Certificate of Good Standing

[Note: the following applies from 1 July 2024.]

Responsibility of Minister

The Book of Order, Chapter 6.8, states that all ministers who are in a ministry settlement, or who hold a chaplaincy position, or are employed in a national or presbytery position, must hold a certificate of good standing.

A certificate of good standing or a provisional certificate of good standing is not required for a short-term stated supply of less than three months, or for pulpit supply on a casual basis.

Requirements for the Certificate of Good Standing

Full details of the requirements for a certificate of good standing, can be found in the Supplementary Provisions to the Book of Order, and should be read by ministers. The following information is intended as a quick guide.

For a full certificate, usually granted for three years, a minister must:

  • confirm that they have completed a Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Ethics and Risk Management Workshop at least once within the three years prior to application (the Assembly Office holds records of attendance, contact Kate Wilson - full contact details here).
  • confirm that they are undertaking regular supervision, according to the Leadership Sub-Committee supervision guidelines, by a suitably-qualified person, affiliated with a professional body, and have provided the name and contact details of their supervisor to presbytery. 
  • have completed any reception or reinstatement requirements 
  • make a declaration that there are no unresolved chapter 15 disciplinary proceedings against them. 
  • provide consent to the Assembly Executive Secretary to obtain a police vet check, and also receive a satisfactory police check. The Assembly Executive Secretary will determine what constitutes a satisfactory police vet. 

Provisional Certificates of Good Standing (PCGS)

Provisional certificates will be granted for two years to newly-received and reinstated ministers. These ministers must complete their reception or reinstatement requirements prior to applying for the full certificate.
A licentiate must apply to the Assembly Executive Secretary for a provisional certificate of good standing prior to ordination. A licentiate must apply for a full certificate of good standing within two years of ordination.
A provisional certificate may also be granted by the Assembly Executive Secretary to a minister who has not been able to complete all of the standard requirements (stated above).
An explanation for the request for the provisional certificate will be required on the provisional application form, and a written recommendation from the minister’s presbytery of oversight must be sent at the same time.
A provisional certificate, and the period of time for which it would be granted, is at the discretion of the Assembly Executive Secretary, and conditions may be attached.
It is expected that, in the main, applications for provisional certificates would be submitted by other recognised ministers who are not currently in active ministry, or by ministers emeriti who accept appointments to stated supply or transitional ministry for periods which exceed a total of three months in any twelve-month period
A minister in active ministry or chaplaincy, or in a national or presbytery appointment, applying for a provisional, rather than a full certificate of good standing must provide a reason that is deemed acceptable by the Assembly Executive Secretary.

Ministers Emeriti

Where a Minister Emeritus accepts appointments to stated supply or transitional ministry for periods which exceed a total of three months in any twelve-month period, they must apply for a certificate of provisional certificate of good standing (see below).

How to apply for a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS)

Ministers are able to apply up to three months in advance of the expiry date on their current certificate of good standing, without losing those three months (i.e. the new certificate will be start from the expiry date of the current certificate). Ministers are encouraged to apply early, as police checks can take up to six weeks, and good standing should not be allowed to lapse.

All applications, including the completed police vetting forms (and the recommendation from presbytery in the case of a provisional request) should be sent at the same time to Kate Wilson at the Assembly Office.

  1. Complete the relevant application form:

Your most recent date of attendance at a PCANZ Ethics & Risk Management Workshop can be obtained from Kate Wilson at the Assembly Office.

Please also contact Kate to register for an Ethics & Risk Management Workshop. These are held regularly through the year. They are half-day online workshops.

2. For a provisional certificate of good standing, you will also need to acquire and send a written recommendation from your presbytery of oversight. This includes licentiates. You need to send the recommendation at the same time as your application form.

3. Complete the police forms. It can take up to six weeks to obtain the result, so please apply in time. Please read the guide before completing. These forms should be sent at the same time as your application form.

Please complete and sign Section 2, and email to Kate Wilson with copy of driving licence, or other form of photo ID.

Failure to hold a Certificate of Good Standing or Provisional Certificate of Good Standing

  • A minister who is required to be in good standing, and does not hold a current certificate of good standing or provisional certificate of good standing is not permitted to:

o    Transfer to another presbytery; or
o    Be inducted into a new ministry settlement

  • A minister who does not hold a valid certificate of good standing or provisional certificate of good standing for a period of six months may be removed from the marriage register provided that the Assembly Executive Secretary must give 28 days’ notice in writing to the minister of their intention to remove the minister’s name from the register of marriage celebrants.

Further action that will or may be taken by a presbytery can be found in the Supplementary Provisions.