ADOPTED BY THE 75TH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 32. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICANTS FOR MINISTRY
That we amend page 147, S55. APPLICANTS FOR MINISTRY, IV. General Requirements of Applicants for Ministry, Item 5 by striking
5. All applicants for the ministry should be actively engaged either in evangelistic or pastoral work, before being recommended for the ministry (46th A., 1956, p. 26).
and inserting, in ministry before being recommended for credentialed ministry,
so as to read: All applicants for the ministry should be actively engaged in ministry before being recommended for credentialed ministry.
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS (p. 47)
In the process of credentialing ministers, this would allow them to get their experience requirements as a chaplain in addition to ministry in a local church. This is long overdue; chaplaincy is too important to leave those called to it “outside the gates” of ordination,
writes Don Warrington. This is not a requirement for chaplains alone. It clearly communicates a general direction within the denomination to involve younger ministers in the credentialing process. Otherwise, congregations with younger pastors remain without a voice at the General Assembly. Don Warrington explains further:
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICANTS FOR MINISTRY (p. 49)
This requires that our ministers, in the process of their credentialing, actually “agree with and adhere to the Teachings and Doctrines as set forth by the International General Assembly of the Church of God” rather than just “inform themselves in the Teachings and Doctrines…” Refugees from the Episcopal Church and other Main Line churches will get a chuckle
Looks like President Wilson said it was the National Anthem in 1916 – of course he wanted to send our men over to Europe to die for his League of Nations idea. Congress got around to it in 1931, maybe to take peoples mind off the mess they made during the Depression. Wilson demanded support for his war, and he had a history of imprisoning religious consciousness objectors to war. Since he the COG had a teaching against members going to war, investigators were sent from Washington to report on the denomination – and if it was a denomination at all. Here’s a link to The Church of God: A Social History on the subject of COG disloyalty:books.google.com/books?id=2OiO1TFgQV0C&pg=PA122ved=0ahUKEwip5JnErdDZAhViyoMKHRh_D2kQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepageNow I know the knee-jerk reaction is to blame Tomlinson for this position, but take a look at the other Pentecostal/Holiness Churches which had this same stand.I don’t like the idea of the FBI (and especially the IRS) investigating me for my beliefs and I reject forced patriotism, from the right, left, or the government. Consider the legacy of the FBI – including Hoover – Waco (that was an interesting series on TV) and the election – I’m sure Wilson did not care a bit religious freedoms.