Chapter 18: Candidates for the Gospel Ministry

18-1. A candidate for the ministry is a member of the Church in full
communion who, believing himself to be called to preach the Gospel, submits
himself to the care and guidance of the Presbytery in his course of study and
of practical training to prepare himself for this office.

18-2. Every applicant for the ministry must put himself under the care of
Presbytery, which should ordinarily be the Presbytery that has jurisdiction of
the church of which he is a member. The endorsement of his Session must be
given to the Presbytery, consisting of testimonials regarding his Christian
character and promise of usefulness in the ministry. The endorsement should
also describe the activities of ministry the applicant has participated in with
brief evaluation.
Every applicant for care shall be a member of the congregation whose
session provides an endorsement for at least six months before filing his
application, except in those cases deemed extraordinary by the Presbytery.
Every applicant must file his application with the clerk of the
Presbytery at least one month before the meeting of the Presbytery. An
applicant for care may not be received under care and examined for ordination
at the same meeting of the Presbytery, since he must serve a period of at least
one year of internship prior to ordination (see BCO 19-7 and 21-4). An
applicant for internship is obliged to be under care and may be licensed to
preach the Gospel; further, one who is not already under care may be taken
under care, be licensed to preach the Gospel, and become an intern at the same
meeting of Presbytery.

18-3. The applicant shall appear before the Presbytery in person, and shall
be examined by the Presbytery on experiential religion and on his motives for
seeking the ministry.
If the testimonials and the examination prove satisfactory, the
Presbytery shall receive him under its care after the following manner:

The moderator shall propose to the applicant these questions:
1. Do you promise in reliance upon the grace of God to maintain
a becoming Christian character, and to be diligent and faithful
in making full preparation for the sacred ministry?
2. Do you promise to submit yourself to the proper supervision
of the Presbytery in matters that concern your preparation for
the ministry?
If these questions be answered in the affirmative, the moderator, or
someone appointed by him, shall give the candidate a brief charge; and the
proceeding shall close with prayer.
The name of the applicant is then to be recorded on the Presbytery’s
roll of candidates for the ministry.

18-4. The candidate continues to be a private member of the church and
subject to the jurisdiction of the Session, but as respects his preparatory
training for the ministry he is under the oversight of the Presbytery. It shall be
the duty of the Presbytery to show a kindly and sympathetic interest in him,
and to give him counsel and guidance in regard to his studies, his practical
training, and the institutions of learning he should attend. In no case may a
candidate omit from his course of study any of the subjects prescribed in the
Form of Government as tests for ordination without obtaining the consent of
Presbytery (see BCO 21-4); and where such consent is given the Presbytery
shall record the fact and the reasons therefore.

18-5. For the development of his Christian character, for the service he can
render, and for his more effective training, the candidate, when entering on his
theological studies, should be authorized and encouraged by the Presbytery to
conduct public worship, to expound the Scriptures to the people, and to engage
in other forms of Christian work. These forms of service should be rendered
under the direction of Presbytery, and also with the sanction and under the
guidance of the candidate’s instructors during the time of his being under their
instruction. A candidate should not undertake to serve a church which is
without a pastor as regular supply unless he has been licensed and approved
for that supply by the Presbytery having jurisdiction of the church (see BCO
19-1).

18-6. The Presbytery shall require every candidate for the ministry under its
care to make a report to it at least once a year; and it shall secure from his
instructors an annual report upon his deportment, diligence, and progress in
study.

18-7. The Presbytery may, upon application of the candidate, give a
certificate of dismission to another Presbytery. The candidate may be allowed
to retain membership in his home church upon the request of his Session and
the approval of both Presbyteries involved. A candidate shall, at his request or
at the request of his Session, be allowed to withdraw from the care of the
Presbytery. But in such a case sufficient reasons (and any actions taken) must
be reported to the Presbytery. The Presbytery may also, for sufficient reasons,
remove the name of the candidate from its roll of candidates; but in such a case
it shall report its actions and the reasons therefore to the candidate and to the
Session of his church. In all cases of a removal or withdrawal of a candidate,
the sufficient reason for the action shall be recorded in the minutes of
Presbytery.