BUV accreditation has two key objectives:
- To provide a positive support framework for Pastoral Leaders in order for them to thrive through their commitment to the call of God on their lives. Accreditation supports the establishment of rhythms and disciplines that would make a positive contribution to the health and sustainability of our Pastoral Leaders.
- To give substance to the various contexts where the BUV commends a Pastoral Leader to church and society, and to ensure that the Pastoral Leader is in good standing and committed to ethical and professional practice.
Please note: The description ‘Pastoral Leader’ is used throughout this page is referring to a person recognised as a Pastor by others within a particular community for advancing the Kingdom of God and the building up of the church (Eph 4: 11-13)
Please find below a series of frequently asked questions in relation to Accreditation.
What are the benefits of BUV Accreditation?
- All BUV accredited Pastoral Leaders are conditionally eligible to hold a BUV Marriage License.
- Accredited BUV Leaders have access to Advisory Group process for pastoral appointments.
- Community and peer groups can have confidence knowing that their accredited Pastoral Leader is engaged in practices that are ethical and professional, and they are employing healthy and sustainable behaviours.
- Accredited BUV Pastoral Leaders can access specialist BUV Pastoral Leader services including entry to BUV Long Service Leave Saving Scheme, structured opportunities for training and development, assistance with accountability, performance reviews and professional development.
- When appropriate, some funding support for counselling and the pastoral recovery process may be available.
Please note that if a BUV accreditation lapses, there is a risk of losing the benefits that are available as a BUV Accredited Leader, including the revocation of their Marriage License.
Who should be accredited?
Any locally appointed or ordained pastoral leader currently ministering in a Victorian Baptist ministry setting is required to be accredited through the Baptist Union of Victoria.
Any person who holds a Baptist Union of Victoria Marriage Celebrants Licence must be accredited in order to retain that License.
Who is not eligible for accreditation?
Any Pastor who has retired and is not involved in interim pastoral leadership is not eligible for accreditation and must relinquish their marriage license upon retirement from an active pastoral role.
Please note that where a Pastoral Leader is not eligible, the local church or BUV Agency still carries a duty of care for the pastoral leader’s practice of ministry. The church/BUV Agency should set its own requirements with a Police Check, Working with Children Check and assent to the BUV Code of Ethics regarded as foundational requirements.
What are the different types of accreditation?
There are 4 different types of accreditation. If you have any doubt as to which type to apply for, please contact accreditation@buv.com.au for assistance.
1. BUV Ordained Pastoral Leader Accreditation
Available for Ordained Baptist Ministers of Religion within Victoria and across Australia. If you have this level of accreditation, you are automatically a member of the BUV Assembly with full voting rights. BUV Ordained Accreditation must be renewed every 3 years.
2. BUV Pastoral Leader Accreditation
Any person in a pastoral leadership role in a Victorian Baptist ministry setting is accredited by the BUV on behalf of their local church and as being in good standing with the BUV. BUV Pastoral Leader Accreditation must be renewed every 3 years.
3. BUV Probationary Pastoral Leader Accreditation
Available for all new locally appointed Pastors, Pastors transferring from outside the BUV and Pastors ordained outside the BUV with less than 12 months service. BUV Probationary Accreditation is available for 12 months and is not renewable. It is expected that at the end of the 12 months the Pastoral Leader will apply for either BUV Ordained Pastoral Leader Accreditation or BUV Pastoral Leader Accreditation.
4. BUV Provisional Pastoral Leader Accreditation
Available for Pastors who are performing Interim Pastoral Leadership roles or are between positions and/or looking for a new pastoral opportunities. BUV Provisional Pastoral Leader Accreditation must be renewed every 12 months as necessary.
Please note that any ordination candidates who hold BUV Pastoral Leadership Accreditation will have their accreditation transferred to BUV Ordained Pastoral Leader Accreditation upon ordination. The expiry date will not change.
Does pastoral accreditation affect insurance coverage?
While protection is not automatically conditional on pastoral accreditation, accredited pastors demonstrate a higher standard of governance, oversight, and accountability, all of which are key considerations in insurance coverage and claims. Churches that do not appoint accredited pastors may face greater scrutiny from insurers, especially in cases involving misconduct or governance failure. Accreditation is therefore strongly recommended, both for ministry integrity and risk protection.
What is the BUV accreditation criteria?
All Pastoral Leaders completing a BUV Accreditation application are required to hold original documentation as evidence of their meeting the requirements of the criteria necessary for accreditation. Documentation supporting the application is not required to be submitted to our BUV office. However, a sample of random audits will be undertaken each year to ensure the integrity of the system.
The BUV believes that Pastoral Leadership is a supportive partnership between a church/BUV Agency/employer and the Pastoral Leader. Each Pastoral Leader applying for BUV Accreditation must have a Church Leader (an elder, deacon or member of the Baptist church’s leadership team) or manager confirm and complete the relevant sections. This is both to provide accountability of the local church for supporting the accreditation, health and development of their Pastoral Leaders, and to provide rigour to the system of accreditation.
Please note that all Church Leaders/Managers must be affiliated with a Baptist Church or Agency.
Criteria:
- Annual Review of ongoing Pastoral Health and Growth Covenant
- Signed BUV Code of Ethics
- A recommended annual Pastoral Review undertaken by your current church/agency and at a minimum within the past 3 years
- A Police Check (within the last 2 years) that is attached to your current church/agency
- A current Working with Children’s check
- Attendance at a Professional Standards Workshop (PSW) and a commitment to attend at least one PSW per year over the next 3 years.
- 10 hours per year of personal support and accountability
- 10 hours per year of collegial support and accountability
- 40 hours per year of pastoral development (i.e. Nourish, conferences, courses, books etc.) for Ordained & Pastoral Leaders, and 20 hours per year of pastoral development for Probationary and Provisional Pastoral Leaders.
- Marriage Celebrant Training within the past 5 years (if holding a Marriage License)
- Undertake Professional Pastoral Supervision with a commitment of a minimum of three meetings per year and a recommended maximum of ten.
What is the Accreditation Card?
Once an application has been approved, an Accreditation card will be posted to the applicant.
A BUV Accreditation card has no commercial value but it is a form of ID, demonstrating that you are a Pastoral Leader Accredited and supported by the BUV. It is a tool to demonstrate your credibility in settings such as entry to hospitals, prisons, schools, police stations or similar. For some pastors this form of ID is needed and valued, for others, a card may have little practical value.