The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors recognizes the existence of many different churches and/or denominations which regularly grant ordinations to those who complete the requirements for such.  NANC requires that a male Level 2 nouthetic counselor possess a valid ordination by a duly recognized local church and/or denomination. For our certification processes, and believing that ordination conferral makes up a significant aspect of the evaluation of an applicant for Level 2 membership, we reserve the right to approve or reject a person’s ordination.

 

By the very nature of ordination to the gospel ministry and the conditions for which membership is granted within NANC, we therefore by this statement also affirm the biblical mandate to recognize only males for level 2 certification (please see the NANC policies and procedures section located on our website for the other requirements for level 2 certification). 

 

In addition, women who possess an ordination certificate from a church and/or denomination and who are performing pastoral functions within their ministry (preaching, teaching, ruling/leading), and who are doing so either on a vocational or non-vocational basis, will not be accepted into any level of membership within NANC.

 

We also recognize at the same time that occasionally within certain church and/or denominational settings, women who perform official church counseling roles are required to be somehow publicly recognized for their ministries (including in some settings being set apart vocationally through their respective ecclesiastical bodies for such ministries). Additionally, they may contend that they are not being ordained by their church and/or denomination to perform official pastoral functions and they would further maintain that these unique requirements are not to be construed as usurping the authority of male leadership within their church.  Women ordained to duties other than pastoral functions should contact the NANC office to seek clarification.

 

NANC requires an earned theological degree for those seeking Level 2 membership. NANC reserves the right to determine the validity of such degrees for its certification process.