A new process for receiving ministers of other Churches was adopted at the 2010 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and is set out below. For further information on reception of ministers please contact the Parish and People Advisory Service (see contacts section at the end of this document).
The applicant should lodge an application with:
The Parish and People Advisory Service
Assembly Office
PO Box 9049
Wellington 6141
Download an Application Form
Download a Korean translation of the Receptions Information and the Application Form
The following documentation must be attached to the application form for the application to be complete:
Incomplete applications will not be processed.
The information provided with the application will be assessed to ensure the applicant’s training and theological understanding meets the requirements of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. The applicant will be advised of their eligibility to join the Beneficiary Fund.
Membership requirement
From October 2010 applicants from within New Zealand must have been a member of a parish of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for at least 12 consecutive months before applying for reception.
Ministers from overseas must have actively participated in the life of a parish of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for at least 12 months (non-consecutive) before applying for reception.
This requirement includes membership or active participation in a cooperating venture parish where the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand is a partner.
Applicants may request an exemption to this requirement by applying to the Leadership Subcommittee on the appropriate form. Written confirmation that an exemption has been granted must be attached to the application when it is forwarded to the Parish and People Advisory Service.
The Beneficiary Fund
The Beneficiary Fund is a defined-benefit scheme open to nationally and locally ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. All ministers must join the Fund unless they meet specific exemption criteria.
If the applicant meets the requirements of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand they will be invited to progress to stage 2.
The applicant will be invited to undergo personality testing, an interview with the Personnel Work Group and reference-checks.
The personality testing will consist of written tests followed by an interview with the Presbyterian Church’s psychologist. The applicant is responsible for the cost of testing, including any costs associated with travelling to the interview with the psychologist.
Once testing has concluded, the applicant will be invited to attend an interview with a panel appointed by the Personnel Work Group. The applicant is responsible for any costs incurred travelling to the interview with the Personnel Work Group.
At the end of the interview, the Personnel Work Group will contact the referees provided by the applicant.
For more information on stage 2, including the locations for the interviews and the cost of personality testing, please contact the Parish and People Advisory Service.
Applicants who already have a call pending from a parish of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand will go straight to stage 4.
All other applicants will be assessed by the Personnel Work Group against the needs of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. This will include contacting ministry settlement boards, presbyteries and Assembly teams looking for a minister. Applicants found to be compatible with the needs of the Church may progress to stage 4.
The Personnel Work Group will develop a probationary programme based on the information supplied during the previous stages. At the completion of the probationary programme the applicant’s name will be added to the ministerial roll of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and they will be eligible to be inducted into any ministry of the Church.
Parish and People Advisory Service
Telephone (04) 801-6000
Mobile 027 222 8302
Email margaret@presbyterian.org.nz
Address Assembly Office, PO Box 9049, Wellington 6141