There are a number of situations which might require a candidate or minister to transfer his candidacy or credentials into CIP, such as when a minister from outside the presbytery entertains a call to pastor a church within the boundaries of CIP.
The requirements for specific transfers are listed below. Yet in each case, each person seeking transfer must comply with the following:
- He must contact the Leadership Development Team to arrange a meeting between the committee and himself, at an upcoming presbytery meeting.
- He must submit the appropriate paperwork to the Chairman no later than 30 days prior to the designated presbytery meeting, including a Transfer Application Form.
- He must meet with the Leadership Development Team and be examined by the team, and the presbytery, to have his particular transfer approved.
Transfer of Candidate – A candidate from another presbytery in the PCA may, for various reasons and upon the approval of that presbytery, request to come under care of CIP; at which point CIP would request a letter of dismissal from that presbytery to CIP. The candidate is then obliged to fulfill the requirements for candidacy in CIP.
An applicant from another denomination must present testimonials of his standing in that body and must become a member of a PCA congregation, as well as fulfill the other requirements for candidacy.
Transfer of Intern – If during the course of an internship, the intern should move from his presbytery into the boundaries of CIP, CIP may, at its discretion, take up the internship at the point in which it was left, and conduct it to a conclusion (BCO 19-11). The intern must submit proper testimonials from the former presbytery to CIP, and fulfill the requirements for an internship under the care of CIP.
Licensure – Licensure is not transferable from presbytery to presbytery; each presbytery is responsible for licensing those who preach within its own boundaries. Thus any who desire to be licensed in CIP must fulfill the requirements for licensure.
However, a PCA ordained minister who is a member in good standing of another presbytery may be licensed to preach in CIP after being examined as to his views, according to the provision of BCO 13-6.
Transfer of a PCA ordained Minister – A PCA ordained minister must submit or comply with the following to transfer his credentials into CIP (in addition to those listed above):
- Letter from Stated Clerk of current presbytery attesting that he is in good standing
- Written Examination on Views
- He must be examined by the committee and presbytery on his Christian experience and call to ministry, and touching on his views in theology, the sacraments, and church government (BCO 13-6).
- Written call to a particular work (properly attested and signed, BCO 20-1, 20-6 through 20-8)
- Submit a recommended Commission to install minister; this commission should consist of three Teaching Elders and Three Ruling Elders from CIP, and at least one of each should be from churches other than the one extending the call; the date, time, and place of the installation must also be included in the recommendation.
Transfer of a non-PCA ordained Minister – A non-PCA ordained minister seeking to transfer his credentials into CIP must submit or comply with the following:
- Transcripts from college and seminary awarding minister’s degrees
- Exegesis paper
- Theological paper
- Completed set of written examinations: English Bible, Theology, Church Government, Church History, Sacraments, and Views.
- He must be examined by the committee and presbytery in those areas above (BCO 13-6, 24-1).
- Written call to a particular work (properly attested and signed; BCO 20-1, 20-6 through 20-8).
- Submit a recommended Commission to install minister; this commission should consist of three Teaching Elders and Three Ruling Elders from CIP, and at least one of each should be from churches other than the one extending the call; the date, time, and place of the installation must also be included in the recommendation.
PLEASE NOTE: Ordinarily a candidate or licentiate may not be granted permission by CIP to move onto the field to which he has been called, prior to his examination for licensure or ordination. Likewise a PCA ordained minister, or a minister from another denomination, ordinarily shall not move onto the field to which he has been called until examined and received by CIP (BCO 21-1).