Concept Draft
International Association of Church Leaders (IACL)
Proposal: Create International Association of Church Leaders (IACL).
Need: Identify trained and capable local church leaders. No inter-denominational association exists to credential local church leaders.
Concept: A global certification program for local church leaders parallel to professional certifications such as CPAs and to trade certifications such as ASE (for auto mechanics) and various Microsoft certifications. Church leadership is both a profession and a trade. The recent diversification of training for ministry, especially outside America and Europe, presents a need for a new way to certify the fitness of a church leader other
than an academic degree.
Mission: The IACL will be formed by local churches, for local churches. It will set standards for assessing and recognizing capable church leaders. The IACL will partner with local churches to jointly assess and recognize equipped leaders for local churches. The IACL in coordination with local churches will confer the CCL (Certified Church Leader) on those who meet the criteria.
Local Churches
To join the IACL an individual local church must:
• Sign a doctrinal affirmation of historic, classic Christian beliefs.
• Agree to the standards and process for certification.
• Pay an annual fee of 1/10 of 1% of their annual budget.
• Send one church leader to a training seminar once every two years.
• Agree to identify one mentor per student.
• Annually reaffirm the agreements and pay the fee.
Prospective Candidates
Candidates will be evaluated in three areas: character, ministry skills and academics (heart, hands and head). For each area the local church will evaluate
a candidate during the process by building a Working Portfolio. Then at the culmination of the process the candidate, working with the local church, will submit a Presentation Portfolio to the IACL. The Presentation Portfolio will consist of a candidate's two page summary of their progress in each of the three areas as well as a seven to ten page response to several case studies. In addition, the Presentation Portfolio will include
the local church mentor's one page summary evaluation in each area: character,
ministry skills and academics. The candidate will sign a doctrinal affirmation and complete at least 5,000 hours of church ministry. The total Presentation Portfolio must not exceed 20 pages.
 Character-Heart |
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• Spiritual person, close walk with God, in step with the Spirit.
• Qualifications of a church leader (as listed in 2 Timothy 3 and Titus 1).
• Solid marriage and strong family (or relationships). |
Ministry Skills-Hands |
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• Experiences, list, (preached 3 sermons, etc).
• Reflections on experiences.
• At least 5000 hours (approx. 2 ½ years full time ministry). |
Academics-Head |
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• Complete basic core courses.
• Take a basic Bible knowledge exam.
• Sign a doctrinal affirmation. |
Courses
Each course must be roughly equivalent to one three-hour, semester-long bible college or seminary course; approximately 45 hours of class time and/or 600 pages
of reading and/or 30 pages of writing. However a candidate obtains the knowledge,
it should be equivalent to the understanding of the topic typically gained at a college/seminary level. Any accredited bible college or seminary course would qualify, as well as courses from church-based training programs such as Biblical Education by Extension (BEE), Biblical Institute for Leadership Development (BILD), or the Center for Church Based Training (CCBT). Many courses available by Internet, Satellite, and correspondence could qualify or a candidate could engage in personal study with a tutor.
List of 12 core courses: Theology, Old Testament survey, New Testament survey, Hermeneutics, communication/preaching, marriage/family, church, global missions, leadership, counseling, spiritual life, church history. These 12 core courses should be supplemented with at least an additional 3 elective courses for a total of 15 courses.
Conferral of CCL
The Local Church must affirm the fitness of the candidate in terms of adequate character, ministry skills and knowledge. AND the IACL must affirm that the agreed upon standards have been met. Neither the local church nor the IACL can independently confer the CCL.
Future: This organization could easily grow to also become a placement service for local churches and prospective local church leaders. |
