Registration Development Agreement

Ministry roles can be amongst the most critical and demanding leadership roles on the planet. Serving a community of faith well requires considerable theological, sociological, organisational, technical and relational expertise. The Baptist Union of New Zealand acknowledge more ‘learning’ than the minimum requirements of Baptist Registration are desirable to support and sustain robust leadership and excellence in ministry and Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning fully support this.

Under this category of your Registration Development Agreement there is a requirement to undertake a specific number of Approved learning hours – a minimum of 2 hours of which must be select from the ‘Priority Learning’ options

• Approved Learning is learning that will sustain, support and develop your role in ministry. This learning will be approved at the discretion of the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning Director. This includes retreats, conferences, Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning webinars or courses, NZQA study, self-directed learning (e.g., books, articles, videos, workshops), Sabbaticals, and other learning (e.g., leadership courses). Please note that retreats are to represent no more than 1/3^rd of the total learning requirement.
• Priority learning options will be formed each year through the Leadership Coordination office of the Baptist Support Centre. The 2 hours of learning may consist of 1 in-house course, or engaging with a specific topic through the choice of multiple approved training providers. All courses will be provided in both in-person and online formats. These options will be visible to you for selection, on your registration application form so it’s easy to see what’s required (see below for 2023 priority learning options).

The ‘Personal Growth and Learning’ requirements are dependent on the hours you are working. The learning hours have been structured to represent less than a weeks’ worth of learning equivalent to the hours worked.

To help you determine what’s required for your situation, the following will assist:

Priority Learning Options 2023

1. Great Supervision with Neil Baker – Wed 22nd March, 2023 10-12pm via Zoom (a post event recording will also be available) – FREE

In light of the recent changes to the Baptist Registration supervision, this priority learning option will inform you of how the changes affect you, and how you can maximise the benefits of supervision. It will answer key questions such as:

• What is ministry supervision?
• Why is supervision important?
• What are the key benefits of supervision?
• What should you look for in a supervisor?
• Who can be a Baptist supervisor?
• What are the four key requirements of NZ Baptist supervision?
• What is the supervisors and supervisees role in supervision?
• Why it is important to have a supervision agreement?

This learning option is presented by Neil Baker. Neil is the team leader at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle and has been in full time pastoral ministry for over 25 years. He has a post grad certificate in professional supervision and will be overseeing the Baptist supervision training programme.

2. The Baptist Dynamic of Seeking together with John Tucker – Thur 18th May, 2023 10-12pm via Zoom (a post event recording will also be available) – FREE

For Baptists, the primary leader or CEO of any local church is not the pastor, or the elders, or a bishop, or a council, but the risen Christ in the midst of his gathered people. We believe that Jesus promises to be present and make his will known whenever the members of his body come together to listen for his voice in Scripture and community. In this priority learning option, John Tucker (Principal of Carey Baptist College) will enlarge our understanding of this aspect of Baptist ecclesiology. He’ll do this in conversation with several Baptist pastors who are finding new and fruitful ways of discerning the mind of Christ within their congregations. As we hear their experiences, we’ll explore how discerning the mind of Christ together can help our congregations navigate conflict with wisdom and safety.

The learning option is presented by John Tucker, Principle of Carey Baptist College.

3. Whakawhangatanga with Luke Kaa Morgan – Thur 20th July, 2023 10-12pm via Zoom (a post event recording will also be available) – FREE

• Whakawhanaungatanga
• Whanau – Family
• Whanaunga – Relative
• Whanaungatanga – Relationship

In this priority learning option, we will be exploring together whakawhanaungatanga as a Māori framework for building healthy relationships. Traditionally use of this term is based on whakapapa (genealogy) however, in our context it includes family-like reciprocal relationships among people, the people of God. Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. This whakataukī captures the truth that we thrive together. We will consider how this Māori value richly aligns with the biblical mandate to live in covenant commitment with one another (as family), and how this contributes to us thriving together. We’ll also interrogate other Māori values that support our capacity to engage with the practice of whakawhanaungatanga.

This learning option is being presented by Luke Kaa Morgan. Luke provides leadership for Carey Baptist College, and its Tiriti hikoi. He guides Carey’s Ministry Training Team as it seeks to develop practices of leadership formation that embrace Kaupapa Māori and embody the vision of Te Tiriti. Luke brings 20 years in pastoral ministry within local Baptist Churches and an active contributor in Baptist Māori Ministries, Manatū Iriiri Māori, for over 30 years.

4. Creating a healthy and effective church culture with Craig Vernall – Wed 26th April, 2023 10-12pm via Zoom (a post event recording will also be available) – FREE

All churches do similar things. Pray, preach, sing, serve and share in the love of Christ. So why are some churches more effective in bringing gospel renewal than others? If it’s not what we do, it must be how we do it. How we do church is called culture. So how do we create a church culture that is healthy and effective? Is this something we can change? Or are we stuck with what we’ve got?

This learning option is presented by Craig Vernall. Craig is the senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on church leadership.

Note: Zoom links for the above priority learning options will be emailed closer to the dates for each event.

This engagement aligns to the value of of associating together as a collective of faith communities seeking to bring gospel renewal to people and places.

The Baptist Whānau Engagement requirements are dependent on the hours you are working and the category of registration you are applying under. To help you determine what’s required for your situation, the following may assist.

Scroll down to find the category you are going to apply under to see the requirements for you under this element of your Registration Development Agreement :

For those registrants for whom geographical and/or financial constraints mean that attendance at a Baptist whānau event is not practicable every year, an alternative can be negotiated with their Regional Leader and endorsing leadership.

External supervision provides a forum where you are able to critically engage with your work, reflect on your actions, review your decisions, and learn. It is an interactive dialogue between you and your supervisor. Through supervision, you should feel empowered to develop your vocational strengths and competencies and be supported in your personal and professional growth and development. It will also provide you with accountability in professional standards (e.g., ethics and safety) and is a practice that the Baptist Union of New Zealand are very committed to.

• Current Requirements :

If you are working 120 or more hours per month you are required to have at least bi-monthly supervision (i.e. minimum six times per year).

If you are working 40-119 per month you are required to meet with a supervisor a minimum of three times per year.

For the 2023 registration year, you can choose as your supervisor any qualified/trained* professional supervisor, experienced Baptist pastor or leader, spiritual director, or counsellor. If you are seeking supervision with someone outside these broad categories you will need to check with the Centre for Lifelong Learning Director that your suggested supervisor meets the expectations of a supervisor.** For Kaiārahi Māori, Manatu Iriri Māori will give approval for all supervisors.

Also note that your supervisor cannot be your line manager, or anyone who has any direct assessment of your role.

* Has a qualification in supervision/spiritual direction from a recognised training institution e.g., Certificate in Supervision/Spiritual direction. Or a recognised qualification in the Health Sciences e.g., psychology, counselling. Or completed a supervison training programme.

** The supervisor must be being willing/able to cover the following aspects as part of the supervisory relationship: reflection on ministry practice, role safety/ethics, personal and professional development, and wellbeing.

• Looking forward :

Over the next 3 years (2023-2026) the Baptist Union of New Zealand will be seeking to recruit and train enough supervisors in order to provide affordable professional supervision for all those who are Registered. At this point, there will be a requirement to be receiving supervision through supervisors who are on the approved list.

The progression to this point will take 3 years and there will be changes year on year as this process is developed. It is worth considering this development when choosing a supervisor in Year One. 

*The CCLL Director agrees selection is appropriate. Appropriateness includes the supervisor being willing/able to cover the following aspects as part of the supervisory relationship: reflective practice, safety/ethics, personal and professional development, wellbeing.

The final part of your Registration Development Agreement (RDA) is the inclusion of the Annual Review. In September/October each year (commencing 2023 and ahead of Baptist Registration opening on 1^st Nov 2023) a review of your RDA is required to be undertaken within your faith community or organisation with a view to:

(a) considering progress against your current RDA and

(b) identifying priorities and goals (e.g., learning options choices, whānau engagement, etc) for the upcoming registration period.

A form will be provided for you to complete that captures the information and will allow you to upload this during your application for Baptist Registration commencing in November 2023. Futher guidance for these reviews will be  provided through the office of the Baptist Leadership Coordination Director.