Membership
Membership Process
Member Application Form (PDF File)
Online Application (Application form will not be processed if fee is not paid within 24 hrs)
Upon receipt of the application form, we will start your UCMA membership file and place you on the UCMA contact roster. We have staff members worldwide, but our home office is located in San Antonio, Texas. Once the membership process is complete, you will receive a welcome packet along with an official membership certificate. If you are applying for a credentialing program, you will receive your training packet and other program information as quickly as possible.
Member benefits: (See fee sheet for general membership dues)
• Partnership with a nationally recognized entity and credible organization.
• 24-hour mentoring, prayer, and guidance available worldwide.
• Unlimited networking potential with anointed ministers, ministry workers, business professionals, and churches.
• Quarterly newsletters, articles, and other association periodicals.
• A 3-month subscription to“Unity,” our association magazine. (Coming Soon)
• Invitations to the UCMA semi-annual conferences (discount registration fees apply to UCMA members only), with all associated gifts and materials distributed during the conferences.
• Frequent seminars of all types to include: ministry, counseling, business, finance, education, leadership, music ministry, book writing/publishing, fund raising, information technology, and much more. All seminars will be hosted by UCMA, and taught by certified professionals at a city near you.*
• Membership certificate.
• Free online access to association forums for real-time discussions, questions, and information concerning today’s most pressing topics.
• Coming Soon: UCMA Urban Development Project!
*The above seminars may also be taught at your church, business, or organization upon request.
Credentialing
Credentialing Process
B. Ministerial Credentialing & Member Form
1) Enroll in the appropriate credentialing program (certification, licensure, or ordination).
2) Allow at least 30 business days for the board of directors to review the application form, ministry resume, three letters of recommendation**, and copies of any certifications, degrees, and ministry credentials.
3) If you are applying for ordination, you must first become licensed, then allow a minimum of 24 months (the first 12 months are a probationary period) before applying for ordination. After the 12-month probationary period, you will be issued permanent credentials which allow fully sanctioned operation in the Gospel ministry. Additionally, all ordination candidates must be at least 30 years of age. This is simply modeled after the life of Christ, and the symbolic importance of the number “30” meaning the number of ministry maturity.
4) Once accepted into your respective credentialing program, you will quickly receive a credentialing workbook. You will be expected to follow the instructions for each assignment. Please understand that many of the speaking assignments are designed to be completed at the semi-annual UCMA conferences.
5) Once you have turned in your completed assignments, you will receive a verification letter from our education and training department. You will need this letter to give to the senior presbyter during the Elders’ Board.
6) You will be scheduled to meet the Elders’ Board during one of the semi-annual conferences.
7) You will be given an opportunity to preach your credentialing sermon during the conference's “Timothy Service.” Only a few select elders and UCMA members will be present.
8) You and your Pastor (if applicable) will then meet with the board president and the senior presbyter to discuss their final decision.
9) Finally, an afternoon credentialing service will be held on the last day of the event that includes sanctification, anointing, and the UCMA charge executed by the UCMA Elders’ Council. At this time, you will be assigned a personal elder, who will be available to meet your mentoring needs and answer any questions that may arise. After six months, you should be ready to join the Elders’ Council (ordained ministers) and offer the same support to the next cycle of newly ordained elders.
-- If you are being licensed, the same applies, and an elder will be assigned to you indefinitely. If your pastor is a recognized member of UCMA, he may submit his name as your personal elder at that time. This appointment is indefinite, unless God calls you to apply for ordination, at which point you will be assigned to your credentialing program director.
*Ordination candidates will accomplish all of the above in addition to a scenario-based Q & A session covering counseling techniques, funerals, weddings/divorce, tax laws, current events, general theology, general hermeneutics, leadership, and the history of the church.
Ministerial candidates will also need to be familiar with homiletics, the prison/hospital ministries, and all offices of church ministry (i.e. ushers, finance, deacons, music, etc.).
**This is a minimum, you may submit up to 5 letters of recommendation.
Licensed or Ordained Ministers/Deacons receive: (Annual dues/Fees)
"New"
- Counseling certification opportunities with The American Association of Christian Counselors.
- UCMA’s Minister’s Manual (coming soon).
• Quarterly Newsletter
• Minister’s Identification Card (with photo)
• Free web advertising and personal ministry website links through our association web page.
• Free access to the UCMA Minister’s website resources.
• Seasonal library resource donations from UCMA (concordances, books, bibles, manuals, etc.).
• Extended Vision: Church/Project Financing through a major financial institution (2008)!
Ministerial Assistance and Education
• Prayer support.
• Ability to attend our national and state conferences.
• First-class ministry training and speaking opportunities worldwide.
• Ministerial placement and evangelistic scheduling.
• Accountability, discipleship and mentoring.
• Ability to contact the presbyter at any time by email, phone, or in person.
Benefits of Being Part of a Nationally Recognized Group
• A spiritual covering for credential holder’s ministry.
• Identity with a non-denominational organization for true doctrinal unity.
• Value of the ordination/license papers to add validity, credibility, and legitimacy to the ministry of the credential holder.
• Being part of a family and experiencing the relationship, fellowship, and love and the sense of belonging it brings.
• Access to hospitals, prisons, and detention centers (please contact the institution chaplain for local admission requirements).
Other Benefits
• Allowances: A licensed/ordained minister is allowed a tax-deductible housing allowance, travel expense deductions and a portion of your salary could also be tax-free. (See your tax consultant for specific IRS rules and regulations.)
• Legal Advice (UCMA’s staff lawyer is only sanctioned to operate in an advisory role, and will not represent any individual concerning lawsuits, financial handling, malpractice, or any type of inappropriate behavior).
• Realistic financial support when establishing a UCMA sanctioned church, outreach, mission trip, crusade, revival, etc. All financial support is based on board approval and current account status. All funds are provided by the offerings, tithes, donations, etc. of our UCMA members.