Licensing policy

Description

This article outlines who needs a licence for ministry and the archbishop’s authority in issuing licences.

General

The archbishop alone has the authority to issue licences to clergy and lay people, confirming their callto a specific ministry. Each licence may include conditions, such as the scope of duties and where theministry will be exercised. This policy explains how the archbishop intends to use this authority.

When a licence is required

The following offices, roles and ministries require a licence from the archbishop:

Clergy holding an office or position
Clergy undertaking pastoral ministry in a specific context
Locum Tenens
Lay ministers
The Registrar
Lay readers
Lay home communion ministers
Lay chaplains

The full Licensing Policy (see below) provides details for each role and the conditions for clergy seeking Permission to Officiate in the Diocese.

Policy principles

Only persons holding a current licence are permitted to undertake the ministry within the specified scope.
Where more than one distinct ministry is exercised concurrently, a licence will be issued for each ministry (e.g. Priest-in-Charge and Chaplain)

Compulsory prerequisites

To hold a licence or authorisation, a person must:

have current safe ministry clearance as required by the Safe Ministry Policy [insert link to safe ministry clearance application]
be up to date with the supervision requirements that apply to their role, as outlined in the Ministry Pastoral Supervision Policy

Failure to meet these requirements may lead to the suspension of the licence until the situation is resolved.