Apply Online
If you would like to apply to join CiC, you can do so using the links on this page.
The application process normally takes between 4 - 6 weeks and consists of 5 stages.
Important Pre-Application Information
To comply with the Charity Commission, and to enable the independent church sector to integrate with more established institutions, CiC only accepts an organisation as a member, and then accredits the ministers of the organisation.
In the case of a Church, this is relatively straightforward. The Church joins CiC and each Minister or Pastor is then accredited by CiC. If or when a minister is no longer in post, the church remains a member of CiC and can nominate a new Minister for accreditation.
It is for this reason that we require Ministry Leaders or Chaplains to ensure that their ministry or chaplaincy is set up as an organisation. Structurally this may take the form of a decision-making Board being in place or having a council of reference. Financially this may mean having a designated bank account or registering the organisation as a charity or business entity.
Please note that it is a condition for all Healthcare, Prison and HM Armed Forces Chaplains to have a Board or council of reference in place. This is due to the regulations in place in the aforementioned areas of chaplaincy.
Stage 1: Application
With the exception of chaplaincy, two application forms are required.
An Application Form for the organisation joining.
An Application Form for each minister requiring accreditation.
Once the forms are received by CiC, they will be reviewed by a member of our team, who will make an initial evaluation as to whether your application is likely to be successful.
Stage 2: Acknowledgement
You will then receive an acknowledgement, which also sets out the next steps of the application process.
Stage 3: Application payment and further information
We ask every organisation joining CiC to pay a one-off £50 application processing fee, and to provide a number of pieces of documentation:
For the lead minister or chaplain:
Letters of recommendation from at least two locally-respected ministers.
Proof of identity (UK Passport, UK Driving Licence, UK Residency Permit, or immigration documents).
Bank/Building Society statement and utility (not mobile phone) bill – both less than 3 months' old; at least one with your current address.
Proof of your DBS disclosure (less than 3 years old), of the appropriate Level and Workforce for the ministry you're involved in.
* Evidence of appropriate Safeguarding training, providing "Safeguarding knowledge for those working directly with children or adults with care and support needs". Titles for this training differs in each of the 4 UK nations, and across different Local Authority areas, and employers.
A copy of your Marriage Certificate (where applicable).
Passport-style electronic photo – to go on your CiC Membership Card. This should not be a scan of an actual passport photo, but a passport-style photo taken on your phone or other electronic device. This should be:
clear and in focus
in colour
unaltered by computer software
at least 50KB and no more than 10MB in size
contain no other objects or people
be taken against a plain light-coloured background
be in clear contrast to the background
not have 'red eye'
* For ministers who are yet to complete this safeguarding training , we allow a period of 6 months following membership to achieve this. Training can be arranged through an organisation like Thirtyone:eight, and CiC runs several safeguarding courses throughout the year.
For the Church or Ministry (if applicable):
Copy of the constitution/registration document (as you have stated in your application).
Copy of the latest Annual Report.
Copy of your Safeguarding Policy.
Any current publicity leaflets.
Stage 4: Interview
Once we have received the documentation and application fee, we will then be in touch to arrange a mutually agreeable date and time for your application interview, which will usually take place by Zoom. The interview normally takes between 1 – 2 hours, depending on the size of the organisation that is joining.
Stage 5: Outcome and payment
Within two weeks of the interview, we will write to inform you of our decision. If successful, we request payment of the first year’s Membership Subscription up front, and the setting up of a Direct Debit authorisation for future subscriptions. Once payment is received and the Direct Debit authorisation set up, the membership documentation (a letter, membership card and certificate) is dispatched.
Application Forms for Churches:
A Church wishing to make an application for CiC Membership and Accreditation should complete at least a ‘Church - Organisation Application Form’ and a ‘Church - Lead Minister Application Form’. Any additional Ministers should complete a ‘Church - Assistant Minister Application Form’.
We recognise that many Churches have equal/shared leadership models, where the same titles are assigned to individuals e.g. “Co-Lead Pastor”. The use of these terms may cause confusion when sat alongside the administrative terms CiC uses. Churches are welcome to use whatever titles for Ministers that they wish.
For CiC accreditation purposes, there should always be one ‘Lead Minister’ per Church. This term is used within CiC as the primary contact for the Church’s Membership of CiC, and is also assigned voting rights for our Annual Members’ Meeting. Any additional Ministers in the Church are accredited in exactly the same way. CiC uses the term ‘Assistant Minister’ entirely for our own administrative purposes, which does not signify any difference in hierarchy or status within the Church.
Application Forms for Ministries:
A Ministry wishing to make an application for CiC Membership and Accreditation should complete at least a ‘Ministry - Organisation Application Form’ and a ‘Ministry - Lead Minister Application Form’. Any additional Ministers should complete a ‘Ministry - Assistant Minister Application Form’.
We recognise that some Ministries have equal/shared leadership models, where the same titles are assigned to individuals e.g. “Co-Lead Minister”. The use of these terms may cause confusion when sat alongside the administrative terms CiC uses. Ministries are welcome to use whatever titles for Ministers that they wish.
For CiC accreditation purposes, there should always be one ‘Lead Minister’ per Ministry. This term is used within CiC as the primary contact for the Ministry’s Membership of CiC, and is also assigned voting rights for our Annual Members’ Meeting. Any additional Ministers in the Ministry are accredited in exactly the same way. CiC uses the term ‘Assistant Minister’ entirely for our own administrative purposes, which does not signify any difference in hierarchy or status within the Ministry.