The Evangelical Covenant Church maintains high standards for its ministerial credentials, recognizing that those who are called and gifted to serve in vocational ministry are trusted with sacred responsibilities. We strongly believe that call to such ministry is discerned not only individually, but corporately. Candidates for credentialing in the Covenant must demonstrate a multi-voiced call, receiving the affirmation of the local church, the regional conference, and the denomination.

In order to seek permanent credentialing in the Covenant Church, you must:

• be called to ministry,
• be affirmed by the church or ministry setting, and
• be enrolled in the Covenant Pension Plan (if serving a Covenant church/institution)

Permanent credentials refer to those which are bestowed by laying on of hands at the Annual Meeting of the denomination on candidates who have been carefully examined in matters of faith, theology, and call. The permanent credentials in the Covenant church are:

• Ordination to word and sacrament,
• Ordination to word and service,
• Commissioning, and
• Consecrated missionary.

Each credential is appropriate to specific callings within the structure of a church or other ministry setting. The Evangelical Covenant Church accepts transfer of ordination candidates for both ordinations offered.