BAPTIST ACCREDITATION & PASTORAL TRAINING

STEPS TO ACCREDITATION

• STEP ONE: DECIDE

  The first step is to speak with our Accreditation Adviser Keith Mitchell who will assist you through the Accreditation process. Please contact Keith to arrange a suitable time discuss further: keithm@morling.edu.au

  Before beginning the Accreditation for Ministry process, you must be enrolled in a course at Morling. 

  If you are not already a student with us, you can find out more about applying to study at Morling here.

• STEP TWO: GETTING READY

  Pre-Application (Preliminary Registration for Interest)

  This step is designed to help assess if you should continue with a formal application. You are required to attend a pre-application information session. Morling will host a meeting each semester on campus.

  During the information session you will be provided with documentation outlining the requirements for the accreditation process. You will need to complete the following documents before step 3:

  1. Preliminary registration of interest for Baptist Accreditation
  2. Confidential Questionnaire and Statutory Declaration regarding personal character and history.
  3. A referral from your pastor, indicating their support.

  Once all documentation has been received by the Committee for the Ministry, representatives will meet with you to discuss the next step.

• STEP THREE: FORMAL APPLICATION

  You will need to complete and submit the following through an Online Application:

  1. An account of your call to ministry
  2. An account of your early religious training, conversion & spiritual journey
  3. 500+ words regarding your convictions on Baptist doctrine and practice of ministry
  4. 500+ words regarding your understanding of Baptist practice of ministry
  5. An account of your ministry experience, including preaching
  6. References: Names of three persons who know you well – any Employer (current or previous) or colleague/acquaintance/friend; Plus, your Current Senior/Lead Pastor and/or any Previous Senior/Lead Pastor (< 5 years previous); The name of the Church Secretary (or senior office bearer) of your current church for them to organise a formal letter from the church supporting your application for accreditation.
  7. A list of theological & general reading, identifying books read during the last two years
  8. An up-to-date medical report
  9. A digital recording or online reference/link of a recent sermon you have preached in English; or a written transcript of an English translation of a sermon preached in another language
  10. Your stance on the Statement of Beliefs in the Constitution.
  11. Signed Statement of Principle

  You are also required to undergo a psychological assessment with an approved Clinical Psychologist. A report will be requested from Morling College (if applicable). Participation in brief training and evaluation workshops will also be required.

• STEP FOUR: ACCEPTANCE

  Interview

  Over the course of one day, you and (if applicable) your spouse/fiancee will be interviewed. You will be required to:

  1. Share your story of why you believe you are called and why you are applying for accreditation.
  2. Meet with three interview panels:
     1. Doctrine and Denominationalism
     2. Personality and Relational Capacity
     3. Gifts and Experience for Ministry

  After this you will be free to leave to allow the Committee for the Ministry to decide your application.

  Candidacy and Probation

  If accepted as a candidate for accreditation you will meet with the Committee for the Ministry again to develop your Ministry and Leadership Development Plan and checklist. This will be used to assess your progress through the probation period. Probation will conclude when the Committee for the Ministry meets with you to consider final reports from your Church, Morling College and others as required by the committee.

• STEP FIVE: ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

  Accreditation is an ongoing process requiring demonstration of continued growth over a three year cycle in areas of spiritual life, professional skills and connection.

  In the first three years following accreditation you will be required to:

  1. Complete any remaining ministry training require by the Committee for the Ministry
  2. Attend required post-accreditation events conducted by Ministry Support & Development (MSD)
  3. Undertake Clinical Mentoring with an approved mentor for a minimum of four hours per year.

  During your first year as an Accredited Minister it is expected that you will server under the direction of MSD, Global InterAction, or such other body approved by the Committee for the Ministry. During this period you will need to consult with MSD if considering a change in your ministry placement.