A Call to Chaplaincy
The EPC recognizes chaplaincy as one of the varieties of callings within the office of Minister of the Word:
"A court of the Church, a hospital, the military, institutions, universities, or other appropriate fields of service may call a Minister as Chaplain if the Presbytery deems it appropriate. In such cases, the Minister shall always have as his primary duty the sharing of the Good News of God in Jesus Christ." (Government 10-3E).
The military and some other institutions require that chaplains be endorsed by their denominations. EPC-ordained ministers and candidates under care may receive denominational endorsement through the Stated Clerk, who is the Assembly's endorser. The EPC is a member of Chaplain's Commission of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Chaplains who wish to transfer endorsement to the EPC from other denominations follow the process outlined below, but also must be received as a member of an EPC Presbytery.
Information on transferring ordination.
To begin the endorsement process, see the information below and contact the with questions and to request application forms.
Military Chaplaincy
The Chaplains Subcommittee of the General Assembly's Ministerial Vocation Committee handles the initial application and interview process and makes a recommendation on endorsement. If approved by Ministerial Vocation Committee, the Stated Clerk (Endorser) forwards the EPC endorsement to the National Association of Evangelicals Commission on Chaplains.
Prior to ordination, EPC Candidates Under Care may be endorsed as a Chaplain Candidate and attend Candidates School. In most cases, the military requires experience serving in pastoral ministry before receiving an Active Duty commission.
The application process for endorsement includes the following steps:
- Application for Military Chaplaincy Form
- Personal Information Form (PIF)
- Five written references and three phone references
- Physicians report on your physical health (no older than six months)
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- The PREPARE/ENRICH test (for candidate and spouse)
- Personal interview with a member of the Chaplains Subcommittee or its designee.
- Phone interview with the Chaplains Subcommittee.
- Application to the NAE Chaplains Commission including $25 processing fee and $100 membership fee following EPC endorsement.
Those seeking endorsement should also be working with a Chaplain Recruiter and be informed about the military's age and physical requirements for chaplaincy.
Contact the with questions and to request application forms for military chaplaincy.
Institutional Chaplaincy
Some hospitals and other institutions require chaplains to have denominational endorsement. The EPC works with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and the Veterans Administration. Contact the APC for their certification requirements: 847-240-1014.
The Chaplains Subcommittee of the General Assembly's Ministerial Vocation Committee handles the initial application and interview process and makes their recommendation on endorsement. If approved the by Ministerial Vocation Committee, the Stated Clerk (Endorser) forwards the EPC endorsement to the appropriate certifying body.
The application process for endorsement includes the following steps:
- Application for Institutional Chaplaincy Form
- Personal Information Form (PIF)
- Five written references and three phone references
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- The PREPARE/ENRICH test (for candidate and spouse)
- Personal interview with a member of the Chaplains Subcommittee or its designee.
- Phone interview with the Chaplains Subcommittee.
Contact the with questions and to request application forms for institutional chaplaincy.
