married

Divorced

Remarried

Widowed

Spouse's Name(Required)

First Last

Do you have any children residing at home or enrolled in post high school education?(Required)

Yes

No

Child 1 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 1 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 1 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 2 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 2 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 2 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 3 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 3 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 3 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 4 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 4 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 4 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 5 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 5 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 5 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 6 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 6 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 6 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Check to add another child

Child 7 – Name(Required)

First Last

Child 7 – Date of Birth(Required)

Child 7 – Residing at Home?(Required)

Yes

No

Educational History

Please enter your highest level completed first, additional education can be added by checking the box below.

#1 – High School/College/University/Seminary(Required)

#1 – Degree Awarded(Required)

#1 – Date of Degree(Required)

Check to add additional education…

#2 – College/University/Seminary(Required)

#2 – Degree Awarded(Required)

#2 – Date of Degree(Required)

Check to add additional education…

#3 – College/University/Seminary(Required)

#3 – Degree Awarded(Required)

#3 – Date of Degree(Required)

Enrolled in Directed Study Program(Required)

Yes

No

Date of Completion (If Completed)

Spiritual Journey

How you came to faith, how you have experienced the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and areas of life where you still struggle.(Required)

Your call to vocational ministry and your sense of your gifts, abilities, and strengths for ministry.(Required)

Your areas of personal passions or convictions and how these give focus or shape to your ministry.(Required)

Why you are considering ministry within or through the BIC U.S. and your sense of fit with the doctrine, values, and polity of BIC U.S.(Required)

Is there anything from your past that we should know that might cause embarrassment or difficulty to you and the church?(Required)

References

Colleague(Required)

First Last

Primary Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Pastor(Required)

First Last

Primary Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Lay Person(Required)

First Last

Primary Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Affirmations and Accountability

I have read, in full, the Manual of Doctrine and Government (MDG) of the Brethren in Christ U.S. (BIC U.S.) and also the additional readings that articulate the doctrine, core values, and various positions of BIC U.S. that were provided by the bishop or director, and I hereby:

Background Check Requirement

The Brethren in Christ U.S. (BIC U.S.) requires every candidate applying for or renewing credentials with BIC U.S to submit a background check through Christian Background Checks. We require background checks of employees and licensed ministers as “due diligence” in protecting the persons and integrity of the ministry of BIC U.S. After submission of this application form (including the 2 acknowledgements below), you will receive an email from Christian Background Checks instructing you of your rights and seeking your authorization for a background check to be conducted. You will also receive instructions on how to pay for the background check (approximately $18.95). Do not put your maiden name in the “Alias” box, as that will double the county searches. Searches are done primarily by SSN. The Brethren in Christ U.S. will follow the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in conducting background checks and may use the information obtained from the resulting report for decisions related to the applicant’s credentialing. BIC U.S. will not discriminate against the applicant or misuse the information as provided by any applicable federal or state equal opportunity laws or regulations, and in accordance with the Brethren in Christ Manual of Doctrine and Government.

Great! Now please click Submit below to send your information.

Application for Ministerial Credentials

Introduction

Personal Information

Family Information

Educational History

Congregational Membership

Vocational Ministry

Volunteer Ministry

Community Involvement

Spiritual Journey

References

Affirmations and Accountability

Background Check Requirement