A. Rules for Licensure
1. The Candidacy Committee may grant licensure to conduct
religious services in our churches only to such as
a. are approved as students for minister of the Word and enrolled
in a seminary program.
b. have successfully completed the nal examinations of one
full year of seminary including work in biblical, theological,
and preaching courses.
2. The Candidacy Committee shall not grant licensure to such
students until it has made sure of the following with respect to
such applicants:
a. That they are members in good standing in our churches.
b. That they have spiritual qualifications necessary for the
ministry, and that they consider themselves called of God to
prepare themselves for the of ce of ministering the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
c. That they intend to enter the ministry of the Christian
Reformed Church.
d. That they have sufficient knowledge of the Bible, and
especially of our Reformed principles, to act as a guide to
others.
e. That they speak acceptably and to the edification of the
churches. It is left to the discretion of the Candidacy
Committee, however, whether it will obtain this information by
consulting the seminary faculty or by examining the
applicant.
3. The Candidacy Committee has the right to extend the licensure
of those who want to take post-graduate work, but with the
understanding
a. that this privilege is to be granted to those who are taking
post-graduate work and declare that it is their definite
intention to enter the ministry of the Christian Reformed
Church.
b. that this extension is valid for no more than one year.
c. that further extension may be given at the end of the first
year in case the applicant makes a request in writing, and at the
end of the second year if applicants appear in person and are
willing to submit to another examination (the latter part of this
Rule 3, c does not apply to those who are taking post-
graduate work outside of the United States or Canada).
4. The Candidacy Committee is obliged to revoke the licensure
a. of those who have completed their theological studies but have
failed to take steps to enter into the sacred ministry of the
Word.
b. of those undergraduates who either discontinue their studies
or fail to enroll again at the seminary.
(Acts of Synod 1936, pp. 46-48)
(Amended Acts of Synod 2004, pp. 619-20)
(Amended Acts of Synod 2010, p. 909)
B. Licensure of International Students
1. The student must be a communicant member of a sound Reformed
church and must be a regular or special student at our
seminary.
2. The student must have sufficient training at our school so
that the faculty can make a recommendation regarding their
academic competence and ability to speak fluent English.
3. The student must have completed the course in homiletics
required of our students or passed an equivalent course in some
other school, and must demonstrate the ability to exhort to the
satisfaction of our professor in homiletics.
4. The request for licensure must be sent to the Candidacy
Committee.
5. The Candidacy Committee or its designees must interview the
applicant.
6. The exhorting of the student must be under the auspices of
Calvin Theological Seminary; the student may not make individual
arrangements.
7. Licensure will be in force while the student is enrolled as a
student at Calvin Theological Seminary. Extension of licensure
must be made by special application.
(Acts of Synod 1961, p. 36)