Question 1

1. LOCAL LICENSE

Accepted Answer

LOCAL LICENSE:
•Issued by the local church board, signed by the pastor and the secretary of the church board.
Good for one year.
•Enroll in the Course of Study for ministers through the District Studies Board (Mike Morris-).
•Begin taking courses.
•A Local License must be renewed on a yearly basis.

Manual paragraphs 503-503.9, 531-531.7

Question 2

2. COURSE OF STUDY

Accepted Answer

COURSE OF STUDY:
•A student must be recommended by their local pastor (or the DAB) and the local church board; send recommendation to the District Studies Board (Mike Morris: )

•Send any College or Post-Secondary Transcripts to the Studies Board Secretary for review and transfer of credit

•Attend an approved course of study through either the District, College, or Master’s Program to complete the 24 Modules required by the Church of the Nazarene

•Acquire and review the Source book for Ordination (available at www.kynaz.com) and the
Handbook for Christian Ministries USA/Canada through www.nazarene.org. 
 
•Report to the District Board of Ministry regularly, meet yearly with District Studies Board, and complete a minimum of 2 courses per year to maintain active status in the Course of Study

Manual paragraphs 529-529.7

Question 3

3. DISTRICT LICENSE

Accepted Answer

DISTRICT LICENSE:
• Must have held Local License for a full one year minimum

• Must have completed at least 6 courses/classes or the equivalent of ¼ of the Course of Study to receive first license; must take a minimum of 2 courses or their equivalent each year for license to be renewed; all class work needs to be reported in a timely manner to the Studies Board (Mike Morris: )

• Candidate must be recommended by their pastor and local church board; form submitted to the District Secretary by the pastor; if the Licensed Minister is a pastor, the DAB makes this recommendation.

• Must have a current Local License.

• Must apply and send application to the District Secretary (annually).

• Must meet with the District Credentials Board each year.

• District License must be renewed on a yearly basis until Ordination.

• After having received first District License, all education requirements must be completed within 10 years if seeking ordination.

• If there has been a divorce in the applicant's background, this must be cleared first by the Board of Ministry and the Board of General Superintendents. the Credentials Board will interview the candidate for the purpose of clearing, at the district level, the candidate for licensing. This must be done before application for the first district license can be made. The Board of General Superintendents is responsible to ultimately clear the candidate of divorce before a license may be issued. There are forms the candidate must fill out, about any divorce, to be submitted to the Credentials Board and forwarded to the Board of General Superintendents along with other forms completed by the Credentials Board.

• A District License may be transferred to another district; the Licensed Minister is responsible to contact the District Secretary to do this transfer.

• The non-pastoring Licensed Minister will report each year to the District Secretary.

Manual paragraphs 532-532.9

Question 4

4. ORDINATION

Accepted Answer

ORDINATION:
• Must have completed all education requirements within 10 years of receiving first District License.

• Must complete an application via the District Secretary.

• Will be interviewed by Credentials Board.

• Must currently hold a District License and in an active ministry assignment.

• Must have at one time held a District License for not less than 3 consecutive years.

• Must be recommended by their local church or the DAB.

• Must have been an assigned minister for not less than 3 consecutive years; for someone serving in a part time assignment there should be an extension of the consecutive years of service depending on their level of involvement in the local church where they serve. Credentials Board will determine this)

• The Credentials Board recommends to the District Assembly for an individual to be ordained; the candidate must be elected to the role of Elder by a 2/3 vote of the District Assembly & with the approval of the General Superintendent.

• If an elder moves to another district, it is the responsibility of the elder to request that their credentials be transferred to the district to which they have moved; this request is to be submitted to the District Secretary.

Manual paragraphs 534 - 534.3

BRESEE BIBLE COLLEGE

Spring 2026 (March 23 thru June 5)

Contact the District Office for Registration

SPRING 2026 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Frequently asked questions

1. LOCAL LICENSE

2. COURSE OF STUDY

3. DISTRICT LICENSE

4. ORDINATION

BRESEE BIBLE COLLEGE

Spring 2026 (March 23 thru June 5)​

Contact the District Office for Registration

SPRING 2026 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Frequently asked questions

1. LOCAL LICENSE

2. COURSE OF STUDY

3. DISTRICT LICENSE

4. ORDINATION

Spring 2026 (March 23 thru June 5)