Admission to the Lay Pastors Training Program will be open to all persons who are responsible, active members of a local church. Priority will be given to those individuals already serving as lay pastors in churches or those sensing a call to serve as a lay pastor. Second priority will be given to those persons not wishing to become lay pastors but desiring to enhance their skills as lay persons and intending to take the full Program and complete all the requirements necessary to receive the Lay Pastor Diploma. Third priority will be given to persons wanting to audit the entire Program or select courses in the Program.

Successful applicants will be admitted into the program as one of the following:

• Full-Time Credit Student: The applicant who intends to successfully complete all twenty-three Units of study and fulfill the requirements necessary to earn the Lay Pastor Diploma.
• Full-Time Audit Student: The applicant who intends to audit all twenty-three Units of study in the program. This student would not receive the Lay Pastor Diploma.
• Part-Time Audit Student: The applicant who intends to audit only specific courses within the program.

Applicants entering as Full-Time Credit or Full-Time Audit students must:

• obtain a letter of commendation to the program (see Guidelines) from the Pastor or Board of Deacons of their home church, or the Board of Deacons of the church of which they are a part. This letter must accompany the Application Form.
• submit an official Application Form (accompanied by a $50.00 non-refundable application fee).

Applicants entering as Part-Time Audit students must:

• submit an official Application Form (accompanied by a $50.00 non-refundable application fee).
• give an initial indication on the form of the courses to be audited.

Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee which may consult with the applicant’s Regional Minister and/or Pastor before acceptance into the program.

Students admitted into the program will register at the first session. Tuition fees for that Semester will be paid at that time unless special arrangements have been made otherwise.

Within the first Semester of the program each student will be assigned a Mentor for the three years of study. This person will be chosen in consultation with the student by the student’s Regional Minister.

If students would like to have a particular person designated as their Mentor they are asked to suggest that name to the Program Administrator of the Lay Pastors Training Program or to their respective Regional Minister. They are asked not to contact the potential Mentor on their own.

Because of the nature of the program, it is not in the best interest of prospective Full-Time Credit Students to enter studies at any point other than the beginning. Thus, all persons intending to take the full program toward receiving the Lay Pastor Diploma must begin with Year one, Semester one.