CLASSIFICATION OF REGISTRANTS PREPARING FOR THE MINISTRY

32 C.F.R. Part 1639
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

32 C.F.R. § 1639.1 Purpose; definitions.

(a) The provisions of this part shall govern the consideration of a claim by a registrant for classification in Class 2-D (§ 1630.26 of this chapter). (b) The definitions of this paragraph shall apply to the interpretation of the provisions of this part: (1) The term ministry refers to the vocation of a duly ordained minister of religion or regular minister of religion as defined in part 1645 of this chapter. (2) The term recognized church or religious organization refers to a church or religious organization established on the basis of a community of faith and belief, doctrines and practices of a religious character, and which engages primarily in religious activities. (3) The term recognized theological or divinity school refers to a theological or divinity school whose graduates are acceptable for ministerial duties either as an ordained or regular minister by the church or religious organization sponsoring a registrant as a ministerial student. (4) The term graduate program refers to a program in which the registrant's studies are officially approved by his church or religious organization for entry into service as a regular or duly ordained minister of religion. (5) The term full-time intern applies to a program that must run simultaneous with or immediately follow the completion of the theological or divinity training and is required by a recognized church or religious organization for entry into the ministry. (6) The term satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction means maintaining a satisfactory academic record as determined by the institution while receiving full-time instructions in a structured learning situation. A full-time course of instruction does not include instructions received pursuant to a mail order program.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.2 The claim for Class 2-D.

A claim to classification in Class 2-D must be made by the registrant in writing, such document being placed in his file folder.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.3 Basis for classification in Class 2-D.

(a) In Class 2-D shall be placed any registrant who is preparing for the ministry under the direction of a recognized church or religious organization; and (1) Who is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction required for entrance into a recognized theological or divinity school in which he has been pre-enrolled or accepted for admission; or (2) Who is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction in a recognized theological or divinity school; or (3) Who, having completed theological or divinity school, is a student in a full-time graduate program or is a full-time intern, and whose studies are related to and lead toward entry into service as a regular or duly ordained minister of religion. Satisfactory progress in these studies as determined by the school in which the registrant is enrolled, must be maintained for qualification for the deferment. (b) The registrant's classification shall be determined on the basis of the written information in his file folder, oral statements, if made by the registrant at his personal appearance before a board, and oral statements, if made by the registrant's witnesses at his personal appearance.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.4 Exclusion from Class 2-D.

A registrant shall be excluded from Class 2-D when: (a) He fails to establish that the theological or divinity school is a recognized school; or (b) He fails to establish that the church or religious organization which is sponsoring him is so recognized; or (c) He ceases to be a full-time student; or (d) He fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.5 Impartiality.

Boards may not give precedence to any religious organization or school over another, and all are to be given equal consideration.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.6 Considerations relevant to granting or denying claims for Class 2-D.

(a) The registrant's claim for Class 2-D must include the following: (1) A statement from a church or religious organization that the registrant is preparing for the ministry under its direction; and (2) Current certification to the effect that the registrant is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction required for entrance into a recognized theological or divinity school in which he has been pre-enrolled; or (3) Current certification to the effect that the registrant is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction in a recognized theological or divinity school; or (4) Current certification to the effect that the registrant, having completed theological or divinity school, is satisfactorily pursuing a full-time graduate program or is a full-time intern, whose studies are related to and lead toward entry into service as a regular or duly ordained minister of religion. (b) A board may require the registrant to obtain from the church, religious organization, or school detailed information in order to determine whether or not the theological or divinity school is in fact a recognized school or whether or not the church or religious organization which is sponsoring the registrant is recognized.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.7 Types of decisions.

(a) A board may grant a classification into Class 2-D until the end of the academic school year. (b) Upon the expiration of a 2-D classification, a board shall review any request for extension of the classification in the same manner as the first request for Class 2-D. This section does not relieve a registrant of his duties under § 1621.1 of this chapter. (c) The board may deny a claim for Class 2-D when the evidence fails to merit any of the criteria established in this section.

32 C.F.R. § 1639.8 Statement of reason for denial.

(a) Denial of a claim for a ministerial student deferment by a board must be accompanied by a statement specifying the reason(s) for such denial as prescribed in §§ 1633.9, 1651.4 and 1653.3 of this chapter. The reason(s) must in turn, be supported by evidence in the registrant's file. (b) If a board's denial is based on statements by the registrant or his witnesses at a personal appearance, this must be fully explained in the statement of reasons accompanying the denial.

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