STEP 1: INITIAL DOCUMENTS

 

By the Step 1 Due Date for the Presbytery meeting approved (see Important Dates), the following items must be received by the Exam Committee Chairman by email as attached Word or PDF files only (see Officers and Committees for contact information). Please send your documents in on time/early to prevent any delay on your ordination cycle. Hiccups such as improper file formats (JPG, HEIC, Pages Docs etc) that require you to resend the documents on a date later than the Step 1 Due Date WILL result in the delay of your examination process to the next Presbytery exam cycle. 

The following two research papers are only required for candidates pursuing ordination. You must follow the paper guidelines precisely, or they will be returned for correction (see Research Paper Guidelines). NOTE: If there is a repeated failure to abide by the guidelines (or if the content of the research paper continues to be inadequate after one or two rounds of feedback), then there is a risk that you will have to delay your examination process to the next (or an even later) Presbytery exam cycle.
 

** A. Exegetical Paper (Greek or Hebrew). This paper demonstrates your ability to handle the original languages.

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** B. Theological Paper. This paper demonstrates your ability to synthesize biblical information and make a compelling biblical case for a specific theological topic or issue.

To keep the following documents distinct from each other among Exam Committee members and at Presbytery, format the top of each page with a one-line header that includes your name, document title, date, and page number (example: "John Smith, Views, 01/07/14, Page 1 of 3"). Improperly formatted documents will be returned for formatting.
 

C. Conversion, Christian Experience, and Calling Statement. Provide a written statement of your conversion, Christian experience, and calling (limit 500 words).

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D. Views Paper. Provide a statement succinctly stating your beliefs in your own words, on the following topics (limit 250 words per topic).

 

1. The Inspiration of Scripture

2. The Trinity

3. The person and work of Christ

4. Christ’s death and resurrection

5. The doctrine of man

6. The final state of man

7. The second coming of Christ

8. The doctrine and mission of the church

9. Person and work of the Holy Spirit (including your views on which gifts of the Spirit continue)

10. The doctrine of the person and work of Satan

11. The five points of Calvinism

12. The days of creation

13. New Perspectives on Paul

14. The role of women in the Church

15. Paedocommunion

16. Human sexuality (including your views on transgenderism and same sex attraction)

 

​E. Exceptions Statement. Provide a written statement of your exception(s) to the Westminster Standards (the Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechisms). For each exception, include the reference, specifically what it is you are taking exception to, a brief defense of your position and which of the three categories you believe it falls under (see Classifying Exceptions to the Westminster Standards).

 

F. Sermon Audio. Provide an MP3 format audio recording of a recent sermon you prepared and preached. The sermon must be expository in form and at least 20 minutes in length, and must include explanation, illustration, and application. 

 

G. Sermon Transcript. Provide a written, word-for-word transcript of the recorded sermon you submit above.

 

** H. Candidates Committee Report. Provide a brief written statement from the Candidates Committee Chairman (see Officers and Committees) concerning the status of your internship. Consult BCO 19-7 through 19-16 and the Central Florida Presbytery Candidate for Ministry manual for a thorough discussion of internship requirements. Intern requirements must be satisfied before, or by the date of presbytery. If you are coming in from a different Presbytery, contact our Presbytery's Exam Committee Chairman for special instructions.

 

** I. College and Seminary Documents. Provide official documents identifying the college and seminary from which you graduated, dates of graduation, degree program(s), list of courses with final grades (seminary only), and final cumulative GPA. For college a picture or scan of your diploma is sufficient. For seminary you will typically need to contact the Registrar's office.

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J. Ministry Call. Whether you are a licensure or ordination candidate, we require certification from your church about how they intend to utilize your service in the ministry of the Word.

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• For **Ordination Candidates: Provide a copy of your signed, prospective ministry call, issued by your prospective place of ministry, per BCO 20-1 and written in the general form of 20-6. Please scan and email it to the Exam Committee Chairman. If you do not have a formal ministry call from your Session, then licensure is a possibility, but you cannot pursue ordination.

 

• For Licensure Candidates: Provide a written statement (or email) from your church's Session stating how they intend to utilize your service in the ministry of the Word. Here is a general template: "The Session of [church name] intends to have [name of candidate] preach for us [in Sunday morning services / in a local nursing home / etc.] an average of [x] number of times per year." This statement should include a description of any other pastoral responsibilities the licentiate will be expected to perform.

Upon satisfying these requirements, you will be directed by the Exam Committee Chairman to Step 2.

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