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ABC Membership Fees:
ABC membership fees have been determined by the board of directors, and are based on projected use by members. Professional counselors are projected to utilize the resources on the ABC website more often than pastors, and pastors are projected to utilize the resources more frequently than laity. The membership fees have been carefully considered by the board, and reflect these projected differences.
ABC anticipates that anyone considering joining the association will exercise honesty and integrity when doing so. As such, anyone who is found to falsify information in order to join at a lower membership rate than that for which he or she qualifies will have his or her membership revoked immediately without an option for refund.
Professional
Professional refers to an individual who operates within a full-time counseling practice or ministry. This would include licensed and non-licensed persons whose primary mode of active ministry transpires within a formal counseling context, and are not part of a particular church staff.
Pastoral
Pastoral refers to an individual who has been formally ordained by a recognized body, and serves as a pastor or teaching elder within the body of Christ. If a person is a pastor whose responsibilities include extensive counseling to those within the church, then it is recommended by ABC to sign up under “Pastoral” rather than “Professional” (i.e., pastoral staff who preside over a church counseling ministry).
Laity
Since ABC holds to the premise that all Christians are called to counsel in some capacity, a laity membership has been offered. Laity refers to an individual who may have no formal training in counseling or theology, but engages in counseling as a layperson. This would include anyone within the church who does not qualify under the conditions of “Professional” or “Pastoral”.
While ABC adheres to the Gospel message of the Bible, individuals who may not profess faith in Jesus Christ, but have an interest in the work of biblical counseling are welcomed to sign up under laity. Should interest in or questions about the Bible and/or Jesus increase upon perusing the information on the ABC website, the staff of ABC would be honored to speak with you on these matters.
Student
A student is considered anyone currently enrolled full-time at a seminary, university, or college. Those who are not enrolled full-time are welcomed to sign up under laity.
Disclaimer
ABC reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member should circumstances or information regarding that particular individual warrant cause to do so. The discretion to do so is solely reserved by the officers of the Association of Biblical Counseling. Should such action be taken, the member in question will not be eligible for a refund. ABC will consider revocation of membership only with significant due cause and substantiated evidence that such drastic action must be taken."
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