Credential Information

Anyone who becomes a member of Liberty Fellowship of Churches and Ministers, Inc., will be ordained, provisionally ordained, licensed or ordained for missionary service. The Liberty Fellowship Presbytery has established the following qualifying guidelines for these credentials. Before ordaining or recognizing the ordination of any member, one of the following qualifications must be met.

1. Must have the full responsibilities as senior pastor of a congregation with approved amount of Bible training and/or proven ministry.
2. Must have completed formal Bible training and proven ministry for at least one year, during which time the ministry showed sufficient fruit to confirm their “call” as defined in Ephesians 4:11, or
3. Must have been previously ordained by a credible ordination board, with a number of years as a proven minister of the gospel. The Presbytery will simply recognize and affirm the present ordination by issuing a Liberty Fellowship
4. ordination certificate.

The Liberty Fellowship Presbytery has established a “Provisional Ordination” which will be issued to those who do not meet the qualifications of regular ordination. A letter from the senior pastor requesting the ordination and assuming the responsibility for oversight is required.

Provisional Ordination Limitations:

1. Valid only under the oversight of a Liberty Fellowship pastor, District Overseer or an approved senior pastor, and ministry is restricted to that local church or mission field. If the person moves to a new location, under a different pastor, the ordination becomes invalid immediately unless arrangements have been made with the District Overseer.
2. The customary “laying on of hands” by the Presbytery will not take place until a regular ordination certificate is issued. The Liberty Fellowship Presbytery has also established a “Licensing” which will be issued to those who do not meet the qualifications of either regular
3. or provisional ordination. This basically includes those who are serving in an apprenticeship position, a novice in the ministry, or anyone not serving in a five-fold leadership position as defined in Ephesians 4.

1. The customary “laying on of hands” by the Presbytery will not take place until a regular ordination certificate is issued.
2. Officiating a marriage will not be permitted unless a regularly ordained minister is present to participate. The Liberty Fellowship Presbytery has also established an “Ordination for
3. Missionary Service” that is for men and women who are performing Christian Ministry on a global basis. It is being issued to help them with the requirements for entry into the nation of service and other requirements.

1. This is not an ordination for Pastoral Ministry but entirely for missionary work.
2. It will be valid while working under the auspices of a Liberty Fellowship recognized Missions board and/or sending agency.
3. Upon completion/termination of missionary ministry and a return to live in country of residence, this ordination will be re-evaluated.

These are the major considerations for ordination, provisional ordination, license and ordination for missionary service by the Liberty Fellowship Presbytery. We reserve the right to make other considerations; and exceptions may be made on an individual basis.