How to Become a Licensed Baptist Minister

Baptists ministers have a heart for service.

The decision to become a Baptist minister includes great responsibilities. Obtaining a license is the first step towards becoming an ordain Baptist minister. Many times, licensed Baptist ministers serve as a church's junior pastor. As with many denominations, you cannot simply become a licensed Baptist minister by signing up online. Licensing is determined on a local church level, and an individual can show his qualifications for a position of service and authority in a number of different ways.

Instructions

1. Heed the calling to become a Baptist minister. A person should not become a minister merely because she loves to help others, enjoys speaking in front of groups, wants to feel powerful or thinks it is the right thing to do for a job. The Southern Baptist Convention states that an individual should feel called by God to be a servant to others before becoming a minister.

2. Pray about the decision to be a Baptist minister. The media portrays Baptist churches as flashy organizations with hundreds or thousands of members in each congregation, rich pastors treated like rock stars, great music and the latest in technology. The truth, however, is that these Baptists churches make up a small percentage of the Baptist churches in the U.S. Many small congregations involve Baptist pastors living on a humble stipend. A Baptist minister needs to be ready to serve both the rich and poor alike. If you are praying about the decision to become a Baptist minister with the hopes of leading a mega-church, you may need to decide if this vocation is God's calling or yours.

3. Obtain a degree in Christian Ministries. Going to college to can help prepare an individual to write a sermon, effectively preach to a large congregation or small group, examine the Bible and its relevancy to today's culture, and counsel others. A Christian or Bible college will also teach theological principles, biblical history, leadership principles and discipleship. This type of education helps Baptist ministers show their congregations they can be counted on and are qualified pastoral leaders. Going through the educational process before becoming a licensed Baptist minister also lets those he serves in the future know that his actions are grounded in Scripture and that he is doing the work God called him to perform.

4. Work with your church to become a licensed Baptist minister. Talk to your pastor about your desire to become a licensed minister if you have not done so already. Your pastor can then tell you about the licensing procedures and the responsibilities of a licensed minister in your church. The licensing process differs by church and Baptist denomination.

References

• Consolation Baptist Association: Suggestions for Licensing a Minister
• Six-Principle Baptists: Application for Ministerial Credentials
• Six-Principle Baptists: License to Minister by the General Association of Six-Principle Baptists
• Southern Baptist Convention: What is the Procedure for Ordination in the SBC?