IFCB Membership

Those applying for membership with the International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc. have, in addition to General Membership, two ministerial credential levels to be considered for: License to Preach or Certificate of Ordination. Churches who desire to align themselves with IFCB may apply for church affiliation. The requirements for membership, credentials and church affiliation can be found below.
Our Membership and Credentials Committee reviews all application packets. Based upon the information supplied in the application packet, the Committee determines whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership and the appropriate credential level. The Committee may request additional information as may be needed to assist them in determining qualification for membership and/or credentials. The Committee further reserves the right to deny membership to those who do not qualify for membership or credentials with IFCB.

Requirements for credentials offered by IFCB

General Membership Certificate

General membership provides individual affiliation with IFCB for those who want to associate with us and who are in support of our vision. All members are required to submit to our Statement of Faith, Practical Commitments and Code of Ethics. Members in this category do not receive a ministerial credential but do have the same privileges as the other members, and may serve on the IFCB Board of Directors. General Membership is available to:

Ministers who hold credentials in a denomination or other ministerial organization/group/fellowship which may preclude its members from holding credentials with another ministerial organization/group/fellowship.
Individuals who do not need, or who do not qualify for, ministerial credentials.

License to Preach Certificate

Serving the Lord and His church is a privilege and honor. Ministry is not to be taken lightly, or abused. As ministers of the Gospel, we are required to lead the Lord’s people along the path to eternal life. We are to live lives that are an example to them. We, alone, will answer to God on the day of judgment as to whether or not we fulfilled our duties as ministers of the Gospel. The responsibilities are tremendous. Candidates shall meet the applicable sections of the following criteria:

Hold a current license with another duly recognized denomination or fellowship, yet desiring to unite with this Fellowship for the purpose of expanded fellowship and expanded opportunity for world ministry.
Be in good standing with current denomination and/or fellowship group and possess a current clergy membership document. (A copy should be submitted with the application package.)
Those who are not yet established in full-time ministry, such as pastor or full-time evangelist or teacher, but do show proof of God’s call to ministry and who are diligently working to further establish themselves in the call of God.
Youth pastors and active lay-ministers may be licensed upon recommendation by the local church in which they hold membership and in which personal ministry is conducted. In addition to the two Letters of Reference, a letter of recommendation for a License to Preach shall be provided by the host pastor and/or the official governing church body to the Credentials Committee of IFCB.
A Bible College/Seminary student in his/her final year having shown a definite call to the Gospel ministry and who can show proof of personal ministry (chapel services, prison services, missions, etc.). In addition to the two Letters of Reference, two letters of recommendation for a License to Preach shall be provided by (1) the host pastor and/or the official governing church body and (2) from the dean or a professor of the Bible College/Seminary the student is attending to the Credentials Committee of IFCB.

It is IFCB’s policy for a member to hold a License to Preach for a minimum of two years with IFCB before an upgrade to ordination will be considered. Members must obtain a “Request for Credential Upgrade” form from the office, fill it out completely and return it to the office. The Credentials Committee will review the Request and member file to determine whether or not the member is eligible for an upgrade. The Committee reserves the right to request additional information as may be needed to assist them in determining upgrade eligibility.

Certificate of Ordination

Ordination is the highest level of membership we offer. Paul presented the Gospel as a trust to be preserved, cherished, and committed to faithful men. Those in leadership are held accountable to God for not only their actions, but also the actions of those under our charge. Candidates shall meet appropriate or applicable sections of the following criteria:

Hold current ordination with another duly recognized denomination or fellowship, yet desiring to unite with this Fellowship for the purpose of expanded fellowship and expanded opportunity for world ministry.
Be in good standing with current denomination and/or fellowship group and possess a current clergy membership document. (A copy should be submitted with the application package.)
Those who may have prior affiliation with a duly recognized denomination and/or fellowship group, but who for any number of reasons may not currently hold credentials, shall offer a written statement as to the reason(s) for separation from prior denomination and/or fellowship group.
Those serving in full-time evangelistic ministry and those serving full-time in the teaching profession (i.e., a Bible College, Institute or Seminary), who have a proven ministry and who subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” issued by this Fellowship.
Pastors of independent congregations who may not hold credentials with a denomination and/or fellowship group who have a proven ministry and who subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” issued by this Fellowship.

Certificate of Church Affiliation

Churches who desire to align themselves with IFCB and who subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” issued by this Fellowship are welcome to apply for affiliation. We believe in the autonomy of the local church congregation.
Our first concern is the sovereign freedom of the Lord Jesus Christ to act in His churches through the Word and the Spirit. We hold that this freedom of God is enhanced in the context of the freedom of the congregation from external religious authority. We also believe local church autonomy is not an end in itself. We recognize the freedom of God to act in His will and grace in the context of various forms of church polity.
As a Fellowship of autonomous churches, we seek to bring about cooperation between local churches. Through the blessing of spiritual encouragement and practical help of like-minded congregations, we hope to enable local churches to carry on their work at home and abroad.
As an affiliated autonomous church, you do not assume the name “International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc.” into the name of your church; you are not “under our incorporation or non-profit umbrella”; you are not supported financially by IFCB or any of the other churches affiliated with IFCB. To affiliate with IFCB, the church leadership must:

Submit a completed “Application for Church Affiliation”,
Submit proof of registry, corporate charter or non-profit status, and
Pay the membership fee.

Reasons for joining us

The following are some of the benefits and reasons for joining hands with us:

Fellowship amongst likeminded leaders and believers to encourage and support one another.
Fellowship so we can learn from one another instead of re-inventing the wheel.
Fellowship in order to strengthen those (leaders and fellowships) that are struggling.
Annual conferences for teaching, exhortation and fellowship. Currently we hold annual conferences in the USA, Ghana and Nigeria.
Newsletters containing news and teaching.
The sharing of ministries in order that assemblies receive a balanced and varied diet of ministry.
A forum for the resolution of doctrinal, and other conflict amongst brothers.
A source of reference when looking for a likeminded church for believers relocating to a different city.
Cooperative projects such as evangelism and missions, where local fellowships do not have the resources to launch such on their own.
The pooling of resources (especially wisdom and knowledge) in order to confront threats and opportunities that face all of us.
Credentials for those who qualify.
Providing an environment of accountability in order to provide checks and balances to every one of us. We will never interfere in local church affairs but when a church feels it needs a court of appeal they have somewhere to go.

IFCB’s practical commitments

I will pattern my conduct after that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will regard my physical body as a temple of God, dedicated to Him.
I will be careful to make the best use of the time available.
I will not participate in activities where there is a danger of addiction.
I will considers others first, rather than myself.
I will avoid deliberate confrontation with temptation.
I will engage in only activities that are of positive benefit.
I will avoid those things that might even appear to be evil.
I will avoid activities that are offensive to others.
I will only do those thing that I know honor Christ.

Code of leadership ethics

1.       Leaders shall be guardians for the Church and attend wholly to their individual churches and shall make it a point of honor to give service to their constituency.

2.       Pastors shall not visit other International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc. churches for personal purposes to create influence, but visit only upon invitation of the pastor, and endeavor to exercise courtesy, wisdom and discretion at all times.

3.       Pastors will, upon resigning one church to pastor another, cease connections with that church as far as pastoral duties are concerned and will under no circumstances seek to retain influence over such churches from which they have been released; and shall seek to resign from one church or be called to another only upon direct leading from God.

4. Pastors shall not discredit the ministry of their predecessors and shall not correspond with former parishioners for contributions or to exert influence in matters of church policy.

5. All ministers shall be careful not to incur any personal indebtedness that will in any way obligate or embarrass the work of the local church or International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc.

6. Evangelists shall at all times support and work in harmony with the pastor for whom evangelizing is done. They shall not borrow money or seek endorsees, notes from the members or officers of the church, solicit contributions during or following the conclusion of the specific assignment given him by the local pastor.

7. All those ministers and/or churches affiliated with the International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc. shall seek to work in harmony with the Fellowship and shall at all times combat dissension and criticism therein.

8. Officers of the Fellowship will be available to member affiliates upon request to help settle any difficulties or differences between brother ministers or between ministers and their local church through the channels provided by the Fellowship. At no time shall any officer use his office to carry through a private plan. Member affiliates may seek the counsel and guidance of officers of the Fellowship on any subject matter.

9. All ministers shall at all times follow the spirit and principles of New Testament teaching and shall be governed by the laws of Christ's love in their dealings with one another.

10. The confidential statements made to a minister by his congregants are sacred and not to be divulged.

11. Except in emergencies, ministerial service should not be rendered to members of another congregation without the knowledge of the minister of that congregation.

12. An affiliate member of the International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc. should not make overtures to, or consider overtures from, a church whose pastor has not resigned.

Any violation of this "Code of Ethics" can lead to disqualification from membership in the International Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc.

Membership