6.10 Receiving Candidates      Top
     6.11  Every presbytery shall have a committee on the ministry or one which performs the same functions, one of which shall be to direct and nurture persons in preparation for the ministry.
     6.12  To be received as a candidate for the ministry, a person must be a member in good standing of a particular church in the receiving presbytery. Persons desiring to become candidates for the ministry shall confer with the committee on the ministry prior to presenting themselves to presbytery.
     6.13  Those who seek to be licensed and ordained to the ministry shall undergo a period of training and preparation in order that the office may be committed only to qualified persons. In order to form a correct judgment of the qualifications of those seeking admission to the office of the ministry, presbyteries shall receive and, following satisfactory preparation, license candidates who shall then be designated "licentiates." Such persons shall be required to give further satisfactory evidence of their qualifications for the ministry before receiving ordination.
     6.14  The committee on the ministry shall examine candidates respecting personal religious experience, motives leading to the seeking of the office of the ministry and the internal call to it, and plans for education. Such prior examination by the committee shall not preclude examination by the presbytery at the time of reception. A written statement concerning the candidate from the session of his or her church shall also be heard at the time of reception, along with written or verbal testimonials from others who may desire to express themselves on behalf of the candidate.
     6.15  The reception of candidates for the ministry shall be at a duly constituted meeting of presbytery. Following the examination of the candidate and the various testimonials that may be given, a member of the committee on the ministry or a person appointed for that purpose shall address the candidate as follows:
     The Presbytery of ______________________________ of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, having heard the testimonials on your behalf and having sustained your examination thus far, now requires you to make answer to the following questions:

I.		As far as you know your heart, do you believe yourself to be called by God to the office of the Christian ministry?
II.		Do you promise, in reliance upon the grace of God, to maintain a Christian character and conduct, and to be diligent and faithful in making full preparation for the ministry?
III.		Do you promise to work with the presbytery through its committee on the ministry in matters that pertain to your preparation for the ministry?
IV.		Do you now desire to be received by this presbytery as a candidate for the ministry in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America?

     Following formal reception by the presbytery, the person presiding shall offer an appropriate prayer. Following the prayer, with the congregation standing, the person presiding shall address the candidate as follows:
     In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church, I do now declare by the authority of this presbytery that you are acknowledged and received as a candidate for licensure and ordination in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and I now direct that your name be entered on the roll of the presbytery as a candidate for the ministry.
     The person presiding shall then extend to the candidate the hand of Christian fellowship, saying:
     The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
     Proper record of the reception shall be made in the minutes of presbytery.
     6.16  Presbytery may remove the name of a candidate from its roll at any time, but not without indicating the reasons therefor. A candidate may at any time request that his or her name be removed from the roll, which may be done at the next stated meeting of presbytery.
     6.17  Upon being received by presbytery, a candidate who is a member of the session of his or her church may remain in that position by mutual agreement of the Committee on the Ministry and the Church Session. The probationer, however, may not be elected to represent the church at any of the higher judicatories.
     6.18  A candidate may be granted a letter of dismission to another presbytery, but the presbytery is not bound to receive the letter. The receiving presbytery may give the candidate the regular examination above stated. A candidate transferring to another presbytery must unite with a particular church in the presbytery to which he or she transfers.

6.200 Licensing Candidates      Top
     6.201  Licensure is a judgment by presbytery that a candidate for the ministry has exhibited certain qualities and abilities suitable to the office of ministry and has achieved a certain level of preparation for the ministry. This judgment shall be based on a prior examination of the candidate by the committee on the ministry as to his or her personal spiritual growth; understanding of the nature of the church and its ministry; knowledge of the scriptures, theology, and church history; oral and written use of the native language; and knowledge of any other subjects integral to this level of preparation. Vocational and psychological testing administered by professionals is advisable as part of the process of examination. The report of the committee on the ministry of its examination shall not preclude examination by the presbytery.
     6.202  No candidate shall be licensed who has not completed an undergraduate degree from a college or university approved by the presbytery. Exceptions may be made only of persons possessing suitable gifts and abilities for a fruitful ministry, but who, because of reasons considered valid in the judgment of the presbytery, cannot complete an undergraduate degree. In such cases the candidate shall not be licensed until he or she has completed satisfactorily, under the direction of the committee on the ministry, a three-year program of alternate studies approved by the General Assembly.
     6.203  The licensing of candidates shall be done at a duly constituted meeting of the presbytery or by a commission of the presbytery meeting at a previously designated time and place. The commission shall consist of a quorum of presbytery, but must include two ordained ministers. After a brief statement as to the meaning and significance of licensure, the person presiding shall propose the following questions to the candidate:

I.		Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired word of God, the authority for faith and practice?
II.		Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America as containing the essential doctrines taught in the holy scriptures?
III.		Do you promise to promote the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
IV.		Do you promise continued cooperation with the presbytery through its committee on the ministry as you continue preparation for ordination, and as you perform those functions of ministry which pertain to a licentiate, as set forth in the Constitution?

     The questions being answered in the affirmative, the person presiding shall offer a prayer appropriate to the occasion. Following the prayer, with the congregation standing, the person presiding shall address the candidate as follows:
     In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church, and by the authority which he has given to the church for its edification, the presbytery now licenses you to preach the gospel and perform other functions of ministry as set forth in the Constitution. To this end may the blessing of God rest upon you and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart. Amen.
     Proper record of the licensure shall be made in the minutes of presbytery.
     6.204  A licentiate may preach the gospel within the bounds of presbytery or elsewhere with the approval of all presbyteries involved.
     6.205  A licentiate may, with the approval of the committee on the ministry of the presbytery and of the presbytery, serve as a stated supply of one or more particular churches of the presbytery.
     6.206  A licentiate may serve as stated supply in congregations of other presbyteries, but only with the approval of the committees on the ministry of both or all presbyteries involved and the approval of the presbyteries. In such cases there should be a close working relationship between the committees on the ministry of both or all presbyteries, with direct supervision of the person's ministry being given by the presbytery in which the licentiate is serving.
     6.207  A licentiate who has been authorized to serve as a stated supply is nevertheless expected to continue his or her preparation for ordination.
     6.208  A licentiate is not a member of presbytery or synod, and thus has no vote in these bodies; nor can a licentiate be a commissioner to the General Assembly.
     6.209  A licentiate may be given a letter of dismission to another presbytery, but that presbytery is not bound to receive the letter. The receiving presbytery may give the licentiate the regular examination above stated. A licentiate must unite with a particular church in the presbytery to which he or she transfers.
     6.210  A licentiate retains membership in a particular church. But inasmuch as such a person may perform certain functions of ministry only by authority of presbytery, he or she is subject to the disciplinary action of presbytery.
     6.211  A presbytery may at any time drop the name of a licentiate from its roll, but not without indicating the reason therefor, nor without giving the licentiate an opportunity to be heard.

6.30 Ordination of Ministers      Top
     6.31  Ordination is the setting apart of a licentiate to the full work of the gospel ministry. Since the ordained ministry is the highest ecclesiastical office of the church, presbyteries shall be careful to ordain no one until fully satisfied with his or her qualifications for so important a work. A licentiate shall be ordained only if he or she has a call to a church or to a ministry approved by the presbytery. Presbyteries shall not feel obligated to ordain a licentiate because of long tenure as such, nor continue him or her longer than there is promise of usefulness.
     6.32  Prior to ordination the licentiate shall sustain a careful and satisfactory examination by the committee on the ministry and the presbytery as a whole upon the following: experimental religion, continuing spiritual growth, the internal call to the ministry, knowledge of the scriptures, church history, systematic theology, pastoral care and counseling, church administration, the educational task of the church, preparation and delivery of sermons, the nature and meaning of public worship, and the doctrine and government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. As part of the above examination presbytery may require such written and spoken discourses as may be judged needful, including the planning and conducting of a presbyterial worship service with the licentiate delivering the sermon. The prior examination by the committee on the ministry shall not preclude examination by the presbytery.
     6.33  In addition to the disciplines of study named above, presbytery shall encourage the licentiate as part of his or her preparation for ordination to obtain at least a working knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek languages, the usefulness of which to the understanding of the scriptures is hereby affirmed.
     6.34  No licentiate shall be ordained who has not completed a degree in a graduate school of theology approved by the presbytery. Exceptions may be made only of persons possessing suitable gifts and abilities for a fruitful ministry, but who, because of reasons considered valid in the judgment of the presbytery, cannot be expected to complete the regular course of study in a graduate school of theology. In such cases a licentiate shall not be ordained until he or she has satisfactorily completed under the direction of the presbytery a two-year program of alternate studies approved by the General Assembly.
     6.35  Ordination shall be by the presbytery at either a regular, an adjourned, or a called meeting; or it may be by a commission of the presbytery, which must consist of a quorum of the body and include two ordained ministers.
     6.36  When a presbytery shall become satisfied with the qualifications of a licentiate, it shall announce a date and place for ordination and make preparation for the same. Following the sermon in a regular worship service at the time and place previously announced, the licentiate shall take his or her place at the front of the sanctuary. After a brief statement by the person presiding as to the purpose of the meeting and the meaning of ordination, the following questions shall be proposed to the licentiate:

I.		Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired word of God, the authority for faith and practice?
II.		Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America as containing the essential doctrines taught in the holy scriptures?
III.		Do you approve of the government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America?
IV.		In participating as a minister in the judicatories of the church, do you promise to share in a responsible way in the decisions that are made, to abide by those decisions, and to promote the welfare of the church?
V.		As far as you know your heart, have you been induced by the Holy Spirit to answer the call to the ministry from love of God and neighbor and a sincere desire to glorify God and advance his Kingdom in the world?
VI.		As God may enable you, do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel and the purity and peace of the church, irrespective of any opposition that may arise to you on that account?
VII.		Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as a Christian and a minister of the gospel, and endeavor to so conduct yourself both privately and publicly as not to give offense to Christ and his church?

     The above questions being answered in the affirmative, the licentiate shall kneel. All ministers of the presbytery present, with advisory members by invitation, and all elders who are members of the presbytery, shall gather around him or her. As the person presiding, or another appointed for the purpose, offers an appropriate prayer, all the presbyters shall, by the laying on of hands, solemnly set the licentiate apart to the office of the gospel ministry.
     Then, with all the presbyters reverently standing, the person presiding shall say:
     In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church, and by the authority of this presbytery, I now declare you duly ordained to the office of the gospel ministry, committing to you full authority to preach the word, to administer the sacraments, and to bear rule in the church.
     Then the presiding minister, followed by all the presbyters, shall take the new minister by the hand, saying to him or her: We give you the hand of fellowship to take part in the ministry of the gospel with us.
     After the presbyters have returned to their places, the person presiding, or some other person appointed for the purpose, shall deliver an appropriate charge to the new minister. A prayer shall then be offered in which the new minister is recommended to the grace of God for that ministry to which he or she has been set apart.
     The transaction shall be duly recorded in the presbyterial minutes, the newly ordained minister's name added to the roll of ministers of the presbytery, and the church of which the minister was a member notified to drop his or her name from its roll.

6.40 Recognition of Ordination      Top
     6.41  A minister of another ecclesiastical body who desires to become a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America shall appear before the committee on the ministry of the presbytery in which he or she wishes to be received. The committee on the ministry shall investigate the following:

a.		Whether the minister has proper credentials from his or her ecclesiastical body;
b.		Whether the minister has a degree from a college and graduate school of theology;
c.		Whether the minister has a knowledge of the history, theology, and government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America;
d.		Whether the minister seems fit for service as a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.

     6.42  The committee on the ministry, if satisfied in each of the areas described in Section 6.41 may recommend to presbytery that the minister be received as an ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, upon giving affirmative answer to the questions put to licentiates at their ordination. Such procedure shall not exclude the opportunity for presbytery to examine the minister.
     6.43  If the person seeking to become a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America neither has degrees from a college and a graduate school of theology nor has completed a course of study comparable to the program of alternate studies approved by the General Assembly, he or she shall be required during a probationary period to meet the educational standards for ordination. A person who does not have a college degree or has not completed the program of alternate studies shall have the status of a candidate. A person who has a college degree or has completed the program of alternate studies required of a licentiate shall have the status of a licentiate. When the educational requirements have been satisfied, the probationary period may be ended and the minister's previous ordination confirmed upon giving affirmative answer to the questions put to licentiates at their ordination. Such procedure shall not exclude the opportunity for presbytery to examine the minister.

6.50 Jurisdiction over Ministers      Top
     6.51  A letter of dismission for a minister, licentiate, or candidate shall be granted to a particular presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America or another ecclesiastical body. A minister, licentiate, or candidate shall remain under the appropriate jurisdiction of the presbytery granting the letter of dismission until proper notification of reception by the presbytery or other ecclesiastical body to which the letter was granted. No minister, licentiate, or candidate of one presbytery shall be received by another presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America without a duly certified letter of dismission from the former presbytery.
     6.52  If a minister lives outside the bounds of the presbytery in which he or she desires to hold membership, he or she must receive the consent of the synod in which that presbytery is located to hold membership in that presbytery.
     6.53  A minister against whom no charges are pending or who is under no disciplinary action, if fully satisfied that God has not called him or her to the ministry, or if he or she has satisfactory evidence of his or her inability to serve as a minister, or if he or she shall for any other reason desire to do so, may request that his or her ordination be revoked and that he or she be divested of the office. The committee on the ministry shall be directed to counsel with the person, if it has not already done so, and report to the next stated meeting of the presbytery. If the person remains firm in his or her request, the presbytery shall approve the request, noting that it is not a disciplinary action.
     6.54  A minister whose ordination has been revoked at his or her own request or by deposition may be received as a member in a particular church on re-affirmation of faith.
     6.55  A retired ordained clergy may, upon his or her retirement and request be thereafter excused from further meetings of the presbytery and synod without affecting his or her relationship to presbytery and synod.