Related Information

Modified Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (Modified EPMC)

Adopted by Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee September 22, 2006

The Modified Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (Modified EPMC) is a program of Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS), adopted by the Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee (SMCC) of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), and approved in concept by Synod 2006.

The Modified EPMC is designed for persons seeking ordination to Ministry of the Word through Church Order Article 7 or 8.

The Modified EPMC is identical to the EPMC (Article 6) with the following exceptions:

Different entrance requirements. Article 7 and 8 applicants will complete a modified CTS application process that takes into account many of the entrance requirements of the regular EPMC that do not apply to the Modified EPMC: pre-seminary requirements, theological studies, Greek or Hebrew, etc.
Licensure application will be handled by SMCC in consultation with the Classical Ministerial Leadership Team (CMLT) overseeing the candidate's preparation.

(This is in contrast to Article 6 licensure that is handled by SMCC in consultation with the seminary.)
The Ministry Formation component of EPMC, including the psychological assessment, will be managed by the SMCC staff person (in consultation, when necessary, with the CMLT overseeing the candidate's preparation).

SMCC staff will arrange for psychological examinations by independently searching for and approving the psychologist(s) who will perform these psychological services. It is important that SMCC staff search for and approve the psychologist(s) to ensure consistency of standards in this psychological testing.
Greek and Hebrew language comprehensives are encouraged but not required.
A faculty interview to get to know the candidate is not necessary since the local CMLT will be working closely with the candidate and the candidate at some point will be interviewed by the full classis.

Below is a side-by-side description of the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC) and Modifed Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (Modified EPMC). This description is based upon the Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee's creation of a Modified EPMC program at its September 22, 2006 meeting (Minute 06-71).

	EPMC	Modified EPMC	Comments
Entrance Requirements	Regular Seminary Application Process	Modified Seminary Application Process	Pre-sem requirements and language requirements don't apply to M-EPMC
Licensure	Processed by seminary	Processed by SMCC	Online application process is currently being developed for both websites.
Ministry Formation (including internship)	Designed and managed by seminary	Designed and managed by SMCC staff
Six evaluated sermons	Seminary manages sermon evaluation process	SMCC staff manages sermon evaluation process	Sermon evaluation forms are available at CTS. See also CEP Sermon Evaluation Form
Psychological evaluation	Seminary is responsible for arranging for exams, follow-up recommendations, and monitoring progress	SMCC staff is responsible for arranging for exams, follow-up recommendations, and monitoring progress
Greek and Hebrew (pdf) language competency examinations	Required	Not required
Bible knowledge examination	Required	Required
Course work (2 week summer seminar and fall quarter)	Required	Required
Faculty Interview	Required	Not required