To become a member you must apply. For information on how to apply go here.
We classify accepted applicants in one of the following four levels of membership and ministry involvement.
1 – Ministry Student
We classify applicants as Ministry Students when we recognize their suitability for ministry but they have little or no formal ministerial training and experience.
Ministry students will:
- Receive a Membership Card
- Be assigned courses to take to meet the educational requirements for higher levels of classification.
- Have free access to all the courses and materials provided by the Bible Extension Institute.
- They will be involved in some form of practical ministerial internship possibly with an ordained minister of ECAMFC who will supervise their ministerial activities and evaluate their spiritual readiness for ministry.
Ministry Students will not be members of ECAMFC, so this is a non-voting position. However, they will pay $200 per year as a student fee and have free access to all the courses of the Bible Extension Institute.
Ministry Students may also take courses that we approve from other schools or colleges to cover their unmet educational requirements.
On successful completion of the courses prescribed, Ministry Students may apply for the classification level recommended by their supervisor.
2 – Lay Minister
We classify as Lay Ministers candidates who have at least four years of experience in ministry but do meet the academic education requirements of higher levels of membership.
To become a Lay Minister, in addition to the initial documents submitted with your application, after we accept your application you must give:
- A summary of your last four years of ministerial experience
- A recording of a 20 minute original sermon you have delivered
- Three essays of 500 words chosen from topics determined by the Evaluation Committee
When you are classified as a Lay Minister, you will:
- Receive a Membership Certificate and Card,
- Be a voting member of ECAMFC.
- Pay the $200 yearly membership dues.
- Work and minister in an internship under the supervision of an ordained member of ECAMFC [or designate]
- Be allowed to minister in places where credentials and accountability are required like hospitals and jails
- Be advised of the courses of the Bible Extension Institute needed if higher levels of classification are desired
- Be allowed free access to courses of the Bible Extension Institute needed for higher levels of classification. Approved courses from other institutions are also accepted.
Your supervisor will evaluate you and make recommendations for your readiness for a higher classification.
3 – Licensed Minister
To become a Licensed Minister you must:
- Meet the educational requirements for a Licensed Minister specified in the Bible Extension Institute curriculum or prove equivalent education.
- Have at east two years of experience in ministry.
- Be accepted at the personal interview by the interviewing board.
Anyone who has not been previously ordained by another organization will first be accepted in ECAMFC as a Licensed Minister.
When you are classified as a Licensed Minister you:
- Receive a Licensed Minster Certificate and Card.
- Work independently and can provide all religious services except for the wedding ceremony.
- May take courses to meet the Ordination requirements.
Licensed Ministers pay the $200 yearly membership dues and are voting members of ECAMFC.
4 – Ordained Minister
To become an Ordained Minister you must:
- Meet the educational requirements for an Ordained Minister specified in the Bible Extension Institute curriculum or prove equivalent education.
- Have at least two years of experience in ministry.
- Be accepted at the personal interview by the Interviewing Board.
The Ordained Minister can provide all religious services, and can apply for authorization to solemnize weddings.
If you previously received ordination from another organization and you can prove that your character, training and experience meet the standards of ECAMFC, we transfer your ordination into ECAMFC.
Ordained ministers pay the $200 yearly dues and are voting members of ECAMFC.