Ministerial Studies Program
Due to recent action by the General Presbytery, the course requirements for Ministerial Studies will be changing over the next three years. The new requirements for the first level (Certified Minister) went into effect August 1, 2005. This information shows both the current requirements and the new requirements for each level. The new requirements for License and Ordination will be effective January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007, respectively. Any student who has begun any level on the current program will be allowed to complete that level before moving to the new program. Some courses may need to be substituted depending on availability.

Upon completion of the Ministerial Studies courses, you will have met the minimum academic requirements to apply for credentials. Successful completion of these courses should prepare you for credentialing interviews and tests.

Four Year Assembly of God College or University
Any student of one of our Assemblies of God colleges or universities with a biblical studies, ministerial studies, or other church-related major (as defined by the Commission on Higher Education) which includes a course on A/G History, Missions and Governance and who has studied 2 years, has met the educational requirements for Certified Minister credentials; 3 years – License to Preach; and 4 years – Ordination.

Education Options
If you have not attended one of our Assembly of God schools, there are several ways to complete the required courses for the credential you are seeking:

1. Global University, our Assemblies of God correspondence school;
2. Through an endorsed Assemblies of God postsecondary school; our District school is Bethany University, located at 800 Bethany Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (2-4 year programs leading to accredited B.A. degree and ministerial credentials) or,
3. A seminary, college, bible college, or school approved by the District Credentials Committee.
4. If you attended other schools, we are happy to evaluate your transcript.

Global University courses may be taken at the Institute Level or College Level. However, if you wish to receive academic credit, you must take the courses at the college level.

Berean School of the Bible under Global University offers the majority of these courses via the Internet. Visit http://www.globaluniversity.edu for more details or call 1-800-443-1083. For more information on The New Berean visit http://thenewberean.com.

If you are interested in more information on the credentialing process, please see the Credentialing Procedures information or call the Credentials Administrator's office at (916) 379-9600 x121.

CERTIFIED MINISTER

Requirements BEFORE August 1, 2005

BIB 103		Old Testament Survey
BIB 113		New Testament Survey
BIB 152		Life of Christ
THE 113		Introduction to Theology
THE 141		Biblical Theology of Prayer
THE 156		History of A/G Missions
MIN 105		How to Study the Bible
MIN 232		Marriage and Family
MIN 213		Soul Winning
MIN 323		Sermon Preparation
MIN 357		A/G History and Polity

Requirements AFTER August 1, 2005

BIB 112		Synoptic Gospels: The Life & Teachings of Christ
THE 114		Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine
BIB 115		Acts: The Holy Spirit at Work in Believers
BIB 117		Prison Epistles: Eph, Col, Philip, & Philemon
BIB 121		Intro. To Hermeneutics: How to Interpret the Bible
MIN 123		The Local Church in Evangelism
MIN 181		Relationships & Ethics in Ministry * (MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry may be substituted during 2005)
THE 142		A/G History, Missions, and Governance
MIN 191		Beginning Ministerial Internship

LICENSED TO PREACH
(Current students advancing from “Old Certified Minister” program see Transitional Plan)

Requirements BEFORE January 1, 2006

BIB 232		Encountering the Book of Genesis
BIB 241		Understanding the Psalms
BIB 254		Acts of the Holy Spirit
BIB 316		Geography of the Holy Land
THE 221		Systematic Theology I
THE 222		Systematic Theology II
THE 351		History of the Church
MIN 145		Church Leadership and Administration
MIN 344		Developing the Expository Sermon
MIN 417		Ministerial Ethics
MIN 441		Leadership in Christian Education

Requirements AFTER January 1, 2006

THE 211		Intro to Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective
BIB 212		New Testament Survey
BIB 214		Old Testament Survey
BIB 215		Romans: Justification by Faith
MIN 221		Introduction to Homiletics
THE 245		Eschatology: A Study of Things to Come
MIN 251		Leadership Skills
MIN 281		Conflict Resolution *
MIN 291		Intermediate Ministerial Internship
*** ***		A/G Missions (Estimate January 1, 2007)

ORDINATION

Requirements BEFORE January 1, 2007

BIB 256		Romans
BIB 259		I and II Corinthians
BIB 378		Apologetics: Understanding and Defending Your Faith
BIB 421		Isaiah
THE 243		Eschatology
MIN 111		Biblical Counseling
MIN 333		Cults, World Religions, and the New Age Movement
MIN 337		Cross-Cultural Communications
MIN 341		Theology and Practice of Worship
MIN 371		Church and Law
MIN 411		Pastoral Theology

Requirements AFTER January 1, 2007

THE 311		Prayer and Worship
BIB 313		The Corinthian Correspondence
BIB 318		Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
BIB 322		Poetic Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Solomon
MIN 325		Preaching in Cultural Context
MIN 327		Church Administration, Law, and Finance
MIN 381		Pastoral Ministry *
MIN 391		Advanced Ministerial Internship

SPECIALIZED MINISTRY LICENSE

The General Council Credentials Committee issues a Specialized License for those who wish to pursue a specific field of ministry such as minister of Christian education, minister of music, youth ministries or children's minister, etc.

Core Courses AFTER August 1, 2005

BIB 112		Synoptic Gospels: The Life and Teachings of Christ
THE 114		Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine
BIB 115		Acts: The Holy Spirit at Work in Believers
BIB 117		Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon
BIB 121		Intro. to Hermeneutics: How to Interpret the Bible
THE 113		Introduction to Theology
MIN 123		The Local Church in Evangelism
THE 142		A/G History, Missions, and Governance
MIN 181		Relationships and Ethics in Ministry (MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry may be substituted during 2005.)
BIB 103		Old Testament Survey
BIB 113		New Testament Survey
BIB 256		Romans
THE 243		Eschatology
MIN 145		Church Leadership and Administration

ELECTIVES (3 COURSES)
For a Specialized Ministries License, the student must complete a minimum of three elective courses relating to their field of ministerial specialization. Selection may be made from the following:

Christian Education Emphasis

MIN 111		Biblical Counseling
MIN 242		Principles for Christian Teaching
MIN 337		Cross-Cultural Communications
MIN 441		Leadership in Christian Education

Youth Emphasis

MIN 111		Biblical Counseling
MIN 253		Foundations for Youth Ministry
MIN 337		Cross-Cultural Communications
MIN 441		Leadership in Christian Education

Children's Emphasis

GEN 147		Child Guidance
GEN 244		Home and School Discipline
MIN 257		Introduction to Children's Ministry
MIN 441		Leadership in Christian Education

Music Emphasis

GEN 265		Director of Church Instrumental Music
THE 231		The Holy Spirit
GEN 289		The Ministry of Music
MIN 341		Theology and Practice of Worship

Senior Emphasis

MIN 266		Introduction to Senior Adult Ministries
MIN 366		Ministry After 50
MIN 441		Leadership in Christian Education
MIN 466		Hospital and Nursing Home Ministry

TRANSITIONAL PLAN
For current students completing "Old Certified Minister" program.

Students on the old certified program may still complete under that program, although some courses will need to be substituted. Below is the list of courses along with the plan for completion for those students wishing to complete under the old program. Students enrolling after August 1, 2005 are required to enroll in the new program.

Old Testament Survey		Will stay as is until the new License course is available (on or before January 1). Then they will complete the new course for the same subject if they need it.
New Testament Survey		Will stay as is until the new License course is available (on or before January 1). Then they will complete the new course for the same subject if they need it.
Life of Christ		Replacing with Synoptic Gospels: The Life and Teachings of Christ
Introduction to Theology		Will stay as is until the new License course is available (on or before January 1). Then they will complete the new course for the same subject if they need it.
Biblical Theology of Prayer		This course will stay as is until January, 2007. At that time the new Prayer and Worship course required for Ordination will be available. "Old Certified" students still needing this course will have to take the new course. When they get to ordination, a course they have not had will be substituted for this course they will have already completed.
History of A/G Missions		Still available for previously enrolled students who have ALREADY taken Assemblies of God History and Polity until stock runs out. Then they will have to take Assemblies of God History, Missions, and Governance. If they have not had this course OR Assemblies of God History and Polity, they will take the new course to replace both on the old sequence.
How to Study the Bible		Being replaced by Hermeneutics as soon as stock runs out.
Soul Winning		Being replaced by The Local Church in Evangelism.
Marriage and Family		Staying as is because there is no replacement course.
Sermon Preparation		Staying as is until the new Introduction to Homiletics is available on January 1.
A/G History & Polity		Discontinued. Students must take A/G History, Missions, and Governance. Old course was severely outdated. The new course is much better. Students who have already had History of A/G Missions will find some of this to be review, but will have opportunity to take advantage of the new instructional design and the updated material.

TRANSITIONAL PLAN
For students moving to License who completed the "Old Certified Minister" program.

NOTE: The transition plan substitutes courses from the New Certified Program in place of courses that would be repetitive for students who have completed the Old Certified Program. It still requires the completion of nine courses for License without repeating courses. It also ensures that students have such valuable courses as Acts and Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine.

Old Certified		Old Testament Survey
New License		Old Testament Survey
Transition Replacement		BIB 117 - Prison Epistles
Old Certified		New Testament Survey
New License		New Testament Survey
Transition Replacement		BIB 115 - Acts
Old Certified		Introduction to Theology
New License		Intro to Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective
Transition Replacement		THE 114 - Intro to Pentecostal Doctrine
Old Certified		Sermon Preparation
New License		Introduction to Homiletics
Transition Replacement		* MIN 181 - Relationships and Ethics in Ministry (or MIN 381 - Pastoral Ministry)

* Taken through Berean Study Centers, District approved schools or independent study.