Licensure – Success!

Licensure is the “bar exam” for the pastoral profession.  Some denominations have more rigorous methods, some have less.  The Grace Brethren are on the more side.

Last month I wrote an 8 hour exam with around 80 questions, all short answer.  They were all based upon theological concepts with one five question set of historical questions.  The only resource  I was permitted to use during the exam was an unmarked Bible.  I did not finish  - three questions were not even answered.

Yesterday was the second part.  I had to sit in front of a panel of 5 pastors who then asked me questions based upon my answers, to expand on answers they deemed incomplete and demonstrate my ability to communicate both orally and in written form my theology.

They told me before they began that 50% of those who sit the exam are asked to retake it later after further study.

I passed.

This gives me a license to practice as a minister of the Grace Brethren Fellowship.  Once my church signs off on it, anyway.  It is a huge step.  They do have one further step – Ordination happens after practicing as a pastor for 3 years.  So I’ll come back to this in 3 years.  I am told that Ordination is less about what you know and more about “what would you do if…”

So, now I have passed church planter’s assessment, and now I have passed licensure.  I have formally met the standards that were asked of me to become a church planter for the Grace Brethren.  Its funny, but I don’t feel much relief.  I think that actually being a pastor is much more spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally demanding than the tests I have passed.  God holds me to a much higher standard than any exam.  I don’t feel worthy of the calling He has given me, but lucky for me, He will accomplish His will no matter how inadequate I am.  And that gives me a great deal of comfort, more than meeting human standards.

Cheers.

Tags: church planting, fellowship of grace brethren churches, licensure