Licensing

Do you feel a call to ministry?Finding Your Place

You’ll discover more about yourself and the gifts and talents you have to offer in ministry as you grow closer to God. We believe God places men and women in ministry leadership roles that are unique to them.

The church combines a series of processes to ensure that all applicants find their calling. Below you will discover step-by-step instructions as well as the forms you will need to complete. As you go through the process, we pray for God’s blessings on you.

Step 1Clarifying Your Call

Speak with your pastor and be sensitive and obedient to his direction.

Step 2Local License

A local license is the first level of the ministerial licensing process.

Step 3General License

A general license is the second level of the ministerial licensing process.

Step 4Ordination

Ordination is the third and final level of the ministerial licensing process.

Application Process

Every applicant must meet the District Board. Please check the district
calendar for the specific dates of the board meetings.

Send your application to the District Office:

South Texas District UPCI
PO Box 1249, Richmond, TX 77406

Applications must be received 30 days prior to the date of the board meeting.

Licensing Application and Requirements

Local License

A local license is the first level of the ministerial licensing process.

Privileges

A subscription to the Pentecostal Herald
A subscription to the Forward Magazine
A life insurance package
Performing funeral ceremonies

General Requirements

Applicant must be seventeen (17) years of age or older
Applicant must believe in the Oneness of God
Applicant must have been baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ
Applicant must have been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
Applicant must be living a holy life according to the Scriptures as explained in the Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church International

Preaching Requirements

Before appearing before the District Board, each applicant must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week for six (6) months. The District Board may make exceptions to this requirement. Teaching Sunday school classes or leading services does not meet the requirement.

Ministry Central Training

Licensing applicants must complete required training provided through Ministry Central.

Reading Requirements

Before appearing before the District Board, each applicant must fulfill the following reading requirements. The required reading list in no way completes your ministerial education but is merely foundational to your own thorough, rigorous, and ongoing study program.

The Bible
Acts by Robin Johnson
Biblical Interpretation by David K. Bernard
Gospels by Jeffrey Brickle
History of the UPCI by Robin Johnston
Holiness by David K. Bernard
New Birth by David K. Bernard
Oneness of God by David K. Bernard
Pentateuch by Chris Paris
Preaching I by Jonathan McClintock
Spiritual Disciplines by James Littles
Handbook on the Book of Acts by Robin Johnston
Understanding God’s Word by David K. Bernard
Handbook on the Gospels by Jeffrey Brickle
United We Stand by Arthur Clanton and Charles Clanton
Practical Holiness by David K. Bernard
The New Birth by David K. Bernard
The Oneness of God by David K. Bernard
Handbook on the Pentateuch by Chris Paris
Life Preaching by Jonathan McClintock

Purchase books from Pentecostal Publishing House.

General License

A general license is the second level of the ministerial licensing process.

Privileges

A subscription to the Pentecostal Herald
A subscription to the Forward Magazine
A life insurance package
Performing funeral ceremonies
Performing wedding ceremonies
Performing practically all duties and responsibilities of the ministry

General Requirements

Applicant must be seventeen (17) years of age or older
Applicant must believe in the Oneness of God
Applicant must have been baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ
Applicant must have been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
Applicant must be living a holy life according to the Scriptures as explained in the Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church International
Applicant must be engaged at present in the ministry as a pastor, full-time evangelist, assistant pastor, elected or appointed official, or full-time Bible college administrator or instructor. An exception to this may be made by the District Board for those who have graduated from a school endorsed by the United Pentecostal Church International; the Board may grant him or her a general or local license at their discretion
An applicant who is not a graduate from a UPCI-endorsed school must have held a local license for at least one (1) year
Applicant must have proven their ministry for one (1) year

Preaching Requirements

Before appearing before the District Board, each applicant must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week for twelve (12) months. Exceptions to this requirement may be made by the District Board. Teaching Sunday school classes or leading services does not meet the requirement.

Ministry Central Training

Licensing applicants must complete required training provided through Ministry Central.

Reading Requirements

The complete Bible since receiving a local license (twice if granted a general license without a local license)
Discipleship by Stan O. Gleason
Doctrine by Scott Graham
Epistles of Paul by Jeremy Painter
Ethics by Richard M. Davis
Gen. Epistles and Revelation by Jeffrey Brickle and Jeremy Painter
Historical Books by Christ Paris
History of Doctrine by David K. Bernard
Leadership I by Eugene Wilson
Preaching II by Jerry Jones
Principles of Ministry by David K. Bernard
Follow to Lead: Journey of a Disciple Maker by Stan O. Gleason
Doctrines of the Bible by J.L. Hall and David K. Bernard
Handbook on the Epistles of Paul by Jeremy Painter
Integrity: Principles of Christian Ethics by Richard M. Davis
Handbook on the General Epistles and Revelation by Jeffrey Brickle and Jeremy Painter
Handbook on the Historical Books by Chris Paris
A History of Christian Doctrine Abridged in One Volume by David K. Bernard
Realign by Eugene Wilson
We Preach by Jerry Jones
The Pentecostal Minister by J.L. Hall and David K. Bernard, eds.

Purchase books from Pentecostal Publishing House.

Ordination

Ordination is the third and final level of the ministerial licensing process. It is the fulfillment of the scriptural process of recognition, endorsement, and anointing.

Privileges

A subscription to the Pentecostal Herald
A subscription to the Forward Magazine
A life insurance package
Performing funeral ceremonies
Performing wedding ceremonies
Performing practically all duties and responsibilities of the ministry
The possibility of holding office

General Requirements

Applicant must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older
Applicant must believe in the Oneness of God
Applicant must have been baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ
Applicant must have been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
Applicant must be living a holy life according to the Scriptures as explained in the Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church International
Applicant must have held a general license for at least two (2) years.
Applicant must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years
Applicant must at present be a pastor, full-time evangelist, assistant pastor, appointed or elected official, full-time Bible college administrator, or instructor
Any exceptions to the above would be at the discretion of the District Board