New to Baptist Registration ?

To be eligible for Baptist Registration, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

*A Baptist entity includes organisations such as the Baptist Union of New Zealand, Carey Baptist College, NZBMS, Regional Associations, Orbit, etc.

**An approved body includes organisations strongly affiliated with a Baptist church, such as VisionWest, Archer Trust, Findlay Park Trust, Stepping Stones, CORT, etc.

There are 5 categories that eligible applicants are able to apply under :

• • • • • • Pastoral – A pastoral registrant is defined as someone who provides leadership and pastoral care to people within, or on behalf of a faith community. e.g., sole, senior, co-, associate, assistant, worship, children and family, youth, young adults, executive.
          • Chaplain – A chaplain is defined as someone who, without compromising their own beliefs, provides pastoral care, spiritual and moral support, and facilitates the faith journey of all within their specialised setting. e.g., sport, school, military, tertiary, hospital, community, prison.
          • Ministry/Mission – Applications under this category are accepted from those undertaking a role that supports the work of a faith community or communities. e.g., finance, administration, global worker (previously called a missionary), Baptist trusts, Orbit.
          • Kaiārahi Māori – A Kaiārahi Māori  is defined as any Baptist leader who has whakapapa Māori and who chooses to register as Kaiārahi Māori.
          • Baptist Entity– Applications under this category are accepted from those whose role supports the work of the collective of Baptist Churches. e.g., Carey staff, Baptist Union of New Zealand leaders, regional leaders.If you’re uncertain which category best fits your role, you’re encouraged to talk to your regional leader in the first instance, but you’re also welcome to get in touch with us at lifelonglearning@carey.ac.nz

The endorsement form that needs to be completed can be found on our resources page, but is quickly accessible here. Your endorser is required to complete the form which you will then need to upload when completing your application to register.

While the list below is not exhaustive, definitive list, the ‘rule of thumb’ is that your endorser is the person overseeing you in the role you are working in – the person you report to. The person endorsing you must be someone from the Baptist faith community/Baptist entity/approved body that you are employed by or volunteering for.

This is the person who will conduct the annual review of your Registration Development Agreement (RDA) and is someone you nominate as part of completing your application. You should meet with them to plan your first RDA and then again in October to review your RDA and plan your RDA for the year ahead. Once you are in the ‘registration cycle’ you will meet with them each October, to review and plan.

Usually, this person is the same as your endorser, but sometimes the church or organisation may appoint someone else to conduct the review, depending on the setting and your role. Ideally, the reviewer should remain the same each year where possible, to provide consistency and build on previous planning—but we understand this is not always possible. Talk with your endorser about who will conduct the annual review of your RDA with you.

Provisional Baptist Registration

Provisional Baptist Registration is the initial two-year phase of the Baptist Registration journey. If you are Provisionally Registered and have not completed Carey’s Ministry Development Course (MDC), you are required to:

• Attend one Baptist Orientation Day – these usually run annually in August. 
• Develop a clear understanding of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand’s affirmation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as the denomination’s commitment to gender equity – documents accessible through the Baptist MyPlace portal 

While not compulsory, it is strongly recommended that Provisional Registrants have a mentor for the two-year provisional period.
Your mentor should be:

• Outside your local faith community or entity
• Ideally from within the same registration category (e.g., pastoral, chaplaincy)
• A person with ministry experience, such as a pastor from another church

The goal is to ensure you have the support, wisdom and encouragement needed to thrive during your early years of ministry. This is separate from the external supervision requirement for your Registration Development Agreement (RDA).

Full Registration

Once you have:

• Completed two full Registration Development Agreements (RDAs), had both approved, and
• Attended a Baptist Orientation Day

…you’ll be invited to become Fully Registered. This milestone is formally celebrated at the Baptist National Hui in November that is closest to your completion of the requirements.

While two years is the minimum timeframe to become Fully Registered, we recognise that some individuals may take longer based on their personal circumstances.

Registration is an annual process which is open from 1st November each year and closes in mid December. In exceptional circumstances, applications will be considered outside of this period, on request and with agreement from a Regional Leader.

The current registration fees are determined by your hours in your ministry role

• 40-79hrs/mth : $80
• 80+ hrs/mth and receives no MEA : $118
• 80+ hrs/mth and receives MEA : $155

Please note that your registration fee is non-refundable.

More information can be found here 

All the forms you will need can be found on our resources page