Assemblies of God Credentialing Study Guide
Questions and Answers| Latest Update
Ministerial discipline for offenses ✔️✔️Discipline is to be administered for the restoration of the
minister, while fully providing for the protection of the spiritual welfare of our local assemblies.
It is to be redemptive in nature as well as corrective, and is to be exercised as under a
dispensation of mercy.
Causes of discipline:
- moral failure for sexual misconduct
- moral failure for pornography
- any moral or ethical failure other than sexual misconduct
- failure to represent our Pentecost testimony rights
- contentious/non-cooperative spirit
- dictatorial authority over assembly
- arbitrary rejection of DC
- open change in doctrinal views
- immoral, unethical, illegal practices related to personal, church, or ministry finances
- violation of ministerial courtesy
- ministry without prior approval in a non-AG church
- an improper attitude toward those dismissed from the Fellowship
When more than 7 years have passed from an occurrence that is cause for disciplinary action, a
district credentials committee may recommend to the GC credentialing committee that no
discipline be administered when, in view of all the circumstances, it would appear that such
discipline would serve only as punitive rather than restorative. Final determination will be made
by the GC credentialing committee (pg. 137).
Ministerial discipline procedure ✔️✔️The superintendent of the district or appointed
representative shall conduct the investigation to determine their source and validity.
1. Interview with complaints
,2. Interview with accused minister
3. Signed complaints (if investigation warrants)
4. Conditions for ministry during investigation
If after due investigation it is determined that charges should be made, proper charges shall be
prepared and filed in the district office. In the event the reports or complaints cannot be dealt
with privately, the superintendent shall arrange for a hearing by the district credentials
committee for the accused minister. A minister found guilty will be required to surrender their
ministerial credentials and their current fellowship card to the district office. It shall be the
responsibility of the credentials committee to determine whether the circumstance merits
restoration or dismissal (pg. 137-139).
Ministerial ethics and courtesy ✔️✔️All discourteous conduct is disapproved, and all ministers
are advised against interfering with pastors in charge of assemblies, whether it be by going in
upon their work without consent or by such correspondence with members of the assembly as
will hurt the influence of the leader. All correspondence which concerns the whole assembly
shall be addressed to the one in charge and not to individual members. Where there is no
pastor, letters concerning the work shall be addressed to the officers of the assembly. Any
minister who so offends will be subject to discipline (pg. 135).
Ministerial requirements for licensed ministers ✔️✔️Basic qualifications (for all ministers):
- salvation
- baptism in the HS
- evidence of call
- Christian character
- doctrinal position
- AG polity
- Voluntary cooperation and commitment to the Fellowship
- basic educational requirements
- mandatory screening
- marriage status of divorce
- ecclesiastical annulment and marriage dissolution
, Licensed ministers in particular:
Qualifications for license shall include clear evidence of a divine call, character and preparation
suitable for that calling, practical ministry experience, and an evident purpose to devote one's
life in service to the proclamation of the gospel (pg. 121-124).
Nonprofit corporate law
tax benefits as nonprofit; contributions are tax write-off. A nonprofit corporation is a
corporation formed to carry out a charitable, educational, religious, literary or scientific
purpose. A nonprofit can raise funds by receiving public and private grant money and donations
from individuals and companies.
Privileged information ✔️✔️AG ministers are encouraged to respect as sacred and confidential
info confided in them while they are functioning in their ministerial capacities as spiritual
counselors and are encouraged not to disclose such confidential info except with the
permission of the confidant, to prevent the commission of a crime, or if required by law (pg.
130).
Social Security (SE) taxes for ministers ✔️✔️Ministers are allowed by federal law to exempt
themselves from self-employment taxes by filing a timely exemption application with the IRS.
To qualify for exemption, ministers must meet several requirements. Among other things, they
must certify that they are opposed on the basis of religious convictions to the acceptance of
public insurance benefits (including social security and Medicare) based on their ministerial
services. The application must be filed by the due date of the federal tax return for the second
year in which a minister has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more, any part of
which derives from the performance of services in the exercise of ministry. The tax code states
that ministers who exempt themselves from self-employment taxes cannot revoke their
exemption. The decision to become exempt from self-employment taxes is "irrevocable." But
you can opt out in first few months of ministry.
What are the three distinct and Scriptural uses of "tongues"?Tongues and their use ✔️✔️In 1 Cor.
14:27, 28, Paul gives some guidelines regarding tongues and interpretation.
There should not be more than two or three utterances in tongues before an interpretation.
Questions and Answers| Latest Update
Ministerial discipline for offenses ✔️✔️Discipline is to be administered for the restoration of the
minister, while fully providing for the protection of the spiritual welfare of our local assemblies.
It is to be redemptive in nature as well as corrective, and is to be exercised as under a
dispensation of mercy.
Causes of discipline:
- moral failure for sexual misconduct
- moral failure for pornography
- any moral or ethical failure other than sexual misconduct
- failure to represent our Pentecost testimony rights
- contentious/non-cooperative spirit
- dictatorial authority over assembly
- arbitrary rejection of DC
- open change in doctrinal views
- immoral, unethical, illegal practices related to personal, church, or ministry finances
- violation of ministerial courtesy
- ministry without prior approval in a non-AG church
- an improper attitude toward those dismissed from the Fellowship
When more than 7 years have passed from an occurrence that is cause for disciplinary action, a
district credentials committee may recommend to the GC credentialing committee that no
discipline be administered when, in view of all the circumstances, it would appear that such
discipline would serve only as punitive rather than restorative. Final determination will be made
by the GC credentialing committee (pg. 137).
Ministerial discipline procedure ✔️✔️The superintendent of the district or appointed
representative shall conduct the investigation to determine their source and validity.
1. Interview with complaints
,2. Interview with accused minister
3. Signed complaints (if investigation warrants)
4. Conditions for ministry during investigation
If after due investigation it is determined that charges should be made, proper charges shall be
prepared and filed in the district office. In the event the reports or complaints cannot be dealt
with privately, the superintendent shall arrange for a hearing by the district credentials
committee for the accused minister. A minister found guilty will be required to surrender their
ministerial credentials and their current fellowship card to the district office. It shall be the
responsibility of the credentials committee to determine whether the circumstance merits
restoration or dismissal (pg. 137-139).
Ministerial ethics and courtesy ✔️✔️All discourteous conduct is disapproved, and all ministers
are advised against interfering with pastors in charge of assemblies, whether it be by going in
upon their work without consent or by such correspondence with members of the assembly as
will hurt the influence of the leader. All correspondence which concerns the whole assembly
shall be addressed to the one in charge and not to individual members. Where there is no
pastor, letters concerning the work shall be addressed to the officers of the assembly. Any
minister who so offends will be subject to discipline (pg. 135).
Ministerial requirements for licensed ministers ✔️✔️Basic qualifications (for all ministers):
- salvation
- baptism in the HS
- evidence of call
- Christian character
- doctrinal position
- AG polity
- Voluntary cooperation and commitment to the Fellowship
- basic educational requirements
- mandatory screening
- marriage status of divorce
- ecclesiastical annulment and marriage dissolution
, Licensed ministers in particular:
Qualifications for license shall include clear evidence of a divine call, character and preparation
suitable for that calling, practical ministry experience, and an evident purpose to devote one's
life in service to the proclamation of the gospel (pg. 121-124).
Nonprofit corporate law
tax benefits as nonprofit; contributions are tax write-off. A nonprofit corporation is a
corporation formed to carry out a charitable, educational, religious, literary or scientific
purpose. A nonprofit can raise funds by receiving public and private grant money and donations
from individuals and companies.
Privileged information ✔️✔️AG ministers are encouraged to respect as sacred and confidential
info confided in them while they are functioning in their ministerial capacities as spiritual
counselors and are encouraged not to disclose such confidential info except with the
permission of the confidant, to prevent the commission of a crime, or if required by law (pg.
130).
Social Security (SE) taxes for ministers ✔️✔️Ministers are allowed by federal law to exempt
themselves from self-employment taxes by filing a timely exemption application with the IRS.
To qualify for exemption, ministers must meet several requirements. Among other things, they
must certify that they are opposed on the basis of religious convictions to the acceptance of
public insurance benefits (including social security and Medicare) based on their ministerial
services. The application must be filed by the due date of the federal tax return for the second
year in which a minister has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more, any part of
which derives from the performance of services in the exercise of ministry. The tax code states
that ministers who exempt themselves from self-employment taxes cannot revoke their
exemption. The decision to become exempt from self-employment taxes is "irrevocable." But
you can opt out in first few months of ministry.
What are the three distinct and Scriptural uses of "tongues"?Tongues and their use ✔️✔️In 1 Cor.
14:27, 28, Paul gives some guidelines regarding tongues and interpretation.
There should not be more than two or three utterances in tongues before an interpretation.
