Morling College is the theological college of pastoral and related ministries for accreditation in NSW and ACT Baptist churches and takes its responsibility seriously in the formation of students for accredited Baptist Ministry especially in light of NSW and ACT Baptist Association, ethical and Government legislated requirements.

ACCREDITATION DETAILS

The College acts on behalf of the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT, and Baptist Churches of WA when it comes to formation for Baptist accreditation. Please refer to the full Accreditation Guidelines for your relevant State or Territory regarding these details.

In NSW and ACT at the April NSW and ACT Baptist Assembly, 2015 revised Baptist Accreditation guidelines were accepted by the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT. These guidelines are currently reflected in training processes surrounding Baptist Accreditation and training conducted by Morling College for NSW and ACT Baptist Church Candidates in Accreditation. Accreditation processes and accreditation guidelines are currently under review and are expected to be updated by the end of 2022, ready for enactment from 2023 onwards, once the NSW and ACT Baptist Assembly has passed them. Current guidelines and processes are still operating at this time.

ACCREDITATION STUDY REQUIREMENTS

Full requirements and further details surrounding Baptist accreditation training and formation will be supplied when contact has been made with the relevant Accreditation Adviser in each State or Territory.

For NSW and ACT Baptist Churches contact Jenny Casey (Sydney MALC): jcasey@nswactbaptists.org.au

For WA Baptist Accreditation contact Lloyd Porter (Vose Campus): lloydp@morling.edu.au

NSW & ACT BAPTIST ACCREDITATION EVENTS & DETAILS

SYDNEY PRE-APPLICATION INFORMATION SESSIONS surrounding Baptist Accreditation take place twice in a year and are hosted at the College, with each session held early in semesters 1 and 2. This is a meeting hosted by the College but conducted in liaison with the NSW and ACT Baptist Association.

You must have attended a Pre-Application Information Session to be able to move ahead with accreditation in NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation and then be part of a Pre-Accreditation interview. For students who are unable to make one of these sessions, please contact Jenny Case – jcasey@nswactbaptists.org.au.

The next Pre-Application information sessions are being held as follows:

PRE-APPLICATION INTERVIEWS

If you have attended a Pre-Application Information Session and received the appropriate forms, and are still interested in continuing forward towards NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation candidacy then ensure you lodge these completed forms and Pastor's reference as soon as possible so that a time slot can be allocated on a Pre-application interview day. This is the next step in moving forward to receive NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation. Details were given to you at the Pre-Application information session.

The next set of Pre-Application Interviews is being held at Sydney MALC, or via ZOOM:

• Wednesday 13th or Thursday 14th April 2022 (1 hour designated time slot to be arranged)

BAPTIST ASSEMBLY AND BAPTIST MINISTER'S ACCREDITATION SERVICE:

Being an accepted NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation Candidate means supporting both the Association and other Baptist pastors, so it is important to be part of Association events. If you are an accepted Accreditation Candidate then it would be expected that you attend NSW and ACT Baptist Assemblies, Events, and Accreditation Services. Due to Government and health sitautions these events and activities may be coordinated differently. Keep up-to-date with BA events through their web-site and search in events: https://nswactbaptists.org.au/

OTHER RELATED ACCREDITATION EVENTS:

As an accepted Accreditation Candidate refer to the Full Accreditation Training Guidelines for whether some of these events are mandatory or not.

• Advanced Creating Safe Spaces Training (ACSS)
  Completing the Baptist Association’s Creating Safe Spaces and Advanced Creating Safe Spaces Training courses are requirements to become accredited as a NSW and ACT Baptist minister.
  
  There are planned two ACSS Training sessions in 2022 as follows:
  1. Saturday 26 March and Saturday 2 April – online only session
  2. Monday 8 August and Monday 22 August – onsite only at the Baptist Ministry Centre, MALC, Macquarie Park
  
  This 2 day advanced training program is required for all paid NSW and ACT Baptist pastors and leaders. It is preferred that you have been accepted as an Accreditation Candidate to attend this event but any paid pastoral position would be expected to attend these workshops. This event is conducted by the Ministry Standards Unit of the Baptist Association and is a paid event.
   
• Marriage Workshop
  This event is conducted by the NSW and ACT Baptist Association free of charge for NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation students. Attendance at this is mandatory for obtaining your Religious Marriage license as an accredited Baptist minister.
  Please contact Craig Corkhill for details of the next workshop being offered ccorkill@nswactbaptists.org.au
   
• Prepare-Enrich Facilitator Trainer
  The NSW and ACT Baptist Association (BA) states that Prepare-Enrich must be completed to attain a Marriage license as a Baptist Celebrant.
  Prepare-Enrich no longer operates directly within Australia and so remedial arrangements are being developed. Until this has been decided it will be necessary to have completed both PC002 Pastoral Care and PC003 Pastoral Skills and Methods (Mandatory Accreditation unit) to obtain your Marriage License. Contact Keith Mitchell (KeithM@morling.edu.au) for further enquiries and arrangements.
   
• Annual Accreditation Progress Review
  If you are a NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation Candidate and anticipate becoming accredited in the ensuing year then you will require a final interview with the Committee for the Ministry in December this year. If this is the case then you will need to make Jenny Casey aware of that fact by 29th July. You will need to ensure that you have a demonstration of your plan of completion based on the NSW and ACT Baptist Accreditation Training Guidelines. Contact Jenny for further details: jcasey@nswactbaptists.org.au