Continuing Education Guidelines

(See the CEU Reading List for approved books)

INTRODUCTION

1. Recognizing that the Bible commands ministers of the gospel to "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," (the apostle Paul to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:15), the 1997 General Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church reaffirmed that:
"All licensed and ordained ministers must participate annually in a continuing education program provided and approved by the General Conference or quadrennial Conference (2 Timothy 2:15). Any minister failing to meet this requirement will forfeit his credentials. This excludes retired ministers not in active ministry."
2. Although established in eternal truths, Christian ministers face a rapidly changing world. However, God has given us opportunity to keep abreast of change and knowledge to effectively minister in our rapidly changing environment. Peter Drucker has observed that effectiveness is doing the right thing; efficiency is doing the thing right. The Holy Spirit calls all ministers of the gospel to holy effectiveness and anointed efficiency.
3. The Continuing Education Program is designed for all licensed and ordained ministers in the IPHC, including Ministers of Church Education, Ministers of Music, and Missionaries. IPHC ministers will gain knowledge, competency, and the confidence of our constituency, especially those professionals who are already involved in mandatory continuing education, as we participate in a professional development program.
4. CEP is an in-service training track designed for on-going professional development. It is not designed for college/graduate school academic credit.
5. Any licensed minister actively pursuing ordination as a full time student in Bible College, or through the Conference Ministerial Program will satisfy the Continuing Education Unit requirements for the period of time involved in said studies.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIT (CEU)

1. A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is one (1) continuing education hour of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instructors.
2. Over a two year period (biennial) a total of 48 continuing education hours, shall be completed by all IPHC credentialed ministers.
3. For reading assignments the General Superintendent’s Office and the Conference Superintendent’s Office will issue suggested readings. One CEU will be awarded for each 100 pages read.

ISSUANCE OF CEUs

1. The sponsoring church agency will grant the designated CEU credits per event. These agencies include IPHC Ministries Resource Development Center sponsored events, Conference sponsored events and IPHC college sponsored events.
2. The sponsoring agency will provide the CEU forms for that event.
3. The individual minister attending the event is responsible for securing, having validated by the sponsoring agency, and forwarding to the Conference office the CEU form along with his/her monthly ministerial report form.
4. The Conference office will maintain accurate records of CEUs for each minister. Ministers having more than 48 CEUs may not carry them over to the next two year cycle. The continuing education year is the calendar year of two years beginning in January. For newly licensed ministers or ministers transferred into or reinstated into a conference, the CEU requirement starts at the beginning of the calendar year after becoming a member of the conference.

CONTINUING EDUCATION OUTSIDE IPHC

1. Seventy-five percent (75%) of annual CEUs (24) must be completed at IPHC sponsored events/readings.
2. Any CEU outside IPHC agencies must have approval of the Conference Superintendent or his/her appointee and a statement (or form) of completion must be presented to the conference office to be included in the minister’s file.

COSTS

There is no charge for participating in the IPHC CEU program. Church agencies may charge a registration fee for their sponsored events.

INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM

1. The ministerial application for will include a statement of commitment to participate in the IPHC CEU program.
2. A goal of the CEU program is movement toward quadrennial ministerial re-certification of credentials.

Sponsoring Agency: General Superintendent’s Office