RETENTION
Once an applicant has been granted ecclesiastical endorsement, they must comply with certain requirements annually in order to retain their ecclesiastical endorsement:
FA 13 35 Continuation of Ecclesiastical Endorsement—When the ACM Committee grants ecclesiastical endorsement, that endorsement is valid for up to two years while the person seeks employment as a chaplain. If the person granted ecclesiastical endorsement does not obtain employment as a chaplain within two years, the ecclesiastical endorsement expires and the person must update their application and reapply for ecclesiastical endorsement. After the person is hired, the ecclesiastical endorsement is extended and remains valid for as long as they serve as a chaplain, provided he or she fulfills the following conditions:
* Church Standing –The chaplain maintains membership in regular standing with the Seventh-day Adventist Church
* Credentials –The chaplain continues to qualify for and receive denominational credentials as a minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
* Regular Reporting – The chaplain submits an annual report to the ACM Department for review by the ACM Committee. Failure to submit the required annual reports and be accountable to the Church will be cause for placing the chaplain’s ecclesiastical endorsement on probation. If the chaplain fails to submit required annual reports for two years in a row, the ecclesiastical endorsement will be revoked and the chaplain will have thirty days to reapply before the employer is notified.
* Continuing Education—Chaplains are required to participate and engage in continuing their professional education for a minimum of 40 hours annually. Evidence of fulfilling this requirement should accompany the annual report in the form of copies of certificates, diplomas, book reports of reading accomplished, etc. Many employers provide some form of professional training or support attendance at seminars or conferences. Attending ACM-sponsored training conferences will also help fulfill this requirement.
* Attendance at ACM-Sponsored Annual Training – Each year the ACM Department sponsors a training conference for all the chaplain associations: campus, corrections, healthcare and military. Attendance at one of these professional training conferences is mandatory for Adventist chaplains at least once every quinquennium (five years). Failure to attend at least one of these annual training events in a quinquennium will be cause for revocation of the chaplain’s ecclesiastical endorsement.
* Moral Conduct and Behavior – The chaplain does not engage in any activity which would subject a minister to discipline as outlined in the North American Division Working Policy Book, section L 60 20 .
* Conditions – Meet any conditions of provisional or time-limited ecclesiastical endorsement. Requests for extension of time due to extenuating circumstances must be made prior to the expiration date.
* Reports – Submission of satisfactory annual reports to the ACM office. Failure to submit the required annual reports and be accountable to the Church will be cause for suspension of the chaplain’s ecclesiastical endorsement. If the chaplain fails to submit required annual reports for two years in a row, the ecclesiastical endorsement will be revoked.
* Continuing Education – In order to maintain professional proficiency chaplains are required to continue their professional education for a minimum of forty hours per calendar year (twenty hours per calendar year for part-time and / or volunteer chaplains). Various types of continuing education can meet the requirement: additional classes or courses at an accredited college or university, attendance at professionally related conferences or seminars, specialized training that enhances chaplain proficiencies, or professionally related reading, research or writing beyond the performance of routine duties. The chaplain must document completion by submitting written evidence such as certificates, diplomas, copies of papers written, or a log of articles and books read.