Ministry Education

Lenten Resources:

Ministry Education 2022- Ministry Standards and New Legislation:

For more information on the Ministry Standards Commission, please visit their website https://ministrystandards.org/ministry-standards-commission

ONLINE MINISTRY STANDARDS TRAINING - Presention video from Bishop Andrew

Click link to watch video

Bishop Andrew gives a Waiapu perspective and answers questions that have been raised so far. He deals with the following topics:

Licences and responsibilities of clergy
- Licence
- Permission to Officiate (PTO)
- Supervision and spiritual direction
- PTO Emeritus
- Letter of Authority (LOA)
Diocesan contact people (a developing role)
What warrants a complaint
- unsatisfactory conduct
- misconduct
Interpretation by the Ministry Standards Registrar
Appointment of Diocesan Safeguarding Risk Manager (Ms Penny Hales)

MINISTRY STANDARDS TRAINING:

Understanding and respecting boundaries is absolutely critical to healthy ministry. We are committed to ensuring that boundaries training is available to all clergy, Licenced Lay Ministers and Office Bearers. The first two boundaries webinars (Module 1 – The Royal Commission and new Title D legislation, Module 2 – Power in Ministry)- described below are mandatory. Each session consists of 90 minutes input followed by a quiz.

How does this affect me?

Ecclesiastical Office Holder: Any deacon or priest, who holds a licence, a permission to officiate or a letter of authority from the Bishop must complete the first two Ministry Standards modules as well as the accompanying quizzes.

Licensed Lay Ministers: LLM’s must complete the first two Ministry Standards modules as well as the accompanying quizzes.

Permission to Officiate (PTO): Anyone who has a PTO is required to complete the first two Ministry Standards as well as the accompanying quizzes. A PTO is not an ecclesiastical office and it is not a licence.

Office Holders: All Vestry members, Synod Representatives, Treasurers, Wardens, Canons and anyone who holds a letter of authority, are required to complete the first two Ministry Standards as well as the accompanying quizzes. This is because all those who have signed the Declarations of Assent are subject to Canon D, Titles I-VI.

Why is there a quiz?
The new Title D legislation (concerning the behavioural standards of clergy and office bearers along with the process for any potential breach of such standards) states that the Ministry Standards Commission will "audit the approach of Episcopal Units of this Church to the training and monitoring of Ministers" (II.5.(d)).

If you are required to complete a Ministry Standard training unit, you will also need to complete the accompanying quiz. In order to 'pass' you will need to achieve a grade of 80% or higher. This will help demonstrate to the Ministry Standards Commission our serious commitment to the care of vulnerable people and the promotion of healthy behaviours.