Clergy Licence

For further enquiries and questions on clergy licensing please contact the Diocesan Bishop’s Office on 6232 3612.

The following documentation must be completed by all clergy (deacons, priests and bishops) being licenced in this Diocese for the first time, when moving to a new position within this Diocese and when seeking an Authority to Officiate (ATO) for the first time.  For renewal of ATOs after three (3) years the streamlined requirements are listed below.

An Authority to Officiate differs from a clergy licence in that the ATO generally is not to a particular position, rather to a role and permission is granted to officiate as a deacon or priest within this Diocese whenever lawfully invited to do so.

For clergy licencing the following documents need to be completed and cleared by the Diocesan Bishop before he/she is able to grant a licence.

Safe Ministry Checks

• Anglican Church of Australia the National Register Check (This check is undertaken by the Bishop’s Office, no form needs to be completed)
• SMC Questionnaire – Clergy and Stipendiary Lay Minister
• Referees Screening Questionnaire – It is the responsibility of applicants to send their referees (listed in the Referees Section of the SMC Questionnaire) a copy of the Referees Screening Questionnaire for completion.
• AFP National Police Check (NCP) Application Form and Diocesan Instruction Sheet
• Creating Safe Ministries (CSM) Workshop completed (see CSM Workshop Calendar & Information Sheet & CSM Workshop Registration Form or complete the Online Safe Ministries eTraining)
• For Clergy working in NSW please complete the online NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) and send you WWCC number to the Diocesan Bishop’s Office

OR

• For Clergy working in the ACT please complete online ACT Working With Vulnerable People’s Check (WWVP) and send a photocopy of your card to the Diocesan Bishop’s Office

 Renewing an ATO after three (3) years

• Bishop’s Letter/ATO Renewal Form 2016 and 2017
• SMC Questionnaire – Clergy & Stipendary Lay Ministers
• Referees Screening Questionnaire – It is the responsibility of applicants to send their referees (listed in the Referees Section of the SMC Questionnaire) a copy of the Referees Screening Questionnaire for completion.
• Please ensure you have completed a Creating Safe Ministries (CSM) Workshop in the last three years and that date is included on your ATO Renewal Form being returned to the Diocesan Bishop’s Office. (If your safe ministries training is not up to date please see CSM Workshop Calendar & Information Sheet & CSM Workshop Registration Form or Complete the Online Safe Ministries eTraining.)
• For Clergy working in NSW please ensure your up-to-date NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) number and expiry date is included on your ATO Renewal Form being returned to Diocesan Bishop’s Office

OR

• For Clergy working in the ACT please send a photocopy of your up-to-date ACT Working With Vulnerable People Check (WWVP) card to the Diocesan Bishop’s Office