COURSES LIFE EXPERIENCES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Covenant Orientation The Covenant Life Experience component of CO

includes four courses is designed to immerse pastors in the life of the
designed to provide a ECC. CO students must participate in at least six
common educational experiences any time during enrollment:
experience focusing on
the Covenant’s heritage, Required Experiences (at least 1 of each)
distinctives, and 1. Covenant Annual Meeting: This includes
mission. the annual meeting of the ministerium and
participation in the business sessions, either
as a delegate or as a general conferee.
2. The Midwinter Conference: This may include
History
• 39 hours of coursework years when CO classes are taken.
• available for 3 graduate credits 3. Conference Ministerial Retreat (also called
pastor/spouse retreat or fall ashram)
Theology
• 39 hours of coursework Elective Experiences (need 3)
• available for 3 graduate credits A variety of other Covenant Life Experiences can
fulfill this requirement, including:
Mission & Ministry • Service on a Conference or Denominational
• 26 hours of coursework board, commission, or approved committee;
• Service as a Camp Pastor or on staff at CHIC;
Vocational Excellence • Connection events prior to Midwinter;
• 28 hours of coursework • Courses taught by NPTS faculty;
• requires assessment work turned • Several more options available at www.
in prior to class sessions covchurch.org/ministry.
All courses require preparation in the form of
prereading and possible online interaction through
ADVISING RELATIONSHIP
a virtual classroom tool in order to maximize the
time spent in the actual classroom setting.
Courses are under the jurisdiction of our The CO advisory relationship is designed to connect
Academic Policies, which can be found online at pastors with a veteran ECC pastor willing to listen
www.covchurch.org/ministry. to their experiences, answer their questions, lend
advice, and help them become more firmly rooted
in their local Covenant context.
What will be my standing in the Evangelical
Covenant Church as I go through Covenant
Orientation?
A minister can be licensed by the ECC, and thus
fully equipped for ministry, during the orientation
process.
How long do I have to complete CO?
The program is designed for completion in two
years. Upon request, the program may be extended
to no more than 6 years.
How much does it cost?
The program fee for CO is $4750. This covers a
student’s involvement in the orientation studies
and Midwinter registration fee if he/she takes a
course during that conference. This fee may be paid
up-front or in equal installments over the duration
of the program.
This tuition cost does not cover additional fees such
as housing, readers, books, and transportation.
Is there financial assistance available?
Pastors may apply for a scholarship for 25% of the
program cost; payment plans are also available.
What if my primary language is not English?
Orientation classes are available in Spanish.
Other language needs may be met by individual-
ized learning plans. Contact the Covenant Orienta-
tion office for more information.

please visit www.covchurch.org/ministry for more information and

guidelines for the Courses, Life Experience, and Advising Relationship
requirements of Covenant Orientation.
 CO ovenant
rientation
PROGRAM OUTLINE
There are three components to Cov-
enant Orientation:
Orientation Studies
Students in Covenant Orientation take four
classes in the areas of history, theology, ethics,
and the mission and ministry of the Covenant.
Two of the courses are available for graduate
credit through North Park Theological Seminary.
Courses are led by experienced Covenant faculty
and are designed to explore topics from a distinctly
Covenant perspective. Courses are offered during
the Covenant Midwinter Conference and at other
venues around the country throughout the year,
making them accessible to students serving in a
wide range of locations and ministries.
Covenant Life Experiences
Six Covenant Life Experiences, such as attending
the Covenant Annual Meeting and the Covenant
Midwinter Conference, help students share in the
breadth and depth of ministry in the ECC.
Collegiality
Each student establishes an advising relationship
with a veteran Covenant pastor. This relationship
is designed to provide opportunities to meet other
colleagues and to reflect on life and ministry in the
Evangelical Covenant Church with those of long
experience.
WHY COVENANT ORIENTATION?
The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) has
historically placed a high priority on the education
of its clergy. Covenant Orientation (CO) enables
The Department of the Ordered Ministry
pastors to be in ministry while learning about the
theology, history and expectations of the
denomination. For a pastor to be credentialed (li-
censed, commissioned or ordained) by the ECC, he
or she must complete a year of Residential Orien-
tation at North Park Theological Seminary, Centro
Hispano de Estudios Teológicos, or complete Cov-
enant Orientation. CO, as outlined in this brochure,
offers these important benefits to Covenant pastors
and congregations:
• Accountability to the denomination;
• Fulfilling the orientation requirement for
credentialing set by the Board of the Ordered
Ministry;
• Increasing pastors’ knowledge and appreciation
of Covenant distinctives and theology;
• Connecting pastors more fully to the Covenant
fellowship;
• Offering practical tools for fruitful ministry in
the Covenant context.
Since 1996, CO has prepared more than 400
An Overview of
CO
pastors for ministry in the ECC, benefiting hundreds
ovenant
of churches all over the world.
rientation
MORE INFORMATION
COovenant
rientation
Department of the Ordered Ministry
1-888-COV-PROG
www.covchurch.org/ministry Evangelical Covenant Church
covenant.orientation@covchurch.org