Since leaders are most easily identified by church councils and leaders, CMLT’s should develop creative ways to communicate regularly to the churches about leader development. 

How to communicate? 

• CMLT reports, bulletin announcements, emails, scheduled classis conversations about leadership development, social media posts or whatever creative ways your classis already has in place to communicate!

What to communicate?

• Communicating the needs within the "leadership landscape of the CRCNA" has been one effective way to encourage churches to identify leaders, so sharing some of the statistics in the 2024/2026 Candidacy Committee reports to synod could be helpful
• You could also encourage church councils to add into one of their agendas a session to pray and brainstorm who in their congregation God might be calling to take on a leadership role. Then they could take action by having conversations with those individuals and inviting them to try specific ministry roles
• Pastors and experienced leaders in your classis should be encouraged to see themselves as "equippers" of newer leaders, always looking for opportunities to give some of their responsibilities to younger leaders so that they can develop their skills through serving (while the experienced leader supports)
• Classes could consider mobilizing their retired ministers as mentors and equippers as well! It often blesses the retired ministers to play this role and their wisdom is a tremendous asset to emerging leaders 
• Creating a clear leadership development pathway and communicating it effectively can draw people into leadership training. There should be small steps first for people to engage-- such as study of the OT and NT, which could be applicable to a wide range of ministry leaders-- Bible study leaders, church staff, GEMS and Cadets leaders, etc. These learning opportunities should be designed to bridge smoothly into trainings for officebearers (elder, deacon, licensed exhorter, commissioned pastor and perhaps even minister of the Word). See “leader development resources” section for some ideas!

Forms for Article 6 (seminary route, CTS and EPMC)

Classis Initial Report

• Classis Report

• Classis Recommendation  

• Council Recommendation for Potential Seminary Student  

• Description of the 24-Month Candidacy Program  

• Covenant of Joint Supervision (for minister of the Word candidates who will be serving in a jointly supervised non-congregational position)

Forms for Article 8 (for those ordained in other denominations) - English

• Article 8 Process Guide and Checklist - This document outlines the whole process and contains links to all supporting documents below.

• Doc #1 Personal Application for Ordination in the CRC

• Doc #2 Recommendation From Former Local Church or Ministry  - Article 8 Applicants  

• Doc #3 Recommendation From Former Regional Body - Article 8 Applicants

• Doc #4 Instructions for Document 4 in the Article 8 Affiliation Process

• Doc #5 Application From a Local CRC Church Council  - Article 8 Applicants

• Doc #6 Classis Ministerial Leadership Team (CMLT) Recommendation Form

• Doc #7 Instructions for Document 7 in the Article 8 Affiliation Process

• Doc #8 Instructions for Document 8 in the Article 8 Affiliation Process

• Doc #9 Instructions for Document 9 in the Article 8 Affiliation Process

• Doc #10 Background Check and Personal Disclosure and Authorization

• Doc #11 Mentor Designation Form - Article 8 Applicants

• Doc #12 Local CRC Council Final Recommendation Form - Article 8 Applicants

• Doc #13 Final Endorsements - Article 8 Candidates

• Creating an Individualized Learning Plan for Article 8

Classis Forms for Article 8 in Korean/English

• Article 8 Process Guide and Checklist (contains outline of process and links to forms)

Classis Forms for Article 8 in Spanish/English

• Article 8 Process Guide and Checklist - Spanish (contains outline of process and links to forms)

• Classis Forms for Article 23/24 (Commissioned Pastors)

• Article 23/24 Process Guide and Checklist

• Agreement for Use of Art. 24b

• Application Form for Classis in Appointing a Commissioned Pastor

• Commissioned Pastor Learning Plan Template

• Training Programs For Commissioned Pastors

• Psychological Evaluation for Ministerial Candidates

• Covenant of Joint Supervision (for commissioned pastor candidates who will be serving in a jointly supervised non-congregational position.

• Guidelines for Classis Examinations of Candidates

• Process Guide for Classical Licensure to Exhort – developed by Classis Wisconsin.

• Process Guide for Classical Examination of Commissioned Pastors – developed by Classis Wisconsin.