The terms "License" and "Ordination" are used by Covenant Global Ministries for internal purposes. These terms designate authority
levels. They may denote the level of direct oversight by the apostle and/or mentors assigned by the apostle. These are not biblical terms.
Please bear in mind that every church or ministry probably approaches these terms differently, and that is OK. Of course, you are
instructed in the ways of this ministry since that is your spiritual home. Let's address the difference between the terms "License" and
"Ordination." Covenant Global Ministries uses the license in two ways:
1) The License is used to denote someone who is legally a ministry representative of Covenant Global Ministries is not yet ordained. Under
this designation the man/woman of God operates fully as a minister of the gospel but does so under the direct mentorship of the
apostle and/or an assigned mentor. This is used for the person who is starting out in ministry; it is akin to an apprenticeship.
The use of the title “Reverend” is not recommended at this level since the minister is still in training.
2) The License is used to denote an ordained minister who has been ordained by another ministry and now desires to affiliate with
Covenant Global Ministries and to operate in ministry under our spiritual covering. The use of the title Reverend or Pastor can be
used at this level since he/she has already been ordained.
A candidate for Licensure applies for a Ministry License by submitting a simple application. Once the application is approved, the
Certificate of License is issued naming the minister as Licensed with Covenant Global.
When a minister is ordained, the candidate has finished all of the prerequisites within our Minister-In-Training program. This program is
set in place to accomplish what Jesus did with His twelve disciples to prepare them for Kingdom service once He was taken up. The
ordination ceremony actually places a spiritual mantle on the candidate and officially launches him/her into Kingdom service. He/she does
not need constant oversight from this point forward since he/she has proven his/her maturity and readiness for ministry service. First,
comes the license, and then comes the ordination.
The above issues are internal issues; now let us deal with biblical issues. In Ephesians 4:11 we see there are five distinct ministry
offices. These offices are designated according to their function within the Body of Christ. The following is a brief description of each office:
1) APOSTLE. The apostle is the person to whom God has given the responsibility to develop and oversee a certain spiritual sphere of
ministry (realm of authority). (see II Corinthians 10:12-18) He is a visionary who sees the plan of God for the ministry. He is the pastor to
the other fivefold ministers within the apostolic sphere. He is their teacher and their overseer (the bishop). His task is as a father to the
leaders of the church. The apostle is not "more gifted" or more important than the others, just equipped differently as each of the offices
are uniquely anointed.
2) PROPHET. The prophet is one who sees in the spiritual realm with clarity and is like a watchman on the wall on behalf of the apostolic
sphere. His/her time is primarily spent in the spiritual realm in prayer and spiritual warfare. His/her anointing is uniquely capable of recruiting
and training prophets and intercessors. His/her task is Kingdom safety and purity of the vision within the apostolic realm.
3) EVANGELIST. The evangelist is one who majors entirely on the bringing in of the harvest. Not only is he a soul-winner deluxe, but his
anointing also enables him to teach others to win souls and to motivate them to do so. His task is Kingdom expansion.
4) PASTOR. Pastors are shepherds of God’s sheep. Theirs is primarily the care-giving ministry within the church. The pastor may or may
not actually lead a given church, but whether or not he does lead a church, he is always caring for sheep. His task is maintenance and
spiritual growth of the saints of God. He is the primary discipler of the saints.
5) TEACHER. Teachers feed the Word to the people of God at a deep level. The Teacher possesses a unique and highly developed
anointing to see truth and to rightly divide the Word in such a way as to glean every truth from It. The task of the Teacher is to deliver to the
Church God's Kingdom truth.
Each of these offices is known as an “Elder” within the Church of Jesus Christ, and each possesses the ability to teach since
I Timothy 3 reveals that one who is called as a Church overseer (Bishop) possesses the ability to teach.
The different anointings between the various offices is reflected in the manner in which they teach and the perspective through which
they view things. Each is necessary for the Church to be strong and vibrant. When operating in harmony and unity, the five offices imitate
the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
We should avoid placing too much emphasis on the use of titles and designations. It is, however, good to give honor to whom honor is
due, as the Word of God directs. That is why those within a local church should use the title “Pastor” when addressing or referring to his/her
pastor. This does not elevate the man himself, but rather honors the office in which he stands, thus giving honor to God who first
designated the use of the term for the office. This should be to the one who stands in that office a constant reminder to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling and to be ever diligent over the calling of God on his/her life. The use of such terms as “minister” or “man of God” are
terms used to show honor to anyone who is serving the Lord in the fivefold ministry. It is also appropriate to address a minister according to
his dominant office, i.e. Teacher, Evangelist, Apostle.
levels. They may denote the level of direct oversight by the apostle and/or mentors assigned by the apostle. These are not biblical terms.
Please bear in mind that every church or ministry probably approaches these terms differently, and that is OK. Of course, you are
instructed in the ways of this ministry since that is your spiritual home. Let's address the difference between the terms "License" and
"Ordination." Covenant Global Ministries uses the license in two ways:
1) The License is used to denote someone who is legally a ministry representative of Covenant Global Ministries is not yet ordained. Under
this designation the man/woman of God operates fully as a minister of the gospel but does so under the direct mentorship of the
apostle and/or an assigned mentor. This is used for the person who is starting out in ministry; it is akin to an apprenticeship.
The use of the title “Reverend” is not recommended at this level since the minister is still in training.
2) The License is used to denote an ordained minister who has been ordained by another ministry and now desires to affiliate with
Covenant Global Ministries and to operate in ministry under our spiritual covering. The use of the title Reverend or Pastor can be
used at this level since he/she has already been ordained.
A candidate for Licensure applies for a Ministry License by submitting a simple application. Once the application is approved, the
Certificate of License is issued naming the minister as Licensed with Covenant Global.
When a minister is ordained, the candidate has finished all of the prerequisites within our Minister-In-Training program. This program is
set in place to accomplish what Jesus did with His twelve disciples to prepare them for Kingdom service once He was taken up. The
ordination ceremony actually places a spiritual mantle on the candidate and officially launches him/her into Kingdom service. He/she does
not need constant oversight from this point forward since he/she has proven his/her maturity and readiness for ministry service. First,
comes the license, and then comes the ordination.
The above issues are internal issues; now let us deal with biblical issues. In Ephesians 4:11 we see there are five distinct ministry
offices. These offices are designated according to their function within the Body of Christ. The following is a brief description of each office:
1) APOSTLE. The apostle is the person to whom God has given the responsibility to develop and oversee a certain spiritual sphere of
ministry (realm of authority). (see II Corinthians 10:12-18) He is a visionary who sees the plan of God for the ministry. He is the pastor to
the other fivefold ministers within the apostolic sphere. He is their teacher and their overseer (the bishop). His task is as a father to the
leaders of the church. The apostle is not "more gifted" or more important than the others, just equipped differently as each of the offices
are uniquely anointed.
2) PROPHET. The prophet is one who sees in the spiritual realm with clarity and is like a watchman on the wall on behalf of the apostolic
sphere. His/her time is primarily spent in the spiritual realm in prayer and spiritual warfare. His/her anointing is uniquely capable of recruiting
and training prophets and intercessors. His/her task is Kingdom safety and purity of the vision within the apostolic realm.
3) EVANGELIST. The evangelist is one who majors entirely on the bringing in of the harvest. Not only is he a soul-winner deluxe, but his
anointing also enables him to teach others to win souls and to motivate them to do so. His task is Kingdom expansion.
4) PASTOR. Pastors are shepherds of God’s sheep. Theirs is primarily the care-giving ministry within the church. The pastor may or may
not actually lead a given church, but whether or not he does lead a church, he is always caring for sheep. His task is maintenance and
spiritual growth of the saints of God. He is the primary discipler of the saints.
5) TEACHER. Teachers feed the Word to the people of God at a deep level. The Teacher possesses a unique and highly developed
anointing to see truth and to rightly divide the Word in such a way as to glean every truth from It. The task of the Teacher is to deliver to the
Church God's Kingdom truth.
Each of these offices is known as an “Elder” within the Church of Jesus Christ, and each possesses the ability to teach since
I Timothy 3 reveals that one who is called as a Church overseer (Bishop) possesses the ability to teach.
The different anointings between the various offices is reflected in the manner in which they teach and the perspective through which
they view things. Each is necessary for the Church to be strong and vibrant. When operating in harmony and unity, the five offices imitate
the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
We should avoid placing too much emphasis on the use of titles and designations. It is, however, good to give honor to whom honor is
due, as the Word of God directs. That is why those within a local church should use the title “Pastor” when addressing or referring to his/her
pastor. This does not elevate the man himself, but rather honors the office in which he stands, thus giving honor to God who first
designated the use of the term for the office. This should be to the one who stands in that office a constant reminder to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling and to be ever diligent over the calling of God on his/her life. The use of such terms as “minister” or “man of God” are
terms used to show honor to anyone who is serving the Lord in the fivefold ministry. It is also appropriate to address a minister according to
his dominant office, i.e. Teacher, Evangelist, Apostle.
| License & Ordination In Covenant Global Ministries |
