Views & Positions

Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International

This is a position paper on the sanctity of the marriage between man and woman. The Executive Board of The Fellowship has officially adopted this document and prayerfully submits this paper to the constituency of The Fellowship. (Click to view)

THE FELLOWSHIP’S POSITION ON LICENSING AND ORDINATION OF MINISTERS
The Fellowship does not license or ordain ministers, but recognizes such ministerial status. The Fellowship believes it is the function of the local Church, Bible College, Seminary, etc. to perform such ceremonies.
If you wish to obtain such Ministerial Status, you need to approach your local Pastor, local Church, Seminary, Bible College, or a Pastor/Church that knows of you and ask about their procedures and requirements. Many times these services are done in an office or in a special Church Service.
NOTE: You may be required to serve “internship “.
The Fellowship urges Pastors and Churches to use great wisdom in matters of Licensing or Ordination, as the Ministry is a most solemn calling.
The Fellowship issues a certificate to the Ministerial members recognizing their status and showing when their Licensing or Ordination was conferred. All members also receive a wallet-sized identification card verifying their ministerial status. These items show that you as a minister are recognized by and are in affiliation with an organization that has National and International scope. If you plan to minister to those in prisons, hospitals, or other institutions, this recognition by a recognized organization is helpful in gaining admittance and oftentimes necessary.

Rev: 05/2002

License-Ordination & Exhorters (Christian Workers)
We recognize three levels of Ministry. Christian Workers or sometimes-called Exhorters. Number two, those who have been licensed. And the third is Ordination.

Exhorter: (Christian Workers or Gospel Workers)
An Exhorter is a person who is recognized as a beginner in the ministry. The person may have the call of God upon their life, but have very little religious training, experience, and/or theological education.
Many of those who are beginners or “Exhorters” will enroll in a correspondence course if they are unable to attend a Bible School or Bible College.
Many times the Pastor of the Church recognizes the Call of God upon their lives and begins to instruct them in both theology and in the practical areas of leadership.
The Pastor also may use that person in some areas of leadership, teaching or ministry in the local Church.

License:
A person who receives a License to Preach has been recognized by the Church and Pastors as an individual with the Call of God upon their lives, has leadership ability and some theological training and experience.
Most of the time, this person will have completed some theological training (correspondence or Bible School) and will recognize his/her need for continual teaching, training and experience.
If this person is truly called of God, they will apply themselves to study and prepare for the ministry that God has called them to. A person’s ministry will always make room for him/her.
Many states will not allow a Licensed Minister to perform weddings or to minister the sacraments of the Church unless the Licensed Ministers is serving as a pastor of a Church
As a result of being a pastor (Shepherd), he/she is allowed to perform weddings and to minister the sacraments of the Church.
Licensed or Ordained – in many states you have to register in the county or state to be approved to perform weddings.

Ordained
Being an ordained minister is the highest calling that a person can have. An Ordained Minister is one who has a Call of God upon their lives and the Church, the Pastor and other ministers recognize his/her training, experience and leadership ability.
An Ordained Minister is one who has studied, and prepared himself or herself well either through formal training and education, or through training and working side by side with a pastor.
It is recommended that a person serve at least one year as a Licensed Minister before being Ordained, giving time for that additional study, training and experience. As an Ordained Minister, he/she carries the full and highest level of authority to minister all of the sacraments of the Church, including communion, weddings, etc. This is not only a recognition by the Church, but by other Church Organizations and by the State and Federal government.

*All Information taken from The Fellowship website.*