PREACH THE GOSPEL! (If necessary, use Words!)
Springs of Living Water Fellowship
Ministerial Credentials
LICENSES
AND CERTIFICATIONS
SLWF credentials officially recognize a minister’s God-given ability to preach
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Credentials
will only be issued to those individuals who have a clear calling from God into
the ministry. Ministry credentials
give legal rights to open doors for ministry activity, e.g., weddings,
after-hour hospital visits, funerals, jails, etc.
Credentials also provide the ability to utilize tax benefits for ministry
related income and expenses.
The annual renewal of credentials is required primarily
to verify that the minister continues to be actively involved in ministry.
Provision will be made for an inactive status to accommodate special
circumstances such as extended illness, economic necessity, and/or sabbatical
renewal.
CREDENTIALS
EXHORTER’S
CERTIFICATE:
Exhorter credentials may be issued to a person who has felt the call of
God on their life to preach and are just beginning in the ministry.
The person holding this credential may preach, hold revivals, or do other
religious work of any type under the direction of a Licensed or Ordained
Minister. This credential will be held by beginning
ministers for a period of 9-12
months before applying for higher credentials, and the recommended course of
study should be completed. It is
recommended that persons holding an Exhorter’s Certificate preach a minimum of
6 times per year*. The application
fee for Exhorter’s Certificate is $25.
LICENSED
MINISTER: Licensed
Minister’s credentials may be issued to those ministers who have served the
required term of apprenticeship as a licensed Exhorter, or who have already
served one or more years of successful ministry, and who have felt and exhibited
the call of God on their life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This credential will be held for a period of 9-12 months before applying
for higher credentials, and the recommended course of study should be completed.
It is recommended that persons holding credentials as a Licensed Minister preach
a minimum of 6 times per year*. The
annual fee for Licensed Minister is $50.
ORDAINED
MINISTER: Ordination
credentials may be issued to ministers who have a proven call of God on their
life and who have held credentials as a Licensed Minister for the required term.
Applicants who are currently ordained by another ordaining body may
receive credentials through SLWF as an Ordained Minister after application
requirements are met and the licensing committee approves application.
Ordained Ministers should complete recommended courses of study within
the suggested period of time. It is
recommended that persons holding credentials as an Ordained Minister preach a
minimum of 6 times per year*. The
annual fee for Ordained Minister is $50.
CERTIFIED
CHRISTIAN WORKER:
Christian Worker credentials may be issued to a person who has a call on
his or her life to work for the Lord in some field other than that of pastoring,
preaching or evangelizing. This may
include Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Church
Administrator, Hospital or Nursing Home Ministry, House-to-House Visitation,
Altar Worker, Street or Jail Ministry, or other ministry approved by the
credentials committee. Recommended
courses of study should be completed within the suggested period of time.
It is recommended that persons holding credentials as Certified Christian
Worker take part in actual ministry situations a minimum of 6 times per year*.
The annual fee for Certified Christian Worker is $25.
*This
is a recommended number only and should be increased or decreased based on the
individual minister’s circumstances.
SPECIALTY
CREDENTIALS
(Appended
to Credentials for Licensed or Ordained Ministers or Certified Christian
Workers)
Music
Minister:
Specializing in praise and worship or other music ministry through song
or instrument.
Theater
Arts Minister:
Specializing in the presentation and/or production of drama or dance as
an interpretive ministry.
Young
Adult Minister:
Specializing in ministering to college age students and young adults.
Youth
Minister:
Specializing in ministering to junior and senior high school age
students.
Children’s
Minister:
Specializing in ministering to children of preschool and elementary age.
Women’s
Ministries:
Specializing in ministering to women of all ages.
Men’s
Ministries:
Specializing in ministering to men of all ages.
Missionary:
Specializing in ministering through either foreign or home missionary
efforts.
CERTIFICATION
ESPECIALLY FOR MINISTER’S WIVES
Women
of Virtue:
It is a privilege and honor for Springs of Living Water Fellowship to
acknowledge minister’s wives and provide a means of support and encouragement
for those ladies who are so vital to their spouse’s call of God.
The Fellowship will issue official Women of Virtue Certifications to the
wives of each SLWF licensed minister. This
is a certification which will be issued alongside or in addition to any
credentials issued to the wife. There
is no fee for this certification and the effective dates will be the same as
those of their husband’s credentials.
Proverbs
31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he
shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the
days of her life…. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth
among the elders of the land…..26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and
in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of
her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise
up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many
daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is
deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be
praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works
praise her in the gates.”
CHURCH
CHARTERS
Springs
of Living Water Fellowship will offer charters for churches who are pastored by
SLWF Licensed or Ordained Ministers.
Chartered
Churches are not required to tithe to Springs of Living Water Fellowship, but
are encouraged to provide monthly offerings as a base of support for the
operation of the administrative office and the development and furtherance of
benefits, study materials, and support of member ministries in need.
All giving should be done in faith, with a heart of love and a commitment
to sowing seed into good soil. (Luke
21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:7)
Church
Charter options are as follows:
-
The church or other ministries may have complete legal coverage and maintain sovereignty of operation and ownership of their church property. The church may choose a name and call a pastor or evangelist. The church should support the fellowship with regular monthly financial offerings. An annual fee of $50 per year is required along with a completed “Application for Church Charter”*. This annual fee is in addition to the minister’s annual fee for credentials. This Charter may be a new church plant by an active SLWF Licensed or Ordained Minister, or an existing church whose pastor has become Licensed or Ordained through the fellowship, and who desires inclusion into the fellowship as a chartered church.
-
The church may have complete coverage as described in #1 above, except the church property is held in trust by the fellowship (i.e. fellowship church plant, etc.). The church’s governing officer and supreme authority, under God, shall be the General Superintendent of the fellowship as presiding Bishop. The Bishop is ex-officio director and final authority in all matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical matters of the church. An annual fee of $50 is required along with a completed “Application for Church Charter”. This annual fee is in addition to the minister’s annual fee for credentials.
-
The church whose pastor is Licensed or Ordained with SLWF that desire fellowship member status only with no legal benefits shall be accepted as an Associate Church. There are no enrollment fees for this option.
*To
obtain an Application For Church Charter, contact the General Superintendent.
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