Related Information
Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy
The Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC) is designed for students who aspire to be ministers of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church and who are studying at a seminary other than Calvin Theological Seminary. All students enrolled at other seminaries and intending to seek candidacy in the CRCNA are required to meet the overall standards for candidacy that have been officially established by the Synod of the CRCNA for those who follow the regular course of study at Calvin Theological Seminary. [more...]
This program gives students an orientation to the theology, history, and ministry of the Christian Reformed Church, and walks with students on the final leg of the ministry formation journey to ministerial candidacy in the Christian Reformed Church.
Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) is pleased to offer this program on behalf of synod and the Candidacy Committee (CC), a synodical standing committee that processes all candidacy recommendations to synod. This ecclesiastical program applies to students who are following the route to ministry outlined in Article 6 of the Church Order of the Christian Reformed Church. (Synod has adopted a Modified EPMC for persons aspiring to ministry of the Word in the CRC through the routes to ministry outlined in Article 7 (persons with exceptional gifts) or 8 (pastors coming from other denominations). Information on the Modified EPMC can be found at http://www.calvinseminary.edu/degrees/epmc/modified.php.
It is important for prospective EPMC students to acquaint themselves with program requirements and apply to CTS as early as possible in their M. Div. program, preferably after their first year. After being admitted to the program, students are asked to submit an unofficial transcript to Calvin Seminary once a year in the summer. This will allow us to monitor completion of admission requirements, provide a clearer idea of progress in Greek and Hebrew language studies; keep us informed of an expected date of enrollment and give us a foundation on which to encourage a student's candidacy application. At the end of a student's program, we require a final official transcript with the MDiv degree posted.
The Candidacy Committee has set a deadline of June 1 for enrollment in the EPMC fall semester at Calvin Seminary.
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Checklist (pdf)
We recommend that you print this checklist (pdf) and use it to monitor your progress in meeting program requirements.
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Application Requirements (show | hide)
An applicant for the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy is required to submit or arrange for the following:
- A completed application form (pdf) or online application form accompanied by an autobiography, a statement of Christian commitment, a recent photograph, and the application fee of $25.00.
- Official transcripts of all academic work beyond high school.
- An ecclesiastical recommendation from the governing body of the Christian Reformed church in which the applicant holds membership.
- Three other recommendations: writing and speech recommendations from the applicant's most recent professors most able to evaluate the applicant's ability in writing and public address, and one personal recommendation from a seminary professor with whom the student has done considerable course work or from an employer, supervisor, or colleague.
- If you intend to enroll in the summer seminar you must be admitted to the EPMC program by April 1 of that year.
- A final official transcript upon completion of a student's MDiv program will be required.
All students enrolled at seminaries other than Calvin Theological Seminary who desire licensure to exhort in Christian Reformed congregations and who intend to seek candidacy in the Christian Reformed Church must be admitted to the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy. Requirements for such admittance are the same as those for admission to the Master of Divinity program:
- Admission to (and completion of) a Master of Divinity program at an accredited seminary.
- Undergraduate study that included at least two semester-length courses each in English (including literature), history, philosophy (preferably history of philosophy), natural science, social science, and speech.
- Upon review of the applicant's undergraduate program, the admissions and standards committee may require additional work in given disciplines as a condition for completion of the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy. Such conditional admission does not delay one's enrollment at the seminary because the seminary offers such courses focused on preparation for theological education.
The Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy, in combination with other theological study and ministry practice experience, must form an acceptable equivalent to the entire pre-seminary and seminary program required of Calvin Seminary graduates as preparation for Christian Reformed ministry.
Calvin Theological Seminary wants the ten weeks and two weeks of in-residence study to be an enjoyable and rich experience for every student. A hospitality team designs several community building social events for the time students are in residence as well as opportunities to meet various denominational leaders, tour significant denominational sites, and enjoy the natural beauty of Western Michigan. These social events and field experiences underscore one of the most valuable features of the EPMC program, namely, the opportunity to get to know other students and pastors, seminary professors, and leaders in the CRCNA. Lifelong collegial friendships and networks of support often develop from the relationships that are formed during the EPMC experience.
Special note for Canadian students: Please note that you will need an F-1 Visa to participate in both the summer seminar and the fall term. In order to allow for sufficient time to process and issue an I-20 form, you must submit your declaration of finances and other documentation by May 1 of the year in which you intend to begin your program.
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Candidacy Application (show | hide)
Students seeking candidacy for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church should apply for candidacy in the fall of the year prior to the meeting of synod at which they intend to be declared candidates. Please click on this Candidacy Application Requirements link for important information on the candidacy application process. - Fall 2009 Evaluation Form
If you have any questions about the EPMC program, review the program requirements or contact Greg Janke, Director of Enrollment at (616) 957-7035.