Candidacy Process

This page is designed to be a guide and reference for all (CTS and EPMC program) participants in the 24-month candidacy process.  It describes all the steps of the 2-year process of candidacy. As you progress through these steps, please feel free to connect with the Candidacy Director if you have any questions! 

To reach the Candidacy Director, Susan LaClear, email [email protected].

To reach both the Candidacy Director and the Candidacy Administrative Assistant (for document submission) email [email protected].

CTS Students

You can view a printable copy of the information contained below here.

We encourage CTS students to connect with the Candidacy Director early on in their MDiv program so that they can get an understanding of what’s involved in the 24-month candidacy process and keep candidacy assignments on their radar.  We also welcome students to  attend  Candidacy Connection meetings at CTS each year to check in and ask questions, and to contact the Candidacy Director individually as needed. There is a common misconception that CTS students can wait to connect with the Candidacy Director until the fall before they intend to candidate. We don’t recommend that, since there are a few elements of the process that you should be engaged 2 years prior to your intended candidacy date.

Throughout your candidacy journey, we want to get to know you well and to help you feel well-connected to denominational staff and resources as you discern your ministry path in the CRCNA.  So let us know if there are additional ways you would like us to help you connect, and we will be glad to help!

To get started, please complete the Denominational Candidacy Program Application.

To reach the Candidacy Director, Susan LaClear, directly, use the email [email protected].

To reach both the Candidacy Director and the Candidacy Administrative Assistant (for document submission), use the address [email protected].

  • Apply to the 24-month candidacy program if you have not already done so.
  • After you have completed your first preaching course, and upon the recommendation of the preaching faculty, you may apply for a Denominational License to Exhort.
  • Meet with the CMLT (Classis Ministerial Leadership Team) of your classis and ask them to send an Initial Classis Report to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • At the end of this year, meet with your CMLT again, and ask them to send their one-year Classis Report to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • The Abuse of Power Training can be engaged at any point in your process, so it is listed as a requirement under “The Final Six Months Before Candidacy,” but you may choose to take it earlier if you want to lighten the load of your final year. The training is called "The Power to Do Good", and it should take you about 6 hours.
  • VF Mentor Sign Off - Candidates are required to complete a 24-month mentorship and reports from the mentor must be submitted to the Candidacy Director. For CTS students, this requirement can be filled in one of the following ways:
    • 2 years of mentorship with a "candidacy mentor" (preferably a Minister of the Word in the CRCNA) who submits regular reports throughout the mentorship: 1 initial report + 6 additional reports (approx. 1 every 4 months) + 1 final recommendation.
    • 1 year VF mentorship + 1 year Candidacy mentorship — CTS students may apply 1 year of their vocational formation mentorship through CTS towards this requirement by asking their VF mentor to fill out this report form and submit it to Candidacy. Once this form is received, "year one" of the candidacy mentorship will be considered complete. The student must then initiate a new mentorship (or ask the VF mentor to continue on as a candidacy mentor for another year). This candidacy mentor should submit 1 initial report (waived if continuing with the same VF mentor) + 3 additional reports (approx 1 every 4 months) + a final recommendation to the Candidacy Office.

Note: You should be on the MDiv track that contains courses required for candidacy: CRC Polity, History and Reformed Confessions

Summer

  • Candidacy requires that you preach two evaluated sermons in two different contexts other than your own (this is distinct from the two sermons/ one video requirement outlined below). Begin scheduling preaching engagements at two different churches to fulfill this requirement. Each time you preach, ask 3 to 5 individuals in the congregation to fill out this evaluation form and then review the feedback with your mentor. In the Mentor Recommendation form which your candidacy mentor will complete, they will provide the dates and locations for these sermons to confirm that this requirement is complete. You do not need to submit these sermons. (Note: Evaluated preaching assignments done through the CTS Vocational Formation office count towards this requirement).  
  • If you haven’t done this already in year one, now is the time to initiate a Candidacy Mentorship with a CRC pastor. (It can be your vocational formation mentor if that person is willing to continue meeting with you monthly and submit reports on your behalf, but most students find another mentor for candidacy). Meet monthly with that mentor until you complete candidacy.
  • Ask your candidacy mentor to fill out an Initial Mentor Report and send it in to the Candidacy Director at [email protected]. Inform them also that they should send in three more Mentor Reports before March 1st of the candidacy year (one every two months or so.)

Note: We encourage you to stay in communication with the Vocational Formation Office at CTS, since completion of all your vocational formation assignments (psych eval, internships, etc.) is a prerequisite for candidacy.

Due November 1

  • Declare your intent to candidate to the Candidacy Director at [email protected]. Your assigned preaching text will be sent to you, along with a link to your Final Year Process Docs folder.
  • The CTS Academic Services Coordinator will be notified by the Candidacy Administrative Assistant that you intend to candidate, and she will email these documents for you to Docusign: Authorization to Release Information, Background Check and Personal Disclosure.
  • Before you begin writing your assigned sermons, please see the details below in the Two Sermons and One Video section (under Due February 15), and read the Guidelines for Candidacy Sermon Preparation and Submission thoroughly. When you schedule a time to preach your assigned sermon, make sure to have a plan for the video recording (see notes about this in the guidelines).

Due December 15

  • Submit your vocational reflection paper to  the Director of Candidacy [email protected]. The Reflection Paper should contain the following:
  1. Reflections on your growing sense of identity (20%)
    Incorporating learnings from formation group, mentoring, psych assessment, coursework and vocational formation experiences, write about…

    • What you've learned about your identity as a Christ follower

    • What you’ve learned about your identity within the body of Christ

    • How your experience of accountability in ministry (relationship to council, mentors, pastors) has formed you

    • Your plan for maintaining spiritual/emotional health

  2. Reflections on your growing understanding of your calling/purpose (20%)

    • Your developing knowledge of your own gifts and passions

    • Your experience of Christ's redemptive work in your brokenness and how that impacts your sense of call

    • How have others affirmed your sense of gifting and call to ministry?

  3. Reflections on your growth in ministry competency (30%)

    • Your own assessment of your development in the 6 ministry competencies: leading, preaching/teaching, seeking justice, pastoral care, evangelism, and worship

  4. Reflections on your understanding of leadership (30%)

    • Articulate a biblically and theologically informed philosophy of leadership.

    • Describe your unique leadership style

    • Outline your plan for continued development of leadership

Note: Pres. Medenblik requires a similar paper for his Leadership in Ministry course, and students may choose to submit that final paper to candidacy instead of writing this reflection paper.

Due February 15

  • Two Sermons and One Video
    • Please see Guidelines for Candidacy Sermon Preparation and Submission for detailed instructions about this requirement.
    • Create two (typed, double-spaced) sermon manuscripts and with supporting evidence, one on the assigned text and the other from a text of your choice (not one written for class work).
    • Preach the assigned-text sermon during a worship service that is video-recorded. If the service isn't being recorded, request that someone record you delivering the sermon using a smartphone or tablet.
    • Upload the sermons, supporting materials, and video (see notes below) to your Final Year Process Docs Folder that the Candidacy Administrative Assistant shared with you. If you are uploading a video file, make sure that it is no larger than 1 GB.
    •  A link to YouTube or a worship service on a church website is acceptable. If you choose to provide a link rather than upload your video, please create a Google Doc in your folder entitled “Video of Assigned Sermon.” Paste the link into the document and provide instructions for the reviewers so they can easily navigate to the sermon portion of the video.

Due March 1

  • Bio, Picture, Faith Journey, and Statement of Reason: This information will be featured in the Candidate Booklet. The Candidacy Administrative Assistant will provide you with a form to complete to provide this information. An example of the Candidate Booklet can be found here.
  • Minister Profile: The CRC Information Technology department will send you an email with log-in instructions to create your own CRCNA Minister Profile (this email is usually sent shortly after you declare your intent to candidate). Even if you already know where you will be serving you need to complete this profile for future information sharing. Your minister profile will be part of a database that search teams can access when looking for a new pastor. This profile is also where you will keep your information up to date for the CRCNA Yearbook. If you have questions or need to access your profile, please contact [email protected].       
  • Abuse of Power Training: This new synodically mandated training will require four hours of online work. It can be accessed through the  Safe Church Ministry website under “Toolkits and Resources”.
  • Meet with your CMLT a final time at the end of this second year, and ask them to send in a final Classis Report and the Classis Recommendation form to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • Mentor Recommendation: Ask your candidacy mentor to complete the Mentor Recommendation form. Your mentor must sign this form and review it with you, then submit it to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • Ask the chair or clerk of the council to complete the Council Recommendation form. The representative must sign this form and review it with you, then submit it to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].

April Candidacy Interview

  • An invitation will be sent to meet with an interview team in late April. The Candidacy Director or a member of your interview team will contact you regarding the date/time of your interview for candidacy in the CRCNA. The topics of this interview:
    • Personal call and sense of vocation
    • Knowledge of Scripture and theology
    • Commitment to doctrine and ministry of the CRC

May 

  • CTS Seminary graduation ceremony is held in mid-May.
  • Check in with CTS and Candidacy to make sure you have no outstanding coursework, candidacy assignments, vocational formation or psych requirements that would cause “delayed status” for your candidacy. If you have not completed all of the requirements listed above and all coursework, you will be considered a candidate with a “delay.” You will have an asterisk listed next to your name on the Candidate’s page. A delay means that you will not be able to accept a call and be examined by your classis until all requirements are complete and the delay removed.

June Candidacy Approval by Synod 

  • Candidacy Committee sends a list of all approved candidates (even those with delayed status) to synod for approval at the June meeting.
  • Candidates are celebrated, prayed for and affirmed at synod.

Summer (or later) Call

  • Once synod officially gives approval to candidates in mid-June,  all (non-delayed) candidates may officially accept a “provisional call” (provisional upon successfully passing an examination by the classis of the calling church).
  • Before this point, candidates may begin having conversations with churches but no call can be provisionally extended/accepted until synod has approved them (and all assignments are complete).
  • If you accept a call, please send an email to the Candidacy Director at [email protected] containing the title of your new role and the name/location of the church who called you. This will then be communicated to CTS and other denominational entities who need this information.
  • It may be possible, in some cases, to begin work at your calling church before you are ordained.

Fall (or later) Classis Exam and Ordination 

  • You should talk with the Stated Clerk of the classis of your church to obtain the classical exam requirements and their timeline (classis usually meet 3 times a year in September/October, January/February, April/May, unless they schedule a special meeting for your exam).
  • If you have outstanding requirements that cause you to show up as a “delayed candidate” (asterisk behind your name) on the candidacy website, your classis will not be able to examine you until those requirements are cleared up.
  • You will be examined by classis for ordination as a Minister of the Word.
  • After approved by classis, your ordination service can be scheduled with your calling church.

Note: you are examined and ordained only once in your lifetime as a CRCNA Minister of the Word (even if you transfer between churches and classes later on in your ministry)

EPMC Participants

The Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy, or EPMC, is a denominational program for those who have earned MDivs in other seminaries to become candidates in the CRC.

It is comprised of:

  • Coursework through Calvin Theological Seminary
  • Mentorship with a local mentor
  • Connection events
  • Vocational Formation work
  • Formation Group Conversations

If anything is unclear in the process below, please check the EPMC Handbook for clarity, or contact [email protected].

You can view a printable copy of the information contained below here.

  • Apply to the EPMC Program
    This application will involve the following:
    • brief essays: autobiography, summary of ministry experiences, statement of Christian commitment
    • Names and contact info for 4 references: church council, pastor and personal
    • Four completed recommendations
    • Submission of all official transcripts (Currently enrolled students: submit an unofficial seminary transcript when you begin the EPMC program, and a final transcript after the degree is posted). Transcripts are reviewed for GPA (2.67 minimum) and liberal arts pre-requisite courses. Applicants who do not meet minimum requirements may be provisionally admitted and required to create a learning plan. Please note, official transcripts should be sent directly from your school to CTS.
      • Official, electronic copies can be sent to: [email protected]
      • Hard copies can be sent to:
        Office of Admissions
        Calvin Theological Seminary
        3233 Burton St. SE
        Grand Rapids, MI 49546
        USA
    • Recent photo (email to [email protected] with name in subject)
    • TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native English speakers only)
    • Declaration of Finances (International students only) due May 1, to obtain an I-20
  • Determine who your CRC mentor will be (should be a CRC minister who is willing to meet with you monthly throughout the 2-year process)
  • Establish connection with the CMLT of a CRC classis, and inform the candidacy director who that contact person is

Note: the 24-month “clock” starts ticking once you have established and reported your mentorship and classis connections, so do this as soon as possible.

  • If you are not enrolled, visit  https://calvinseminary.edu/program/epmc/ to learn more and apply!
  • Meet with the CMLT (Classis Ministerial Leadership Team) of your classis and ask them to send an Initial Classis Report to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • At the end of this year meet with your CMLT again, and ask them to send their one-year Classis Report to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • The Abuse of Power Training can be engaged at any point in your process, so it is listed in the "Final 6 Months" section, but you may choose to take it earlier if you want to lighten the load of your final year! The training is called "The Power to Do Good", and it should take you about 6 hours.
  • Meet with your EPMC Facilitation Team for an initial interview. They will design your individualized learning plan based on your previous education and experience.

    Each plan will be designed to cover the elements below, and all will include  a minimum of 9 credit hours through Calvin Seminary.
    • Reformed Confessions
    • CRC Polity
    • CRC History
    • Knowledge of Scripture
    • Reformed Hermeneutics
    • Biblical Interpretation Skills with Original Languages
    • Preaching.
    • Liberal Arts competence
  • Fill out your Vocational Formation Plan and send it to  your EPMC Facilitation Team for approval.
  • Apply for a denominational license to exhort.
  • Contact [email protected] to set up your psychological evaluation. For an outline of the full psych assessment process, please refer to the EPMC Psych Assessment Protocol. The basic steps of the psych evaluation process are as follows:
    • Complete a battery of psychometric assessments.
    • Meet with a therapist for an in person (or virtual) interview.
    • Read/ access your report in the presence of your mentor (after signing the release documents).
    • Contact Dr. Vandermolen to confirm whether or not there are any requirements arising from the assessment.
    • Complete any requirements arising from the assessment.
    • Provide Dr. Vandermolen with confirmation of the completion of any requirements.
  • Register for the next CTS Connection Trip in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • Begin the coursework in your individualized learning plan.
  • Ask your candidacy mentor to fill out an Initial Mentor Report and send it in to the Candidacy Director ([email protected]). Meet monthly with your mentor to process your learning and growth. Your mentor should submit three additional Mentor Reports to the Candidacy Office ([email protected]) over the course of this first year (see the Forms and Resources page for the most up to date version of all forms.)
  • Formation Group: After the first connection trip, at which you will meet your Formation Group and leader, begin meeting with this group every other week over the course of two semesters.
  • Continue meeting monthly with your mentor throughout this year to discuss your learning and growth in ministry identity and skills. Your mentor should send 3 more Mentor Reports throughout this year.
  • Candidacy requires that you preach two evaluated sermons in two different contexts other than your own (this is distinct from the two sermons/ one video requirement outlined below). Begin scheduling preaching engagements at two different churches to fulfill this requirement. Each time you preach, ask 3 to 5 individuals in the congregation to fill out this evaluation form and then review the feedback with your mentor. In the Mentor Recommendation form which your candidacy mentor will complete, they will provide the dates and locations for these sermons to confirm that this requirement is complete. You do not need to submit these sermons. (Note: Evaluated preaching assignments done through the CTS Vocational Formation office count towards this requirement).  
  • Register for your second connection trip, the CRCNA Connection Trip in either Burlington, Ontario or Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • Birkman Assessment: Ahead of the CRCNA Connection Trip, you will be asked to complete a Birkman Assessment and review the results with a qualified consultant. Please bring your results to the connection trip retreat as a discussion about the Birkman will make up part of the retreat content.

    Review your psychological evaluation results with your mentor. Once you’ve met with your mentor, please have your mentor email the Vocational Formation office at [email protected] to confirm that review is complete. The CTS Vocational Formation office will then notify you if they will be assigning any additional requirements based on your report. Once you have completed those additional requirements, please notify the Vocational Formation office. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
  • Complete all vocational formation assignments in your approved Vocational Formation plan and report their completion to your EPMC Facilitation Team and copy [email protected].

Due November 1

  • Declare your intent to candidate to the Candidacy Director at [email protected]. Your assigned preaching text will be sent to you, along with a link to your Final Year Process Docs folder.
  • The CTS Academic Services Coordinator will be notified by the Candidacy administrative assistant that you intend to candidate, and they will email these documents for you to Docusign:
    • Authorization to Release Information
    • Background Check
    • Personal Disclosure
  • Before you begin writing your assigned sermons, please see the details below in the Two Sermons and One Video section (under Due February 15), and read the Guidelines for Candidacy Sermon Preparation and Submission thoroughly. When you schedule a time to preach your assigned sermon, make sure to have a plan for the video recording (see notes about this in the guidelines).

Due December 15

  • Submit your Vocational Reflection paper to the Director of Candidacy at  [email protected]. The Vocational Reflection paper should contain the following:
  1. Reflections on your growing sense of identity (20%)
    Incorporating learnings from formation group, mentoring, psych assessment, coursework and vocational formation experiences, write about…

    • What you've learned about your identity as a Christ follower

    • What you’ve learned about your identity within the body of Christ

    • How your experience of accountability in ministry (relationship to council, mentors, pastors) has formed you

    • Your plan for maintaining spiritual/emotional health

  2. Reflections on your growing understanding of your calling/purpose (20%)

    • Your developing knowledge of your own gifts and passions

    • Your experience of Christ's redemptive work in your brokenness and how that impacts your sense of call

    • How have others affirmed your sense of gifting and call to ministry?

    • Your developing knowledge of your own gifts and passions

    • Your experience of Christ's redemptive work in your brokenness and how that impacts your sense of call

    • How have others affirmed your sense of gifting and call to ministry?

  3. Reflections on your growth in ministry competency (30%)

    • Your own assessment of your development in the 6 ministry competencies: leading, preaching/teaching, seeking justice, pastoral care, evangelism, and worship

  4. Reflections on your understanding of leadership (30%)

    • Articulate a biblically and theologically informed philosophy of leadership.

    • Describe your unique leadership style

    • Outline your plan for continued development of leadership

Due February 15

  • Two Sermons, One Video
    • Please see Guidelines for Candidacy Sermon Preparation and Submission for detailed instructions about this requirement.
    • Create two (typed, double-spaced) sermon manuscripts and with supporting evidence, one on the assigned text and the other from a text of your choice (not one written for class work).
    • Preach the assigned-text sermon during a worship service that is video-recorded. If the service isn't being recorded, request that someone record you delivering the sermon using a smartphone or tablet.
    • Upload the sermons, supporting materials, and video (see notes below) to your Final Year Process Docs Folder that the Candidacy Administrative Assistant shared with you. If you are uploading a video file, make sure that it is no larger than 1 GB.
    • A link to YouTube or a worship service on a church website is acceptable. If you choose to provide a link rather than upload your video, please create a Google Doc in your folder entitled “Video of Assigned Sermon.” Paste the link into the document and provide instructions for the reviewers so they can easily navigate to the sermon portion of the video.

Due March 1

  • Bio, Picture, Faith Journey, and Statement of Reason: This information will be featured in the Candidate Booklet. The Candidacy Administrative Assistant will provide you with a form to complete to provide this information. An example of the Candidate Booklet can be found here.
  • Minister Profile: The CRC Information Technology department will send you an email with login instructions to create your own CRCNA Minister Profile (this email is usually sent shortly after you declare your intent to candidate). Even if you already know where you will be serving you need to complete this profile for future information sharing. Your minister profile will be part of a database that search teams can access when looking for a new pastor. This profile is also where you will keep your information up to date for the CRCNA Yearbook. If you have questions or need to access your profile, please contact [email protected].
  • Abuse of Power training: This new synodically-mandated training will require about six hours of online work. The training is called "The Power to Do Good," and you can access it on the Safe Church webpage.
  • Meet with your CMLT a final time at the end of this second year, and ask them to send in a final Classis Report and the Classis Recommendation form to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • Mentor Recommendation: Ask your candidacy mentor to complete the Mentor Recommendation form. Your mentor must sign this form and review it with you, then submit it to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • Ask the chair or clerk of the council to complete the Council Recommendation form. The representative must sign this form and review it with you, then submit it to the Candidacy Director at [email protected].
  • Meet with your EPMC Facilitation Team for a final interview. The purpose of the interview is to allow the EPMC Facilitation Team members an opportunity to discuss the participant’s vocational formation reflection paper with them, and make a final assessment of (1) the student’s personal, spiritual and professional readiness for ministry, (2) the student’s knowledge of and agreement with the confessional positions of the Christian Reformed Church, and (3) the student’s general suitability for ministerial candidacy in the Christian Reformed Church. The team will then present their assessment of the participant’s readiness for candidacy to the Candidacy Committee before the participant’s final interview for candidacy in April.

April Candidacy Interview

  • An invitation will be sent to meet with an interview team in late April. The Candidacy Director or a member of your interview team will contact you regarding the date/time of your interview for candidacy in the CRCNA. The topics of this interview:
    • Personal call and sense of vocation
    • Knowledge of scripture and theology
    • Commitment to the doctrine and ministry of the Christian Reformed Church

May 

  • Check in with CTS and Candidacy to make sure you have no outstanding coursework, candidacy assignments, vocational formation or psych requirements that would cause “delayed status” for your candidacy. If you have not completed all of the requirements listed above and all coursework, you will be considered a candidate with a “delay.” You will have an asterisk listed next to your name on the Candidate’s page. A delay means that you will not be able to accept a call and be examined by your classis until all requirements are complete and the delay removed.

June Candidacy Approval by Synod

  • Candidacy Committee sends a list of all approved candidates (even those with delayed status) to synod for approval at the June meeting
  • Candidates are celebrated, prayed for and affirmed at synod
  • If you haven’t already done so, please send your final transcripts for your M. Div to Calvin Theological Seminary.  Please note, official transcripts should be sent directly from your school to CTS.
    • Official, electronic copies can be sent to: [email protected]
    • Hard copies can be sent to:
           Office of Admissions
           Calvin Theological Seminary
           3233 Burton St. SE
           Grand Rapids, MI 49546
           USA

Summer (or later) Call

  • Once synod officially gives approval to candidates in mid-June, all (non-delayed) candidates may officially accept a “provisional call” (provisional upon successfully passing an examination by the classis of the calling church).
  • Before this point, candidates may begin having conversations with churches but no call can be provisionally extended/accepted until synod has approved them (and all assignments are complete)
  • If you accept a call, please send an email to the Candidacy Director at [email protected] containing the title of your new role and the name/location of the church who called you. This will then be communicated to CTS and other denominational entities who need this information.
  • It may be possible, in some cases, to begin work at your calling church before you are ordained

Fall (or later) Classis Exam and Ordination 

  • You should talk with the Stated Clerk of the classis of your church to obtain the classical exam requirements and their timeline (classis usually meet 3 times a year in September/October, January/February, April/May, unless they schedule a special meeting for your exam).
  • If you have outstanding requirements that cause you to show up as a “delayed candidate” (asterisk behind your name) on the candidacy website, your classis will not be able to examine you until those requirements are cleared up
  • You will be examined by classis for ordination as a Minister of the Word
  • After approved by classis, your ordination service can be scheduled with your calling church

Note: You are examined and ordained only once in your lifetime as a CRCNA Minister of the Word (even if you transfer between churches and classes later on in your ministry.)

Connection Trips

Note: If you are scheduling a flight, you should plan to arrive before 5pm on the first day listed and leave after 12pm on the last day listed for each trip. 

A registration fee of $150 will contribute towards your meals and lodging during the trip (Candidacy will cover all other expenses, except travel, in order to keep the trip affordable to all participants). If you are arranging your own accommodations, please email [email protected] for a coupon code so that your registration fee can be reduced by 50% for meals only. Additionally, if your classis will be covering the registration fee, please email [email protected] for a coupon code to use during registration, and instructions for your classis to make payment.

CTS Connection Trip (trip #1), Jan. 20-23, 2025—Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. REGISTER HERE