Steps to Serve
God is calling men and women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to serve His Kingdom purposes in our churches and their communities. We look forward to serving and supporting you in your desire to follow God’s call on your life. There is a thorough process to serve with the Alliance, and we are here to help you navigate that process and develop you towards fruitful ministry for years to come. If you have any questions regarding the steps listed below, please email John Jordan, Leadership Development Director at jordanj@cmawpa.org.
John Jordan
Leadership Development Director
The Steps
The journey to serving with the Alliance is comprised of 4 major steps: Application, Accreditation, Placement, Licensing.
Step 1 - Application
You will start by filling out the “Next Steps” form at cmalliance.org/serve. This form will help us get to know you a little better and connect you with district staff to guide your exploration.
Once that form is completed, you will be directed to complete the full Accreditation Application. You can work on the application over several weeks or at a more gradual pace. The Doctrinal Questionnaire is the most challenging part of the application, but it’s a great way to clarify what you believe as you prepare to become an Alliance Worker.
Step 2 - Accreditation
After completing the application, an Alliance representative will work with you to ensure you meet the requirements for accreditation and prepare you for your interview.
*Accreditation Guidelines
Accreditation, or Licensing, is the first official denominational covering by Alliance leadership for a candidate going into Alliance ministry. Accreditation is an act of being officially recognized by The Christian and Missionary Alliance as qualified to serve in Alliance ministry. Each person desiring accreditation in The Alliance is deemed eligible by fulfilling the following criteria:
1. Ability to articulate a divine call to serve God in vocational Christian ministry.
2. A minimum of 30 credit hours of Bible, theology, and ministry study with a minimum of 18 of these credits from Bible, and/or theology from an Alliance college or theological seminary, or from another fully accredited graduate or undergraduate institution; this academic requirement may be fulfilled through alternative study programs.
Once you are ready for your interview, a date will be scheduled with the Credentialing Council. The focus of the interview will be on your development in the Five Core Characteristics of an Alliance worker. We will review with you the Qualifications for Alliance ministry, per Section E-3 in the Alliance Manual, while confirming and recommending next steps in your spiritual leadership journey. (Note: Although not everyone is approved for vocational service with the C&MA, our desire is to help you find a good fit in accomplishing God’s work.)
Step 3 - Placement
Go to cmawpa.org/church-openings to see a list of available positions in the Western PA District. Contact the district office and we can begin the application process with the local church. Once placed in a position or if you already serve in a position in an Alliance church, you will proceed to licensing.
Step 4 - Licensing
Once placed in a ministry position, workers are provisionally licensed as they work toward completing the requirements for their specific license. The most common license is Ordination/Consecration, but the Alliance does have other ministry licenses available to accredited workers. District staff can discuss these options with you as you work through the steps. You can view the details of the Ordination/Consecration Pathway here.
Download the Steps Toward Accreditation with The Alliance document to help you navigate the process.