CREDENTIALING

Is it time to recognize the Divine Call of God on your life?

FULLFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION TOGETHER

Credentialing with the Assemblies of God

In the PMN Credentialing Department, we acknowledge that credentialing is not only the official and legal recognition of a Minister of the Gospel, but the recognition of a Divine Call of God on a person’s life. It allows individuals to establish a rich connection to a family of ministers, as well as to an organization that offers support, covering, and accountability. The Assemblies of God has three levels of credentials: Certified, Licensed and Ordained, each with it’s own unique qualifications and education requirements. Following God's call in the Potomac Ministry Network requires a growing force of gifted and committed laborers, and we would be delighted to have a conversation with you as you pursue God's call to ministry. 

Looking for PMN Education Opportunities? Click here.

Looking for PMN Education Opportunities? Click here.

CERTIFIED

Those who wish to have Certified Level Credentials must show promise of usefulness in the gospel work. They shall devote a part of their time to Christian ministry and, at the discretion of the district credentials committees, remain under the supervision of a pastor or a designated supervisor.  They shall be actively engaged in some aspect of ministry except in case of ill health or advanced age.

LEVELS OF CREDENTIALING

LICENSED

Those who wish to have Licensed Level Credentials must have clear evidence of a divine call, a practical experience in preaching, together with an evident purpose to devote one’s time to the ministry the gospel, except in case of ill health or infirmity.  This credential is required before advancing to Ordination.

ORDAINED

Qualifications for Ordination are outlined in the New Testament scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:7-9).  They shall be persons of mature Christian experience who are qualified and able to undertake the responsibilities of the full ministry. Applicants must be 23 years of age or older, an active member of PMN for no less than one year prior to ordination, and have two years of approved AG ministry as a Licensed Minister. (If licensed in another district, approval to proceed with ordination must be received from former district.)

QUALIFICATIONS FOR CREDENTIALS (ALL LEVELS)

  • SALVATION

    SALVATION

    Testimony of having experienced the new birth (John 3:5).

  • BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

    BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

    Testimony to having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4).

  • EVIDENCE OF CALL

    EVIDENCE OF CALL

    Clear evidence of a divine call to ministry, evidence by a personal conviction, confirmed by the work of the Spirit and the testimony of fellow ministers.

  • CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

    CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

    A blameless Christian life and good report of those who are without (Titus 1:7, I Timothy 3:7). This includes in practical detail that all applicants must state a willingness to abstain from using tobacco, alcohol, illegal or recreational drugs in any form, and involvement with pornography or gambling.

  • DOCTRINAL POSITION

    DOCTRINAL POSITION

    A thorough understanding of and agreement with the doctrinal position of the Assemblies of God as contained in the Statement of Fundamental Truths.

  • ASSEMBLIES OF GOD POLITY

    ASSEMBLIES OF GOD POLITY

    A satisfactory working knowledge of the principles, practices and purposes of the Fellowship through a study of the General Council and Potomac Ministry Network Constitution and Bylaws.

  • COMMITMENT TO THE FELLOWSHIP

    COMMITMENT TO THE FELLOWSHIP

    An active loyalty to the constitutional agreements, a cooperative spirit, and a readiness to seek and receive the counsel of those in positions of authority.

  • ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

    ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

    Successful completion of [# years*] study as a Biblical Studies or Ministry major at an Assemblies of God Institute/College or successful completion of the Global University courses as required by the General Council for Ordained Minister. (*Certified: 2 yr; Licensed: 3 yr; Ordained: 4 yr)

STEPS FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS

  • 1. APPLICANT SURVEY

    1. APPLICANT SURVEY

    Whether applying for Certified or Licensed, click below to complete our Applicant Survey Form or download a printable copy here. We will ask for your full name, home address and the name of your Potomac Network church and pastor.

    TAKE THE SURVEY
  • 2. UPLOAD TRANSCRIPTS

    2. UPLOAD TRANSCRIPTS

    All applicants must meet the appropriate educational requirements for the level of credentials being sought. Upload your transcripts here to determine if you’ve satisfied the requirements. You will receive an email indicating if further courses are needed or if you can proceed to the next step. Return to this form as often as needed to upload new transcripts as courses are completed.

    UPLOAD TRANSCRIPTS
  • 3. PASTORAL REFERENCE & INTAKE INTERVIEW

    3. PASTORAL REFERENCE & INTAKE INTERVIEW

    Once you receive confirmation that all academic requirements have been met, our office will gather a Pastoral Reference for you, as well as provide instructions on how to schedule an Intake Interview with your Presbyter. Our office can provide contact information, but the candidate must coordinate the interview. Once we have received approval by the Presbyter, you can proceed to the next step.

    REQUEST UPDATE
  • 4. APPLICATION FEE PAYMENT ($100)

    4. APPLICATION FEE PAYMENT ($100)

    Choose a payment option and send payment confirmation to our office once complete.

    Pay online: Visit the link below and select "Credential Fees" for $100. Pay by cash or check: Mailed to: 14525 John Marshall Highway, Gainesville, VA 20156, with check payable to Potomac Ministry Network.

    PAY ONLINE

  • 5. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

    Once we receive confirmation of payment, you will be sent the Application Packet (via DocuSign). Gather the following items to upload digitally with your packet:

    - A photo of yourself
    - A copy of your Social Security card
    - A copy of your transcripts
    - A copy of your driver’s license
    - One of the following identification documents: driver's license, passport, resident permit, state ID card

    NOTE: If married, you spouse will also need to verify identity and complete a form.

    REQUEST UPDATE
  • 6. INFORMATION GATHERING

    6. INFORMATION GATHERING

    Upon receiving all necessary documentation as part of your Application Packet, our office will proceed to gather final information.

    This step involves collecting references and a background check report.

    PMN will contact your provided references. Please inform your references that they will be contacted by crainey@potomacag.org.

    REQUEST UPDATE
  • 7. REQUIRED EXAMS

    7. REQUIRED EXAMS

    Once all documentation is complete, you will take the required exams (depending on the approved level). Our office will provide a link to register for the exam. Study guides are available below. These exams are separate from your educational course exams and are required by the General Council. Begin studying early. If you are over 65 years old, you are exempt from taking exams. After a failed exam, you must wait one month before retaking.

    VIEW STUDY GUIDES
  • 8. FINAL INTERVIEW

    8. FINAL INTERVIEW

    After passing the exams, you will receive information about scheduling a final interview with your Executive Presbyter. Interviews are based on the Executive Presbyter’s availability. Prepare for the interview by reviewing any concepts missed on the exams.

    REQUEST UPDATE

  • 9. BOARD DECISION

    After a successful final interview, your file will be presented to the Potomac Ministry Network Board for recommendation. The PMN Board will then make a recommendation to the General Council based on their findings and the supplied documentation.

    REQUEST UPDATE
  • 10. CERTIFICATE MAILING

    10. CERTIFICATE MAILING

    Upong the General Council's approval of your application, they will send your certificate and membership card to Potomac Ministry Network, who will forward them to you via U.S. mail. All candidates are recognized publicly during our annual spring LEAD Conference.

    REQUEST UPDATE

STEPS FOR UPGRADING CREDENTIALS

If this is not your first-time applying for credentials with the Potomac Ministry Network, follow the links below to explore upgrading. The initiative to upgrade your credential must be taken by you, the credential holder. Processing requirements to upgrade your credential is 4 months, depending on the timing for application submission. 

Once you have met the educational requirements and uploaded your transcripts, please contact us to request credential upgrade application materials. The application process to upgrade your credential shares similarities with the application process for a new credential. Once your completed application packet is received and processed, you will be contacted regarding scheduling your credential upgrade written exam for the level of credential you are pursuing and subsequently be interviewed by the credentials committee.

REQUEST TRANSCRIPT REVIEW

REQUEST UPGRADE: LICENSED

REQUEST UPGRADE: ORDAINED

FAQs

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  • The application fee is $100.

  • ●      Yes, for the Certified and/or License levels of credentialing. If entering at the Certified level, a candidate takes a Bible Knowledge exam and a Doctrine exam. If a candidate is entering directly at License level they’ll take the Bible Knowledge and Doctrine exams as well as a Polity exam. If a candidate is upgrading from Certified to License level they will only take the Polity exam.

  • The timeline varies for each individual and can take several months. Factors that influence the duration include:

    • Time to complete educational requirements.

    • Speed of reference submissions.

    • Time needed to gather supporting documents.

    • Timeliness in completing exams.

    • Promptness in responding to correspondence.

    • Availability of Presbyter Panels to conduct interviews.

  • BIB 114 Christ in the Synoptic Gospels

    BIB 121 Introduction to Hermeneutics: How to Interpret the Bible

    BIB 212 New Testament Survey

    BIB 214 Old Testament Survey

    MIN 171 A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model

    MIN 181 Relationships and Ethics

    MIN 191 Beginning Ministerial Internship

    THE 114 Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine

    THE 142 Assemblies of God History, Missions, and Governance

    THE 211 Introduction to Theology

  • BIB 115 Acts: The Holy Spirit at Work

    BIB 117 Prison Epistle

    BIB 215 Romans: Justification by Faith

    MIN 123 The Local Church in Evangelism

    MIN 223 Introduction to Homiletics

    MIN 251 Effective Leadership

    MIN 261 Introduction to Assemblies of God Missions

    MIN 281 Conflict Management for Church Leaders

    MIN 291 Intermediate Ministerial Internship

    THE 245 Eschatology: A Study of Things to Come

  • BIB 313 The Corinthian Correspondence

    BIB 318 The Pentateuch

    BIB 322 The Poetic Books

    MIN 325 Preaching in the Contemporary World

    MIN 327 Church Administration,  Finance, and Law

    MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry

    MIN 391 Advanced Ministerial Internship

    THE 311 Prayer and Worship

  • Recognizing the tremendous diversity of the Body of Christ and the ministers God is raising up, educational requirements for credentials with the Assemblies of God can be met through a variety of customizable training venues.

    The Potomac Network is pleased to offer all the necessary credentialing courses through our Education Department, but you can also explore outside opportunities.

    To begin your search for accredited course work from quality institutions across the nation, visit Assemblies of God Colleges or Universities, including correspondence and online opportunities through Global University.

    Global University offers the same courses on a non-accredited basis for a substantially lower cost through Berean School of the Bible. Global University also offers a 20% tuition discount to those currently pursuing credentials.

  • If you have completed theological coursework at non-Assemblies of God Institutions/Colleges, please click here to upload your transcript. Courses will be evaluated against the Global University course requirements. Credit will be given based on this evaluation.

  • No. Please contact the administrator for your educational institution to obtain a copy of your transcript and upload them here to our Credentialing office for review.

  • No, but you must meet all educational requirements for the first two levels before applying for the second level.

  • No, intake interviews are only for first-time credential applicants.

  • While history with divorce and remarriage is not an automatic disqualifiier from credentialing, it can be in certain cases.

    We believe it is possible to maintain Biblical standards for ministry and marriage, while at the same time offering a compassionate response to those who are called into ministry yet have a divorce or remarriage in their personal history.

    Perhaps these circumstances occurred before you came to Christ. Perhaps you entered into marriage based upon fraudulent or deceptive circumstances, or a divorce occurred due to infidelity or abandonment by your former spouse.

    In any case, these are painful circumstances that should not necessarily disqualify you from fulfilling God’s call upon your life.

  • Divorce Reviews are required for remarried candidates with a divorce in their history, where the previous spouse is still living. This applies whether either party in the remarriage has a previous living spouse.

  • Not necessarily. The Divorce Review process helps determine if there is a path forward based on the biblical recognitions available in the General Council Bylaws. General Council reviews divorce cases under four circumstances: abandonment of the believer by the unbeliever, infidelity, pre-conversion divorce, domestic violence, and spousal or child abuse.

  • Not necessarily. This is part of the application process, but further documentation may be required.  Our credential specialist will be glad to help with these special circumstances.

  • Potomac Ministry Network (PMN) provides a recommendation; the General Council has the final approval.

  • Upon approval, your responsibilities include Network financial support through tithing, participation in PMN events, annually renewing your credential, and payment of General Council dues.

    1. Please renew your credentials online every year in November or December.  Deadline is December 31st. Click here for the RENEWAL LINK. 

    2.  Give 75% of your tithe and offerings to PMN. You can set this up online as a one-time or recurring offering on the GIVING page.

    3. Pay your dues to the General Council. Call contributions at 1-877- 840-4800. You can request to pay it all at once or you may set up a payment plan.

  • By action of their respective deliberate bodies, ministers are expected to give financial support to the Potomac Ministry Network and the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

    Potomac AG ministers send 75% of their tithe on all income, on a monthly basis, to the Potomac Ministry Network, and support the General Council as noted in the “Potomac Ministry Network Bylaws Article IV. Fiduciary Stewardship 2. Agreements a.” and the “General Council Bylaws Article VII. Ministry, Section 10. f.”

    The required minimum is:

    • Ordained: $25/month ($300/year)

    • Licensed: $20/month ($240/year)

    • Certified: $10/month ($120/year)

    Compliance with the above requirements shall be a prerequisite for renewal of credentials of all active ministers. If their contributions are in arrears, they shall be given opportunity to meet this deficit with their renewal.

ADDITIONAL LINKS & RESOURCES

THE CALL

Ultimately, the call is God’s invitation.

Call is different for everyone.  God calls people at all stages and times of their lives. The Invitation is to proclaim the Gospel, live the Gospel, be transformed by the Gospel.

Call means you have gifts and talents that are needed in the church and in the world. We call this ministry. What you are called to is different for everyone. Some are called to teacher, prison chaplain, missionary, etc. - but all become messengers of the Gospel. Pastors are called to a lifetime of ministry service, scripture, and leadership. Pastors are authorized to preach and teach God's Word, to administer the ordinances of Baptism and Communion, and to order the life of the church for mission and ministry.

The Potomac Ministry Network wants to partner with you in answering God's call…

Contact

CORIE RAINEY
Credentialing Specialist
crainey@potomacag.org

Links

AG Credentials: ag.org
AG Ordination: Position Papers
AG Constitution & Bylaws: Link
PMN Constitution & Bylaws: Downloads

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