You . . .

have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

accept the Bible written and undivided as your guide for living and are in
agreement with the IMF Statement of Faith.

have a spiritual call to Christian ministry and service.

commit yourself to a life of spiritual growth and service.

evince your call to Christian ministry in your life, Bible study and
Christian service.

will faithfully and consistently support the Fellowship as led by the Spirit
of God.

complete the application process, meet the appropriate membership and
credential's requirements and interview successfully.

A Certified Christian Worker is a credential which is issued to lay persons who are called by God as helpers. Certified Christian Workers are not authorized to perform any sacerdotal services.

Meet the general requirements for general membership.

Be recommended to be a Christian Worker by your pastor or another
pastor of an established congregation.

Be recommended to be a Christian Worker by your peers in Christian
ministry.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

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A Certified Lay Pastor’s credential is provided to one who is called to Christian service and labors along side a senior clergy person, makes hospital calls, prays for the sick, provides pastoral care and counseling, but does not preach, teach or administer the sacraments (ordinances) except under direct supervision of a clergy person. IMF members who are credentialed as a certified Lay Pastor have successfully completed the IMF approved certified Lay Pastors Ministries Course.

Meet the general requirements for general membership.

Be recommended for Certified Lay Pastor Credential by your
Senior Pastor or of an established congregation.

Complete the IMF Certified Lay Pastoral certification course.

Be recommended for Certified Lay Pastor ministry by your peers in
Christian service.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

Normally, a person will serve as a Certified Lay Pastor under a experienced Senior Pastor for as long as the position is continued with in the participating congregation. The credentials may be maintained through a relocation to a new congregation as long as the new Senior Pastor endorses the lay ministry program.

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A Commission to Preach is a credential which is provided to persons who have little or no ministry experience,who are to be supervised under the tutelage of a mentoring Pastor. Such persons are authorized to preach and to assist a senior pastor or other staff pastors in any way that they can, in order to begin to get some exposure to Christian ministry. However, they are not authorized to perform any sacerdotal services.

Meet the general requirements for general membership.

Be recommended to be Commissioned to Preach by your pastor or
another pastor of an established congregation.

Enter into a mentoring agreement with your Senior Pastor.

Enroll in an approved biblical or theological training program.

Demonstrate an acceptable level of biblical and theological knowledge.

Be recommended to be Commissioned to Preach by your peers in
Christian ministry.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

Normally, a person will serve as least one year with a Commission to Preach credential before being considered for the next credential in the ministry track offered by IMF. The next credential in the ministry track is the Licensed Minister's credential.

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The Special Ministry License is reserved for those individuals who minister in areas of special skill and serve in worship, fine arts, Christian counseling and other approved areas of ministry. Their main focus is not a preaching ministry. They are authorized to perform all sacerdotal services which they may not be performing on a regular basis, but do perform them on an ongoing basis from time to time as they serve in worship, the administration of the sacraments (ordinances), teaching, preaching and other areas of clergy responsibility.

Meet the general requirements for general membership.

Be recommended for Special Ministry License by your pastor or
another pastor of an established congregation.

Demonstrate an acceptable level of biblical and theological knowledge.

Be recommended for Special Ministry License by your peers in
Christian ministry.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

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A Licensed Minister's credential is a credential which is provided to persons who have some biblical and theological training ministry experience but need further knowledge or experience in order to be fully established. Such persons are authorized to perform all sacerdotal services.

Meet the general requirements for general membership.

Be recommended for licensing by your pastor or another pastor of an
established congregation.

Demonstrate an acceptable level of biblical and theological proficiency.

Be recommended for licensing by your peers in Christian ministry.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

Normally, a person will serve at least two years with a Licensed Minister's credential before being considered for the next credential in the ministry track offered by IMF. The next credential in the ministry track is the Ordained Minister's credential.

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An Ordained Minister's credential is provided to those persons who have, "an established and proven ministry." Such persons are not only authorized to perform sacerdotal services, but are also required to be performing sacerdotal services on a regular or ongoing basis.

Meet the general requirements for general membership. Be
recommended for ordination by your pastor, church elders or other
approved religious leaders.

Be recommended by your peers in Christian ministry.

Demonstrate a level of biblical and theological proficiency.

Have an established and proven ministry (this may include a transfer of
ordination from another recognized church, fellowship or denomination).

Be performing sacerdotal services on a regular or ongoing basis.

Other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.

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Non-Credentialed members hold general member status. They are included in our membership but are not authorized by IMF to perform sacerdotal services. They may participate in all issues referred to the general membership by the Board of Directors for vote and are welcome to participate in all activities sponsored by IMF. They qualify to receive all support services as offered to all members by the Fellowship.



An Associate Member (Non-Credentialed) of IMF is entitled to all the rights and privileges accorded to a General Member. Ordained or licensed clergy who join IMF as Associate Members are accorded the same respect as an IMF member with their clerical standing. Although the Associate Member may be credentialed by their own denomination. We honor them and the ministry God has established through their faithful service to Christ.

We have made many friends over the years working across denominational lines. In some instances a membership in IMF has been transitional for several years while the member works toward full ordination in their own denomination. Other times circumstances prevent the candidate from pursuing ordination in their own denomination and we are able to serve their denominational church and the member in a special role for a longer period of time. We are thankful that we are able to serve in whatever situation best meets their needs. Often when they have accomplished personal goals that might require them to otherwise leave IMF, they choose to continue a relationship with us but as an Associate Member because they know we love, honor and desire to cooperate in whatever way we can. IMF sees itself as a good “team player” in the Body of Christ.

Also, we often have Christian businessmen who want to be a part of what we are doing, but do not feel called as a clergy person and prefer to affiliate as an Associate Member.We welcome them. We need them and their business knowledge to help us chart the course for this ministry. It takes many praying, giving and going to accomplish the Great Commission.
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Meet the requirements of a General Member

Be recommended for Associate Membership by your senior pastor or the pastor of an established congregation.

Complete the application process and interview successfully.

Meet other criteria as determined by the Credentials Committee.
May transfer a credentialed membership of IMF to an Associate
Membership by request to the Credentials Committee with approval.

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