The following items must be received by the Exam Committee Chairman by email by the Step 1 Due Dates for the previously approved Presbytery meeting.

IMPORTANT: All files must be attached as .docx or .pdf files only. Please send your documents on time/early to prevent any delay in your ordination cycle. Issues (such as improper file formats (JPG, HEIC, Pages docs, etc.) that require you to resend the documents on a date later than the Step 1 Due Date will result in the delay of your examination process to the next Presbytery exam cycle.

Research Papers (Ordination Candidates Only)
The following two research papers are required only for candidates pursuing ordination.

IMPORTANT: You must follow the paper guidelines precisely, or they will be returned for correction (see Research Paper Guidelines). If there is a repeated failure to abide by the guidelines (or if the content of the research paper continues to be inadequate after one or two rounds of feedback), then there is a risk that you will have to delay your examination process to a later Presbytery exam cycle.

A.Exegetical Paper (Greek or Hebrew): This paper demonstrates your ability to handle the original languages. (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

B. Theological Paper: This paper demonstrates your ability to synthesize biblical information and make a compelling biblical case for a specific theological topic or issue. (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

IMPORTANT: You must format the top of each page of the following items with a one-line header that includes your name, document title, date, and page number (John Smith, Views, 01/07/25, Page 1 of 3). Improperly formatted documents will be returned for formatting.

C. Conversion, Christian Experience, and Calling Statement: Provide a written statement of your conversion, Christian experience, and calling (limit 500 words).

D. Views Paper: Provide a statement succinctly stating your beliefs in your own words, on the following topics (limit 250 words per topic).

• The Inspiration of Scripture
• The Trinity
• The person and work of Christ
• Christ's death and resurrection
• The doctrine of man
• The final state of man
• The second coming of Christ
• The doctrine and mission of the church
• Person and work of the Holy Spirit (including your views on which gifts of the Spirit continue)
• The doctrine of the person and work of Satan
• The five points of Calvinism
• The days of creation
• New Perspectives on Paul
• The role of women in the Church
• Paedocommunion
• Human sexuality (including your views on transgenderism and same sex attraction)

E. Exceptions Statement: Provide a written statement of your exception(s) to the Westminster Standards (the Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechisms). For each exception, include the reference, specifically what it is you are taking exception to, a brief defense of your position and which of the three categories you believe it falls under (see Classifying Exceptions to the Westminster Standards).

F. Sermon Audio: Provide an MP3 format audio recording of a recent sermon you prepared and preached. The sermon must be expository in form and at least 20 minutes in length, and must include explanation, illustration, and application.

G. Sermon Transcript: Provide a written, word-for-word transcript of the recorded sermon you submit above.

H. Candidates Committee Report: Provide a brief written statement from the Candidates Committee Chairman (see Officers and Committees) concerning the status of your internship. Consult BCO 19-7 through 19-16 and the Central Florida Presbytery Candidate for Ministry manual for a thorough discussion of internship requirements. Intern requirements must be satisfied before, or by the date of presbytery. If you are coming in from a different Presbytery, contact our Presbytery's Exam Committee Chairman for special instructions. (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

I. College and Seminary Documents: Provide official documents identifying the college and seminary from which you graduated, dates of graduation, degree program(s), list of courses with final grades (seminary only), and final cumulative GPA. For college a picture or scan of your diploma is sufficient. For seminary you will typically need to contact the Registrar's office. (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

J. Ministry Call: Whether you are a licensure or ordination candidate, we require certification from your church about how they intend to utilize your service in the ministry of the Word.

•For Ordination Candidates: Provide a copy of your signed, prospective ministry call, issued by your prospective place of ministry, per BCO 20-1 and written in the general form of 20-6. Please scan and email it to the Exam Committee Chairman. If you do not have a formal ministry call from your Session, then licensure is a possibility, but you cannot pursue ordination.

• For Licensure Candidates: Provide a written statement (or email) from your church's Session stating how they intend to utilize your service in the ministry of the Word. Here is a general template: "The Session of [church name] intends to have [name of candidate] preach for us [in Sunday morning services / in a local nursing home / etc.] an average of [x] number of times per year." This statement should include a description of any other pastoral responsibilities the licentiate will be expected to perform.

Upon satisfying these requirements, you will be directed by the Exam Committee Chairman to Step 2.

By the Step 2 Due Date (see Important Dates), complete the following.

A. Bible Exams, Part 1 & Part 2: These Bible exams are the first of several online exams. You have to pass both Bible parts before you can take the rest of the exams in Step 3 below.

Bible Exam Part 1 consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that are graded automatically at the end of your testing session. You will have two attempts to score an 80% or better on Part 1 before moving on to Part 2.

Bible Exam Part 2 consists of 100 short answer questions and will be submitted to the chairman for grading at the end of your testing session.

Go to the Online Exam Portal and then follow the instructions to take the Bible Exams. (Note that access to take the Bible exams will only be granted after all the above Step 1 requirements are satisfied.)

B. Questionnaires: For the following items, you will need to download each of the Word files (links included below), fill them out, and email them back to the Exam Committee Chairman.

• Experiential Religion Questionnaire: This questionnaire asks about your character and your relationships with God, people, family, and church. It also asks for references that we can contact. Click here to download the file.

• Moral Questionnaire: This questionnaire asks about your moral purity and how you are exhibiting a lifestyle of repentance in certain key areas. Click here to download the file.

Upon satisfying these requirements, you will be directed by the Exam Committee Chairman to Step 3.

By the Step 3 Due Date (see Important Dates), complete the following.

A. Remaining Exams: You will need to take and pass all of the following online exams in order to proceed to Step 4 (see Preparing for Online Exams). Most of the questions in these exams are fill-in-the-blank or short essay. Go to the Online Exam Portal and then follow the instructions to take each exam. The order in which you take them does not matter, though we suggest starting with Theology. (Note that access to take these exams will only be granted after all the above Step 2 and 3 requirements are satisfied.)

• Theology Exam
• BCO Exam
• Sacraments Exam (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)
• Church & PCA History Exam (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

B. Mock Oral Exam: You will be paired with one or more members of the committee for a mock oral exam. This will help you know if you are adequately prepared for the next step. No candidate for licensure or ordination will be allowed to come before the committee without first completing a mock exam.

Upon satisfying the above requirements, you will be directed by the Exam Committee Chairman to Step 4.

By the Step 4 Due Date (see Important Dates), complete the following.

A. Committee Examination: Confirm your oral exam date with the Exam Committee Chairman by email if you have not already done so. You will need to take and pass all of the following oral exams in order to proceed to appear before the floor of Presbytery (See Preparing for Committee Examination).

• Bible (Old Testament and New Testament)
• Theology
• Book of Church Order
• Sacraments (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)
• Church & PCA History (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

B. Ordination Commission: Email the Exam Committee Chairman the names of the men who will be on your Ordination Commission (three Teaching Elders and three Ruling Elders) and the planned date for the installation ceremony. (Required for Ordination only; not required for Licensure.)

Upon satisfying the above requirements, you will be directed by the Exam Committee Chairman to Step 5.

On the Presbytery date (see Important Dates), be prepared to engage in a short oral examination on the floor of Presbytery. Designated members of the Exam Committee will ask you representative questions from the above oral exam categories, and then the floor is opened for any Presbyter to ask you any questions they want. You will be asked to leave the room while the Presbytery votes to approve your ordination or licensure, then you will come back in for final wrap-up. You will know that same day whether you sustained all your exams. Please have hard-copies of your signed Ministry Call paperwork and Ordination Commission names ready to give to the Clerk. He will have paperwork for you to complete and return at the following Presbytery meeting, after your ordination and installation service.

After Step 5, at a date and time determined by the church or organization issuing your call, you will be officially ordained and installed per BCO 21-5.