Synod 2013 denied a request for a shorter training process for pastors who have received a theological degree and have served for at least five years in another denomination.
The request from Classis Heartland was to shorten the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC) from two years to one year. Classis Heartland said that some of the EPMC program’s courses overlap with seminary courses and other skills gained from ministry in local churches.
However, synod said no to their request with no discussion before the vote.
The reason for denying the change was that “the EPMC program has been carefully prepared over recent years to provide a uniform road of access to ministry in the CRCNA. Its integrity should be protected.”
Synod noted that the two-year time frame also allows program supervisors to get to know candidates better in order to ground them in the CRC.
Synod 2013 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. from June 7-14. For continuous Banner coverage of Synod 2013, please follow The Banner on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at www.thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit www.crcna.org/synod. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.
About the Author
Ryan Struyk was a former Banner news correspondent for classes Grand Rapids South and Thornapple Valley.
