Examining Committee

Ordained Ministries - ELCIC Bylaws

Section 1. Standards for Acceptance

To be eligible for ordination into the ordained ministry of this church, candidates must have accepted a call and must have met one of the following standards:

a. Be a graduate of a recognized college or university and a theological seminary of this church, and present satisfactory reports of regular and frequent contact with the Committee on Theological Education and Leadership and the Bishop of the synod;

b. If theological education was received at a seminary other than one of this church,

i. Give evidence of graduation from an approved theological school and

ii. Have fulfilled a year’s internship acceptable to the appropriate synodical authorities;

c. Have been a member of the clergy of another denomination and have undertaking additional theological preparation in a seminary of this church, or have passed a comprehensive examination prepared by the Committee for Theological Education and Leadership and administered by the synodical committee, which may also require the successful completion of an internship in a parish of this church;

d. Be an older candidate, in which the requirements of graduation from a recognized college or university may be waived by the Committee for Theological Education and Leadership.

Section 2. Colloquy

Synodical examining committees shall interview all candidates for ordination and all persons applying for acceptance on the roster of ordained minister and shall ensure their

a. Acceptance of and adherence to the Confession of Faith of this church,

b. Fulfilment of academic requirements,

c. Personal qualifications for carrying out the functions of the ministry to which a call has been extended.

Section 3. Continuance on the Roster of Ordained Ministers

a. In order to remain on the roster of ordained minister of this church, each pastor (except as provided in ARTICLE VII, Section 6 of the constitution) shall be in possession of a proper call.

b. Calls may be issued for the ministries specified below by the agencies indicated:

Type of Ordained Ministry Source of Call

i. Parish Pastor Congregation

ii. Bishop of the church and other officers Convention of this church

iii. Staff of this church National Church Council

iv. Synod Bishop and other officers Synod Convention

v. Staff of the synod Synod Council

vi. Staff of an educational or eleemosynary Synod Council on whose territory the institution or agency institution or agency carried out its functions

vii. Staff of federation of Lutheran churches National Church Council

viii. Staff of nationwide inter-Lutheran agency National Church Council

ix. Staff of a provincial agency or institution Synod Council

x. Staff or an interdenominational agency National Church Council

xi. Chaplain in the armed forces or in an National Church Council institution operated by the federal government

xii. Pastor developing a new congregation Synod Council

xiii. Pastor of an independent congregation Synod Council on whose territory the in Canada congregation is situated

xiv. Pastor serving an institution or agency National Church Council
outside of Canada

xv. World Missionary National Church Council

xvi. Pastor serving in a congregation under Synod Council synod supervision

xvii. Ministries not otherwise provided for Synod Council on whose territory the (as in conjunction with occupations ministry is located or National Church in unusual ministries in approved Council if the ministry involves more situations). than one synod or is outside of Canada, upon recommendation of the Conference of Bishops.

c. All ordained ministers of this church shall make an annual report of their ministry to their synod bishop.

d. Participation in the pension plan shall be mandatory for ordained ministers joining this church after January 1, 1986 unless they are required to participate in another plan (CPP/QPP not applicable in request for exemption). Ordained ministers required to participate in another plan shall certify this fact to the Committee of Pension of this church.

Section 4.

No ordained minister of this church shall divulge any confidential disclosure given in the course of the care of souls or otherwise in a professional capacity, except with the express permission of the person involved or in order to prevent the commission of a crime.

Section 5.

If an ordained minister resides at too great a distance from any congregation of this church to be able to sustain a living relationship there-to, the bishop of this church may grant permission to hold membership in a congregation of another church.

Section 6.

An ordained minister of this church who accepts a call in another Lutheran church shall, upon application to the bishop of the synod, be entitled to a certificate of transfer.