Multiplying Ministers in Every Rank, Race, and Region

A Minister Credential Guidebook

Christian Leaders Alliance mobilizes and multiplies called Christians to proclaim the gospel and minister to others. We serve those who spread Christianity through reproducible and credentialed ministry roles. 

Tens of thousands are studying ministry! See Directory.

Thousands are credentialed! See Minister Directory

We provide tuition-free ministry courses and minister credentialing to Christians, church leaders, and others called into ministry. 

This grassroots program of training and credentialling is available to every race, rank, and region of the English-speaking world. 

This program fits many situations. Here are some of them:

• You are a Christian, and you are looking for a ministry training and credentialing program. You desire to perform at a wedding. You want training and credentials to become a recognized wedding officiant. Maybe you see the great need for ministry and are saying “yes,” Lord. You are looking for a program where you can get started. 
• You are a church leader looking for a training and credentialing program for elders, deacons, or staff ministers. The program must allow dual credentials. Many denominations have expensive and cumbersome training and credentialing programs that will not work for volunteer, part-time, or even full-time leaders.
• You are developing or funding ministries in your community. You need a training and credentialing program to help you build volunteers or staff. 
• You are developing a ministry practice in your community. You need a training and credentialing program that gives you credibility. Are you starting a coaching or chaplain practice in your community?
• You are planting a church or house church. You need a training and credentialing program.

There are so many applications. Ministers are trained with over 160 courses and credentialed through fifteen roles and over 30 specializations. Each trained and credentialed minister can easily share this grassroots program with others with the calling to ministry.

Each credentialed minister is welcome to consider Soul Centers, Soul Centers are local religious societies where ministry is registered and shared.

Minister Mobilization Cycle

Think about this mobilization cycle: If each called, trained, and credentialed minister serves in their local sphere and mobilizes six or more Christians called, trained, and credentialed to minister in their local sphere who find six Christians to repeat that mobilization cycle, Christianity would spread even faster.

As you further your education, you are also advancing the Kingdom. Make disciples who make more disciples until the world hears the good news. 

Our program also suits Biblical churches that seek commonality and collaboration. As you read this document, you will learn about the word “ecuministry.” Ecuministry speaks to finding the common ways diverse Christians minister. It does not try to solve every disagreement.

This Minister Credential Guidebook details how the Christian Leaders Alliance uses the training of the Christian Leaders Institute to credential ministers for the local church and Kingdom. In addition, this handbook lays out a “Mobilization of Local Ministers” process.

Why are grassroots tuition-free and low-cost credentialing programs needed?

The early church modeled a grassroots program that depended on maturing ministers. The disciples of Jesus and apostles like Paul scattered to different places. In the book of Acts, we read how these Christian leaders reached and trained others who repeated this process.

As this process repeated, Christians multiplied. Ministers multiplied. These ministers matured and reached new Christians to become ministers. A Christian movement spread. 

Some of these ministers welcomed the responsibility of becoming super-spreaders of Christianity. These were the bishops talked about in 1 Timothy 3.

Early Grassroots Ministers

Consider early grassroots ministers. 

These early ministers tenaciously reached every race and rank. The stories of the first 100 years of the church reveal how God raised enslaved people, free, rich, poor, men and women, to be Christians and Christian leaders.

Celsus, a pagan writer in the early second century, complained that Christianity included “only foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of perception, and slaves, and women, and children, of whom the teachers of the divine word wish to make converts.”

Today, the gospel still reaches every race and rank. Ministers multiply from every stratum. Every Christian is a possible candidate to become a minister. God calls and sends. God calls us to offer tuition-free training and credentialing. 

Christian Leaders Alliance employs the world wide web to support a grassroots approach that allows the courses to be shared tuition-free. 

Christian Leaders Alliance uses the tuition-free courses of Christian Leaders Institute to train prospective ministers. Each minister has a mentor and must walk through a local recommendation process. 

Christian Leaders Alliance credentials these leaders and posts their credentials in the Christian Leaders Alliance Minister Directory.

Thousands of ministers have completed programs at Christian Leaders Alliance in over 100 countries. Click here to see the Christian Leaders Alliance Minister Directory. These credentialed ministers can serve in churches or register their local ministry with Soul Centers. More on Soul Centers later. Click here to visit the Soul Centers website. 

Minister Recognition

Credentialing in the early church included a ceremony of laying on hands. This ceremony credentialed and empowered the new minister with the Holy Spirit’s sending. So we see in 2 Timothy 1:6 that Paul reminds Timothy about his ordination and commissioning as a minister.

“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Credentialing gave Timothy more confidence to minister. Timothy did not credential himself and “order online only credentials.” He was not like Simon the Sorcerer. “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.” (Acts 8:18)

Conclusion:

Christian Leaders Alliance offers a low-cost training and credentialing program, including as many as possible. Further, the program consists of Biblical and rigorous training with a credible credentialing process. 

Start Your Ministry Training and Credential Program. Click Here

Offering Supported Concept 

The Bible describes the offering practice as the funding model. Each person shares as able to share. Funding ministries come out of this offering method. This offering concept has worked for Christianity since the beginning. 

Offerings supplied the needs of the Christian associations, including missions, ministries, and churches, for 2000 years. Christian Leaders Alliance aligns with this approach as much as possible. The ministry training courses are tuition-free, and the program credential costs are low. 

We have seen the blessing of God. The Vision Partners of Christian Leaders have supplied the budget for free ministry training. This approach is an ongoing faith walk. As funds are donated, the program continues. 

We invite churches, individuals, and foundations to consider supporting or partnering with this offering-supported approach.

Become a Vision Partner. Click Here

Early Church Minister Credentialing Program

You may be wondering if you could be called to be a minister. Jesus Christ now lives in you, but you may have secretly disqualified yourself. You have whispered to yourself that you:

• are not perfect enough
• have a past that is too broken
• cannot afford ministry training
• are a woman
• are damaged
• are too poor
• are too rich
• are too old

Calling to ministry often defies all common sense conventions. 

If you have disqualified yourself up to this point or have resisted the calling to ministry but “know” you are called, keep reading.

The Christian Movement Launched

The Holy Spirit launched an unlikely “saving grace” movement with surprising characters. 

• Tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus 
• Fishermen like Peter and John
• Women like Mary of Magdala, Johanna, and Phoebe
• Pharisees like Nicodemus and young zealot Saul, later named Paul. 

The mobilizing minister story of early Christianity starts moments before Jesus ascends to heaven with a promise. He promised his disciples and every disciple who has ever lived the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

This promise started the global Church and the movement of Christianity. 

 Called to Be a Witness

Do you identify with being called to be a witness? Acts gave us a “play by play” of the multiplying-ministers story. So After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, the movement of Christianity started. 

Forty days after Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit empowered more followers of Jesus on a feast day called Pentecost. These followers ministered in other languages. Peter preached and introduced a revolutionary concept for that day. 

Quoting from the prophet Joel, the prophets of this movement included daughters and sons, men and women, enslaved or free, old and young, poor and rich. All strata. 

As Jesus sent twelve ordinary men, the Holy Spirit calls and mobilizes ordinary people like you and me to be the prophets. See Acts 2:1-18.

Numbers of Christians Added

The Holy Spirit added many people in those first days of Christianity. 

The Apostles added more ministers. Barnabas signed on. Phony ministers showed themselves, like Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. They died in their deceit. Sincere and honest people are candidates for ministry. 

 As with every movement, including Christianity, needs arose. The Acts 6 conflict between widows prompted the expansion of ministry roles to include deacons. The Greek word “deacon” is the word “diakonos” The word deacon means minister or servant. 

A ministry program of fair food distribution to the widows began. This ministry program rejected racism and favoritism. Six deacons made up those ministers. They were: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus. Three decades later, we know of the first-named woman minister (deacon), Phoebe (Romans 16:1). 

Appointing Deacons – A Watershed Moment

Interestingly, appointing the deacons was a watershed moment for mobilizing and multiplying ministers. One of those appointees, Stephen, was the first martyred minister (Acts 7).

Robert M. Johnson, in a published article titled “Leadership in the Early Church During Its First Hundred Years,” pointed out,

There was only one appointive ministry. The book of Acts records no other. Since there was only one, we could call the officer either diakonos (suggested by “diakonein” in Acts 6:2), a word describing function, or (presbuteros), a word describing dignity (maturity when the appointive ministry was first begun when it was only one without any ranks in it.” (Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 17/2 (Autumn 2006): 2–17)

In other words, All appointed leaders are ministers. New ministers (diakonos) serve, grow and learn. They become elder or maturing (presbyteros) ministers. Some mature ministers become bishop (episcopos) ministers who are ministry super-spreaders. 

Multiplying Leaders Pattern

This pattern was the reproducible multiplying minister pattern that continued after the Disciples and Apostles.

As the Church expanded, the minister’s office became more distinctively separated into minister (diakonos) and bishop (episcopos). Ministers would continue their discipleship or training, and they would become more and more advanced in their leadership. They would become senior ministers in their local areas. Some of these would sense the calling to organize more ministries or churches. These leaders would become bishops (episcopos). 

In other words, ministers (diakonos) were the typical newer ministers, the elders/ministers (presbyteros) were the established ministers, and the bishops (episcopos) were the Christian movement spreaders.

Eventually, the Catholic church hierarchy, influenced by the Roman style of governing, formalized and centralized ordination. Christian Leaders Alliance uses the pre-catholic hierarchy approach, which still benefits significantly from how God used the Catholic church and other ancient churches to pass down Christianity. 

Now that you know how the early Church reproduced new ministers, the focus is on your calling. Is God stirring your heart toward a ministry role future? 

Christian Leaders Programs

Maybe you wonder about Christian Leaders Alliance?

Christian Leaders Alliance is a program of a Christian religious non-profit called “Christian Leaders Ministries” out of Largo, Florida, USA. This ministry multiplies difference-makers everywhere and offers programs that educate, mobilize, credential, connect, launch, and reproduce Christian leaders worldwide.

The seeds of Christian Leaders go back to 1993 when Amway co-founder Rich DeVos agreed to mentor Henry Reyenga and Steve Elzinga in the reproducible leadership principles Rich had discovered co-founding Amway with Jay Van Andel.

This mentorship centered on how to help Christian leaders reproduce themselves while also ministering in their spheres of influence. This mentorship asked questions centered on the ministry science of reproducing leaders who reproduce leaders. By 2001, a formal organization prompted by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center was born.

Christian Leaders Founded

Christian Leaders was founded on September 20, 2001, by Henry Reyenga, Ron Parr, and Rich DeVos and finally registered as a religious non-profit in 2005. Many leaders were instrumental as Christian Leaders launched: Pamela Reyenga, Steve Elzinga, Marty Ozinga III, Ed Van Drunen, Brian DeCook, David Feddes, and Jerry Lorenz.

Christian Leaders began exploring ways to raise reproducing grassroots Christian leaders who would reach more leaders who would reach more leaders. The strategy was developed to create training and credentialing programs around Christian and ministry topics.

“Christian Leaders” was the original name, which we use today to describe our essence.

What are the programs offered by Christian Leaders?

Christian Leaders employs three main programs: Christian Leaders Institute, Christian Leaders College, and Christian Leaders Alliance.

Christian Leaders Institute Program – Started in 2006, the Christian Leaders Institute offers tuition-free ministry training. Much of this training is college-level courses. Christian Leaders Institute will serve you well if you are a called Christian or minister and need some tuition-free courses or low-cost Ministry Awards, Certificates, and diplomas.

Christian Leaders College Program – If you need to have a degree to transfer to a Master’s degree program, check out the Christian Leaders College for a low-cost degree that has many transfer options.

Christian Leaders noticed the need for accredited college degrees for people who need those credentials. In 2019, Christian Leaders College was born. Christian Leaders College seeks accreditation with ABHE as a United States Department of Education-recognized credentialing body. Many accredited institutions accept our programs already (See current partners).

Christian Leaders Alliance Program – If you are called to study the ministry courses that precisely fit your calling and credential needs, Christian Leaders Alliance has a program that starts you out with Diakonos-level training and credentials. If you are called to progress with more advanced training, more advanced training and credentialing categories are available. The advanced categories are Presbuteros and Episcopos level training and credentialing (more on these levels later).

The Minister Credentials are overseen through the Christian Leaders Alliance, which has a Global Ministers Commission, an international commission of licensed and ordained ministers.

What is the Global Ministers Commission of the Christian Leaders Alliance? 

This Commission is the spiritual covering for the certification, licensing, and ordination process and program at Christian Leaders Alliance. We understand that many credentialed through the Christian Leaders Alliance also have local or denominational oversight for local ministry.

Global Ministers Commission provides credentialed ministers with a connecting point to encourage, inspire, and support current and future Christian Leaders Alliance minister members in their daily walk with Jesus Christ from a ministering credentialing point of view.

This Commission is led by Henry Reyenga, president of Christian Leaders, NFP., and Brian DeCook serves as the General Secretary. In serving the church worldwide, the Commission honors the diversity of opinions on women as credentialed ministers.

The Levels of Training and Credentialing at Christian Leaders Alliance

Diakonos Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

Diakonos level minister training and credentialing are for those called to ministry who want to serve their local churches and communities.

The Diakonos level of training and credentialing is inspired by the Greek word, διάκονος {dee-ak’-on-os}, which means deacon, minister, and servant.

The Diakonos program includes six roles:

• Licensed Wedding Officiant
• Field Minister (Commended)
• Licensed Minister
• Coaching Minister
• Licensed Ministry Chaplain
• Ordained Minister

Presbuteros Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

Presbuteros level minister training and credentialing are for those ministers who are advancing in their experience in ministry and in their training.

The Presbuteros level of training is inspired by the Greek word, πρεσβύτερος {pres-boo’-ter-os}, which means an elder or a maturing one.

Five more minister roles are available for those seeking more training and minister credentials. These roles are:

• Evangelist
• Professional Coaching Minister
• Pastor/Shepherd/Priest
• Bi-vocational Pastor/Shepherd/Priest
• Ordained Ministry Chaplain

The Presbuteros level of training is ideal for those seeking part-time or full-time ministry positions. This role is suited for planting a church or house church, registering a soul center, and much more.

Episcopos Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

Episcopos level minister training and credentialing are for ministers who are called to multiply Christianity at advancing levels. These minister roles match the bishops of the early church. These early bishops continued the work of the disciples and the first apostles. These bishops spread Christianity with great tenacity. Many died as martyrs.

The Episcopos level is inspired by the Greek word, ἐπίσκοπος {ep-is’-kop-os}, which means episcopate, supervisor, or bishop.

The Episcopos program includes four advanced roles, including:

• Commissioned Minister
• Apostle/Missionary
• Kingdom Chaplain
• Minister of the Word.

Ministers at this level are often serving in full-time minister positions.

Specializations

There are over thirty specializations that can be paired with all ministry roles. More on that later.

Conclusion

If God is calling you to become a volunteer, part-time, or full-time minister, please continue reading and seeking the Lord.

Christian Leaders Alliance will train and credential you in core minister roles that include Diakonos, Presbuteros, and Episcopos roles with over 30 specializations that meet more and more ministry needs.

General and specialized ministry needs exist in every community. As churches identify needs in the community, Christian Leaders Alliance will serve those churches to train and credential ministers to meet the needs and increase the impact of that local church.

Many of these specialized ministers will become movement leaders (bishop types). These movement leaders will recruit new ministers, many of whom come into ministry as volunteers or part-time ministers in a specialization.

Christian Leaders Alliance offers a “Minister Mobilization Process” to help find ways to mobilize more ministers in local communities.

Start Your Ministry Training and Credential Program. Click Here

What Credentialed Roles Are Available?

Christian Leaders Alliance has established three categories of ministry training and credentialing. Each category has roles appropriate to the ministry level.

Diakonos Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

The Diakonos level includes six core minister roles. Each core role includes appropriate training and local endorsements. This level is specifically designed for volunteer and part-time church or kingdom ministers. A church minister usually serves in a local church, and a kingdom minister usually serves through a soul center category or another ministry. The Diakonos level of training and credentialing gets called Christians into the ministry world and mobilized as Christian ministers.

Six Core Diakonos Level Roles

Officiants (1 CLI Credit) – The Officiant role begins with training and credentialing to perform local weddings. This would allow your church to launch a wedding ministry in your community. A wedding officiant must gather one recommendation.

Field Ministers (Commended) (8 CLI Credits and seven mini-courses)  – The Commended Minister program consists of several mini-courses and complete courses that prepare a volunteer minister for fruitful service in a local church. A commended minister must gather one recommendation. This program is ideal for local elders and deacons. One benefit of this program includes building on the Licensed Wedding Officiant role.

Licensed Ministers (13 CLI Credits and six mini-courses) – The Licensed Minister program consists of a well-rounded program of ministry courses, including mini-courses and college-level courses. Licensed ministers are often considered ready for part-time employment in a local church. This program requires two recommendations.

Coaching Ministers (15 CLI Credits and six mini-courses)   –  The Coaching Minister program comprises many ministry courses, coaching, and life coach training for ministry application. Coaching ministers in a local church offer the church and community another way to help people live well in Christ. This program requires two recommendations.

Licensed Ministry Chaplain (18 CLI Credits and six mini-course) – Are you called to share the presence of Christ with those in challenging circumstances? Have you seen yourself as a volunteer or part-time Ministry Chaplain? The Ministry Chaplain program is ideal for volunteers trained and licensed as clergy to serve at hospitals, fire departments, police stations, businesses, and many more places. (Career Chaplains need degrees, usually including a Master’s Degree)Licensed Ministry Chaplain

Ordained Ministers (21 CLI Credits and seven mini-courses) – The Ordained Minister program has more extensive training in ministry, including more college-level ministry courses. Ordained ministers often become volunteer, part-time and full-time ministers. This program requires the gathering of three recommendations.

Presbuteros Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

The Presbuteros credentialing level is for those interested and willing to go further in their ministry effectiveness. Four minister roles at this level require three recommendations: Evangelist, Professional Coaching Minister, Pastor, and Commissioned Minister.

Evangelist (36 CLI Credits and ten mini-courses)  – The Ordained Evangelist program is for those primarily called to reach people for Jesus Christ. The Ordained Evangelist has all the basics for being a fully ordained minister and includes many additional topics that inform and equip the called evangelist in this mission.

Professional Coaching Minister (42 CLI Credits and nine mini-courses) – This ordained coaching role gives extensive training in professional coaching. We recommend the completion of the plus practicum, where these coaching principles are further developed.

Pastor/Shepherd/Priest (52/53 CLI Credits and ten mini-courses) – This ordained Presbuteros level training and credentialing are designed for a local church pastor. This role can be called pastor, shepherd, or priest, depending on where the minister serves.

Ordained Ministry Chaplain (62 credits and twelve mini-courses) –  Ministry Chaplains serve their communities as ministers who structure their ministry efforts around chaplain expectations.

This means that these ministers understand they are not in their setting to preach sermons at a church to a congregation. They are there to minister to a diverse group of people, some of whom may seek them out to welcome the presence of God into their situation. People may seek them out for a conversation about something that is troubling them. They may not know where to turn, and they may not attend any other religious society. However, they are aware that they are a chaplain. Perhaps they are connected to a business, organization, or community.

Episcopos Level Minister Training and Credentialing Program

It is desirable to seek the Episcopos level training and credentialing as 1 Timothy 3:1 says. These roles in the early church were filled by bishops who continued the work of the apostles and spread Christianity throughout and beyond the Roman empire. There are three roles at the Episcopos training and credentialing level at Christian Leaders Alliance which all require three recommendations.

Commissioned Minister (74 CLI Credits and ten mini-courses) – This training exceeds the expectations of commissioned minister programs in many historic denominations. This program is equivalent to an associate’s degree at a ministry college.

Apostle (91 CLI Credits and ten mini-courses) – The Apostle’s role is for the kingdom multiplier. It is called the Apostle role because, like the early apostles, these mature ministers have the gift of faith and the desire to plant churches or encourage others. These are movement leaders who study the ministry science of the spread of Christianity.

Kingdom Chaplain (122 CLI Credits and 15 mini-courses) – This Episcopos-level training is not for the career chaplain. A career chaplain must complete the bachelor program at Christian Leaders College and a master’s degree at another accredited school. Kingdom Chaplains are special operations ministers who wear many hats in a community, region, or online.

Kingdom Chaplains minister to bring the presence of Christ to their spheres of influence. Kingdom Chaplains often work behind the scenes praying and serving in various venues. These venues could be:

• Volunteer Political Chaplain
• Business Chaplain
• Coaching Minister Practice
• Volunteer Ministry Chaplain
• Full-time Corporate Chaplain
• Community Developer
• Non-Profit Leader

These Kingdom Chaplains often operate a registered soul center in their community as they work behind the scenes as “ministry angels.” This rigorous program equips leaders for many operations.

Minister of the Word (123 CLI Credits and 15 mini-courses) – This Episcopos-level training and credentialing is our most extensive ministry program. A minister trained and credentialed at this level has gone over every facet of ministry.

This Minister of the Word training includes academic, ministry, and ministry skill training to minister well in a community and multiply Christianity. This position would be ideal for a church planter, senior pastor, or large church minister.

Start Your Ministry Training and Credential Program. Click Here

What Ministry Specializations Currently Exist?

These specializations apply to all Christian Leaders Alliance minister roles. For instance, you are recognized as a licensed wedding officiant (1 Credit) and a minister of the word (123 Credits), yet specialize in each role with the matchmaker specialization. Even though the Licensed Wedding Officiant is only one study credit and the Minister of the Word is 123 credits, that specialization will apply in both cases.

Ecumininistry Credentials

Christian Leaders Alliance partners with called ministers in training and with their local church or ministry and the leader mentoring them. Christian Leaders Alliance coined the word “ecuministry” as a combination of two words. One part of the word is “ecu,” which refers to “church” from the word “ecclesiastical.” The word “ministry” focuses on shared ministry as the goal. This word differs from “ecumenical”, which seeks to agree on the various Christian traditions.

Ecuministry seeks to find agreement in the places we can do ministry together. The fact is that there is much room for agreement and room to agree to disagree on many issues in Christianity. Ecuministry credentials often function as co-credentials with the local church. A called ministry candidate completes a minister credential program at Christian Leaders Alliance and receives a minister credential. A representative of the Christian Leaders Alliance signs the credential. There is also a place for the signature of a local church or ministry leader.

“We are part of a denominational church: what then?” 

If you are part of a denominational church, you will not need to involve the larger denomination in this process. Denominational churches often ordain this leader as a “deacon or elder” as it relates to the local church. Further, as it relates to community recognition, they are also credentialed through the Christian Leaders Alliance.

The local church and leaders recognize their journey in ministry training and recommend them to a local ministry. The Christian Leaders Alliance recognizes the training process at the Christian Leaders Institute and the recommendation process at the Christian Leaders Alliance. The Christian Leaders Alliance posts these leaders as credentialled ministers.

“We are a non-denominational church; what then?”

Your church recognizes the Christian Leaders Alliance credentials as accepted. You mentor the minister candidate through the process, grant local approval, and schedule a commissioning service.

Administering the Mobilization of a Minister

We recommend a few more steps in mobilizing a Christian Leaders Alliance minister. These are helpful administration procedures that complete the mobilization process.

1. Develop Volunteer or Part-time Minister Position Job Descriptions –  A job description in the work world outlines the expectations and parameters of a work role. A minister position description does similar things for volunteer or part-time positions in the local church.
2. Schedule a Commissioning Service – The Commissioning Service publicly recognizes the local minister’s training and ecuministry credentials. Ministers trained and credentialed with the Christian Leaders Alliance are encouraged to be commissioned at a local church event. President Reverend Henry Reyenga from Christian Leaders Alliance signs their credentials. An ordained leader from the local church must also sign them.
3. Schedule Effectiveness Meetings – Depending on the role, there is an expectation that these local credentialed ministers meet with church leadership for mentorship and effectiveness monitoring.

Start Your Ministry Training and Credential Program. Click Here

What about College Credentials and Minister Credentials?

Christian Leaders Alliance connects to Christian Leaders College. It is also beneficial to take a college track in your specific situation. The college track is optional for minister credentials in the Christian Leaders Alliance. Take note: Many full-time career minister positions require a college degree.

You have options.

Alliance and College Option:

With this option, you get your credentials sooner than later. Get experience in ministry as you are completing your college degree. You will notice that the Christian Leaders Alliance programs include many courses you need for a college degree later on.

The advantages of this option are:

• You get credentials sooner so that you can begin to multiply Christianity sooner.
• You gain experience in credentialed ministry sooner. For instance, the first minister credential level is the licensed wedding officiant with only one course and one recommendation. If you can lead couples to prepare for their marriages and perform weddings, this is an excellent experience for later advanced ministry roles. Next, you can become a field minister, then a licensed minister. Soon you may be credentialed as an evangelist. Eventually, you could be a Minister of the Word in the Christian Leaders Alliance.
• You get to be part of the Christian Leaders Alliance the whole time you work toward your college degree. If you cannot complete your degree, your study already offers minister credentialing value.
• This option often suits older called Christians who have life experience and now want to get the training to make them more effective.

College Priority Option:

With this option, you put your advanced minister credentials on hold until your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. However, you should complete some diakonos level (core) minister credentials while you get your college degree.

With this option, your main priority is completing your degrees, but you are still dipping your toe in the water of ministry.

The advantages of this option are:

• You can stay focused on getting the college degrees needed in your context while still testing to see if ministry suits you.
• There are career ministry callings that require advanced degrees. If you are serving the Lord in a traditional denomination, you are usually required to have a bachelor’s and Master’s degree education. Christian Leaders College is a low-cost option if you still need a bachelor’s degree. Many Seminaries welcome the Christian Leaders College degree even though Christian Leaders College is still on the USDE accreditation journey. Another calling where you often need advanced degrees, and clinical training is “career chaplain.” Christian Leader College has partner Colleges and Universities where you can complete your Chaplain expectations.

College Only Option:

With this option, you are reading this guidebook for later consideration. In addition, you can check our low-cost Bachelor’s Degree options at Christian Leaders College.

The advantages of the option are:

• Stay out of debt while you get your college degree. Many degree programs are perfect for Christians who want a solid Biblical degree. Home-schooling and debt-free-minded families often benefit from this college program,
• We have also noticed that some existing ministers or academically inclined Christians find low-cost credentials attractive for their goals.

Start Your Ministry Training and Credential Program. Click Here

Existing Credential Ministers Are Welcome to Affiate with Christian Leaders Alliance? 

Are you an Ordained minister, Ordained Minister, Ordained Pastor, or Minister of the Word who has completed your ministry training at a Bible School, Bible College, or Seminary?  

Were you previously licensed or ordained with another denomination or church religious society (non-denominational church)?

Would you like to affiliate with Christian Leaders Alliance as a good-standing minister? 

Christian Leaders Alliance welcomes credentialed Christian leaders to join the Alliance in a minister role similar to what you are currently holding with your current or previous religious society, whether that society is a denomination, non-denominational church, or Christian ministry. 

This minister credentialing program for minister affiliation and recognition fits you if: 

• You are looking to affiliate with a global religious society.
• You are looking for a worldwide religious organization that allows you to keep your credentials in your current religious society or only at Christian Leaders Alliance. Christian Leaders Alliance enables you to hold dual credentials if you choose that. 
• A local church ordained you, but you moved to another location. Therefore, you would like to keep your minister credentials in good standing. 
• You know or are a mentor to students of the Christian Leaders Institute and ministers of the Christian Leaders Alliance, and you are interested in pursuing the minister credential program for yourself. 
• You are interested in registering a soul center for your ministry work. 

Courses Program Requirements: 

• Calling and Connection Course (1 Credit) or Christian Leaders Connection Course (3 Credits)
• Recognizing Ministers With Credentials (1 Credit)

Steps to Affiliate (this course will walk you through):

1. Complete the courses program requirements
2. Demonstrate your Bible School, Bible College, and Seminary Credentials. 
3. Establish your good standing as a minister. You will need to submit three recommendations. 
4. Review and agree to the statement of faith 
5. Complete an interview with a representative of the Christian Leaders Alliance. 
6. Order your Active Credentials. 
7. Learn about the Soul Center Local Registration Opportunity.

Credential Role Received:

Affiliated Minister: This recognizes that you are now a minister in good standing with the Christian Leaders Alliance. You will be listed in our minister directory, allowed to purchase your credential package and register a soul center.

What About Women as Ministers?

Ordained Women Ministers Are Allowed And Encouraged

The debate on whether ministry-trained women are allowed to be ministers has raged throughout history and in various faith communities.

Christian Leader Alliance enthusiastically encourages the training and credentialing of women ministers. Why?

Ordained Women Ministers Are Allowed Based on the Pentecost Sermon

The first sermon of Peter on Pentecost mentioned that women have a role as gospel messengers.

Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead and forty days later ascended on high, the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Inside the house, a violent wind and tongues of fire spread and came to rest on each disciple. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.

Outside, the wind and fire were noticed by the God-fearing Jews from other nations that were in Jerusalem. Acts 2:7-11 recounts,

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who arespeaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

The question on everyone’s mind was: What does this all mean? Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12) Some people interpreted the scene as out of control. Maybe alcohol was involved. They mocked them.

Peter, the early spokesman for the new Christian movement, filled with the Holy Spirit, gave the first Christian sermon. He began:

“You men of Judea, and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and listen to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

Peter had the stage, and his next lines disruptively identified the future leaders of this new movement.

No, this is what was spoken in the prophet Joel:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:15-18

The message was simple.

Everyone who called on Jesus would be saved. Later in his Pentecost message, Peter centers the new movement on one central truth. Jesus rose from the dead.

God has raised Jesus to life, and we have all witnessed this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2:32-33

Peter’s message ended with a call to repent and be baptized.

Christian Leaders Alliance recognizes that in these last days, ministry-trained men and women are called to be messengers.

Ordained Women Ministers Allowed Based On Roman 16

The Apostle Paul mobilized educated women ministers.

As the Apostle Paul raised another generation of Christian leaders to spread Christianity beyond the first apostles, he included educated women ministers.

How did he launch Christianity beyond himself?

As he spread Christianity on his missionary journeys, he recruited, educated, and ministry-trained men and women to help.

One of the educated and ministry-trained women he recruited was Phoebe.

Phoebe was a well-educated woman with resources from Cenchrea, a coastal town near Corinth. Paul describes her as a great help; Greek means a benefactor to the Apostle Paul and others. When Paul sent one of his letters, he carefully picked his messenger. This educated woman carried the letter from Paul to the Roman believers.

Paul picked Phoebe to answer any questions. Was this possibly considered out of the ordinary? Yes. So, Paul writes,

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a (DIAKONOS), that is a deacon, a minister, and a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. Romans 16:1-2

Throughout history, it has been debated whether or not Paul meant that Phoebe was a servant, deacon, or minister here. The word used here is “diakonos.” Most scholars agree that she was a “diakonos” or a minister.

It is essential to acknowledge that Paul put a high premium on those who received education and ministry training.

A short distance from Cenchrea was Corinth. The general pattern of education in those days excluded women or, more likely, wives from schooling. The gospel includes both men and women, but the leaders were usually educated men. Roman law did not promote women’s education or encourage women’s role in society’s development. Most women were not educated, so Paul generalizes that reality. We read in 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

At that time and that day, only a few women were educated and trained in ministry. Phoebe was one of the few. She was the minister who carried the book of Romans to Rome.

Paul promoted other women like Priscilla (Romans 16:3). Paul mentioned Junia in Romans 16:6, calling her remarkable among the apostles. Richard Bauckham proposes that Junia is the Latin name for Joanna, an early supporter (Luke 8:3) and disciple of Jesus who was at the empty tomb (Luke 24:10). (Bauckham, Richard. Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels. Eerdsmans, 2002, pp. 172-80)

Women ministers are allowed based on 1 Timothy 3:11

Some might disagree that Paul allows women ministers based on 1 Timothy 3:11. Others may see the possibility, and others might agree that the Apostle Paul refers to women ministers in this passage.

Modern translators usually translate 1 Timothy 3:11 as referring to the wives of deacons, not to women deacons. Remember, the deacon is the word diakonos, where we get the word minister. Let’s look at the original Greek text and then some translations.

1 Timothy 3:11  γυναῖκας (gunakas – woman or wife)  ὡσαύτωςσεμνάς, μὴδιαβόλους, νηφαλίους, πιστὰςἐνπᾶσιν.

Wives-only Translation Option: 

New International Version Translation – 1 Timothy 3:11     In the same way, their wives, are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

Women Minister Option

American Standard Version  – 1 Timothy 3:11  Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Here is the issue: The Greek word γυναῖκας (gunakas) means either women or wives, depending on how you read the context to interpret the meaning.

Many of the earliest commentators in the early church opted for the women minister option, and these women could marry.

Take, for instance, John Chrysostom. John was born in 347 and died in 407. He was the archbishop of Constantinople and Antioch. This was a Greek-speaking place that read the New Testament in ordinal Greek.  Men and women at these places in the early church were credentialed as married, single women, and single men.

Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiekin in their book Ordained Women in the Early Church, quote John Chrysostom and then make further comments on John Chrysostom Homily 11 on 1 Timothy 3:11,

 “Likewise women must be modest, not slanderers, sober, faithful in everything.” Some say that he is talking about women in general. But that cannot be. Why would he want to insert in the middle of what he is saying something about women? But rather, he is speaking of those women who hold the rank of deacon. “Deacons should be husbands of one wife.”  This is also appropriate for women deacons (diakonoi), for it is necessary, good, and right, most especially in the church. (John Chrysostom)

John’s point is still disputed in the interpretation of the text from Timothy. Here the commentator is clear about which option he favors. Female deacons or deaconesses were well known in John’s churches in Antioch and Constantinople. His application of the one-marriage rule to women deacons suggests that in late-fourth-century Antioch, they were allowed to marry and so need not have been celibate. (Madigan, Kevin; Osiek, Carolyn. Ordained Women in the Early Church (p. 19). Johns Hopkins University Press. Kindle Edition)

The eastern church centers of Constantinople and Antioch ordained men and woman ministers who read the original Greek New Testament. As John Chrysostom read 1 Timothy 3:11, he only wanted to clarify that women ministers (deacons) must only have one husband.

This brings us to another point. There is much evidence in the early church that women were credentialed as ministers.

Ordained Women Ministers Are Allowed Based On The Historical Early Church Practice

The early church credentialed numerous women ministers (diakonai).

The first documented deacon minister was Phoebe, seen in Romans 16:1. Historical documents, recent research, and archeology have uncovered a preponderance of evidence showing the common practice of ordaining women in the church. This practice happened until the 1200s in the Catholic church. (Women Deacons: Gary Macy. Paulist Press. 2011. Page 28.)

Enslaved Women Mentioned As Ministers

Pliny the Younger was a prolific writer whose epistles have survived. He died in 113 AD. About three years before he died in 110 (AD), he wrote to Emporer Trajan about the spread of Christianity and the procedure for punishing confessing Christians. He is alarmed at the spread of Christianity. He commented,

For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. Georgetown University

He arrested people in Bithynia (northern Turkey) accused of being Christian. Some recanted, and he let them go. Others did not, and he executed them. As Pliny tells of his dealings, he mentions the arrest and torture of two female slaves. He writes,

Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called “ministers.” But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.

What? The Christians were educating and ordaining women slaves as ministers! By 110 AD, the training system for women included not only higher society women like Phoebe but also women slaves.

Only 80 years after the resurrection of Jesus, the prophecy of Joel mentioned at Pentecost by Peter had come true.

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy (Acts 2:18)

Montanist Movement Credentialed Women

The Montanist movement (circa 150 AD) in the early church included the ordination of women ministers and women bishops. These Montanist leaders encouraged the mobilization of Godly men or women to serve in ministry. This movement was ultimately not supported and was condemned but not because of the use of women’s gifts. Dr. Alan Wheatly suggests that,

The Montanist phenomenon points strongly to a reaction to increasing clerical dominance, to an insistence that authentic Christian practice included a broad spectrum of participants, including women and to the work of the Holy Spirit as invigorating such breadth of involvement. (Wheatley, Alan B.. Patronage in Early Christianity: Its Use and Transformation from Jesus to Paul of Samosata (Princeton Theological Monograph Series Book 160) (p. 100). Pickwick Publications, an Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The Montanists also included women who were Bishop (episcopos) Ministers. Ordinarily, men occupied the role of Bishop (episcopos) in those days. Perhaps the traveling for Bishops made it unsafe for women in the Roman empire. We see wealthy women like Phoebe from the book of Romans as exceptions.

There are many tomb inscriptions of women deacon ministers and even women bishops. For a detailed and extensive study, a documentary history of “diakonos” ministers in the church’s history, purchase Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek’s Ordained Women in the Early Church.

Takeaways

1. Based on the overwhelming evidence of the inclusion of women in ministry from the book Acts and other writings of the Apostle Paul, married and single women are allowed to be credentialed ministers.
2. Church history is friendly to the inclusion of credentialed women.
3. Christian Leaders Alliance enthusiastically endorses credentialing married and single women as ministers.

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This Statement of Faith was settled on when Christian Leaders Institute began offering classes in 2006. Since then, the Christian Leaders statement of faith has guided the development of the classes and worldview.