We are praying that the Lord will increase our numbers in the year ahead. This page has been provided to help a candidate walk into and through the Metro Atlanta Presbytery credentialing process with hopefully less stress and more clarity. The Candidates and Credentials Committee has prayerfully decided on a pathway in the lead up to each MAP meeting.
The Metro Atlanta Presbytery meets three times a year:
- The third Tuesday of January
- The first Tuesday of May
- The third Tuesday of September
These dates could change so reach out to the Credentials Committee ahead of time to confirm these dates.
While the ultimate responsibility for these dates and details falls on the individual man, we find that it is very helpful when the candidate’s church is also aware of these requirements (since some of these requirements must come from the particular Church/Ministry and not simply the individual).
First, all MAP churches with men in the Candidacy/Licensure/Ordination/Transfer process should be aware of the following key dates:
- One month before the Presbytery meets, all paperwork, examinations or requests for “change in call status” should be submitted to the Committee via the Chair (Aaron Messner).
- Two weeks before Presbytery meets, oral examinations before the C & C Committee will take place for Licensure, Ordination and Transfer. These exams will take place at 7pm at a church to be specified by the committee chair. Please make sure that men in your churches are aware of this date as soon as possible and can clear their schedules to be available for examination on this date. Exams generally take around 2 hours (but can take longer) so the entire evening should be reserved/set aside by the candidate.
- At the stated MAP meeting. Men coming for C/L/O/T will need to be present at the MAP meeting on this date and will be presented on the floor for examination/consideration by the presbytery.
Second, all MAP churches with men in the Candidacy/Licensure/Ordination/Transfer process should be aware of the paperwork that is necessary at each stage of the process.
Candidacy Requirements:
- There is an application form that must be filled out and submitted to the Committee. Candidates should contact the chair (Aaron Messner) to request the form.
- Written documentation from the Session of Candidate’s Church (can be letter or email) confirming that the Candidate has been a member of church for 6 months or more and has received the formal endorsement of the Church’s Session to proceed as a Candidate for the Gospel Ministry.
- Contact information for Presbytery Directory (address, email, phone)
Licensure Requirements:
- Written Exam on English Bible, Theology and the BCO. The exam can be taken any time up to one month before Presbytery meets. The candidate must contact the chair and request an exam date. The exam will be emailed to the candidate on the morning of the requested exam date and the completed exam must be mailed back to the chair that same day.
- Submitted Sermon (either a manuscript or recording)
- Any exceptions to the WCF, WLC & WSC must be submitted in writing
Ordination Requirements:
- Written Exam on Sacraments and Church History (same protocol as Licensure…stated above).
- Graduate Level Theological Paper (can be a paper that was written as part of seminary coursework)
- Graduate Level Exegesis Paper (with some use of original languages as part of exegetical analysis, can be a paper that was written as part of seminary coursework)
- Call Letter from Session or Ministry (for men working out of bounds) with terms of call package included.
- Record of where Candidate attended/graduated from Seminary
- Names of Men who will serve on Ordination Commission (2 TE’s, 2 RE’s)
- Any changes to exceptions to the WCF, WLC & WSC since Licensure. (If there are no changes since licensure, nothing additional needs to be submitted).
Transfer Requirements:
- Written Transfer Exam
- Letter of Transfer from Previous Presbytery
- Any exceptions to the WCF, WLC, WSC, must be submitted in writing
- Call Letter (with terms of call) from Session or Ministry (in the case of men working out of bounds)
- Record of where TE attended/graduated from Seminary
- Names of Men who will serve on Installation Commission (not needed for men working out of bounds)
- Contact information for Presbytery Directory (address, email, phone)
We hope the presentation of this information will provide sufficient time for individual men and churches to meet these requirements without having to resort to anxious, last minute efforts. As one brother said, we desire to not only care for the men in this process, but the members of the committee who must guide men through this process. We look forward to working with individual men and churches and seeing them through these important stages. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the chair of the credential committee directly.