OHIO UPCI REQUIREMENTS
1. Ohio Ministers Advance Seminar (March)
The Ohio Ministers Advance seminar is held every March. The seminar is required for those seeking license with the Ohio UPCI, those upgrading their license, and those transferring their license to Ohio UPCI. The seminar is also open to any Ohio UPCI minister who would like to attend.
2. Preaching Log (Local and General Only)
UPCI REQUIREMENTS
LOCAL LICENSE REQUIREMENT (UPCI Manual, Article VIl, Section 3) 1. All applicants must be at least seventeen (17) years of age. 2. All applicants must have been involved on a consistent basis in the evangelistic and ministerial efforts of their local church under the direction of their pastor for at least six (6) months before being examined by the District Board relative to their qualifications for the ministry. This involvement must primarily be actively preaching on a weekly basis, but may also include teaching home Bible studies and participating in structured soul winning activities, discipleship classes, and other ministries of the local church. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. 3. All local licensed UPCI ministers are to labor in cooperation with, and under the supervision of, their local UPCI pastor until they enter ministerial responsibilities that remove them from their local assembly.
GENERAL LICENSE REQUIREMENT (UPCI Manual, Article VIl, Section 4) 1. All applicants must be at least nineteen (19) years of age. 2. All applicants must be presently engaged in the ministry as pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, elected or appointed official, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor, except those qualifying under Paragraph 3 immediately below. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. 3. Ministerial students (majoring in religion, theology, ministerial studies, etc.) who graduate from any UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college, and who otherwise qualify, may be granted either a Local or General License at the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. Students from UPCI endorsed colleges shall not be granted a license from the district in which the college is located unless they are either from that district or actively engaged in ministry in that district prior to and at the time of licensing. 4. All applicants who are not graduates of a UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college must have held Local License for at least one (1) year during which they have proven their ministry. All applicants must have preached at least twenty-six (26) times during the time period of one (1) year prior to meeting the District Board for General License. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement except for teaching an Adult Sunday School class.) Exceptions may be made for applicants who are being accepted from another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization. (See Section 5, Paragraph 4.)
ORDINATION REQUIREMENT (UPCI Manual, Article VII, Section 5) 1. All applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have held General License for at least two (2) years. Any exception to this is left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. 2. All applicants must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years and must presently be an active pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor. 3. All applicants for Ordination to Military Chaplaincy must fulfill all doctrinal and other qualifications except the specified time of active ministerial service. 4. All applicants who have previously been ordained by another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization shall appear before the applicable District Board and be examined to determine the merits of their ordination and qualifications for ministry. Said District Board shall determine whether to accept the applicant’s former ordination, recommend ordination by the UPCI, or grant Local or General License. 5. All applicants endorsed for ordination shall be notified by the District Secretary as to the next official meeting in which they may be ordained. 6. An ordination service should be held at district meeting and must be presided over by a member of the Board of General Presbyters. A district meeting includes regular or special called district conferences, conventions, or camp meetings to which all ministers of the district are invited. It does not include fellowship meetings, youth rallies, or other sectional gatherings.
3. Credit Check (Local Only)
Those who are applying for Ohio UPCI License are required to submit a Credit Report to their Presbyter.
4. Background Check (Local, General, Ordination)
Those who are applying for Ohio UPCI License ARE REQUIRED to submit a background check.
