Permission to officiate (PTO)

Permission to Officiate (PTO) is most often sought by retired clergy.

In some circumstances, it can also be granted to hospital, prison, army chaplains, or other clergy in non-parish roles as well.

How to apply for PTO

Retired and other clergy who wish to minister in the diocese are subject to Canon C8 and must apply to the Clergy Appointments Team for Permission to Officiate (PTO). The permission is normally for a period of three years in line with the DBS check, and will only be granted once diocesan safeguarding training has been completed.

Those with PTO are free to minister in any parish in the diocese at the invitation of the Incumbent or Priest-in-Charge (or Churchwarden when in vacancy) subject to any restrictions on the PTO.

Clergy applying for PTO are required to complete a PTO Application, countersigned by their designated responsible person (Incumbent/Priest-in-Charge, Lead Chaplain or Area Dean).

If you are new to the diocese, we will request an Episcopal Reference and Clergy Current Status Letter (CCSL) from your current/previous Bishop and you will be invited to attend an entry interview.

Once clergy with PTO reach the age of 80, they can apply for renewal on a twelve-month basis. When PTO is due for renewal, a review form is issued by the Clergy Appointments Team and must be countersigned by the relevant Incumbent/Priest-in-Charge, Lead Chaplain or Area Dean.

If you wish to apply for PTO, please contact:

Julie McKeand, Clergy DBS & Appointments Administrator

Or alternatively, download the following pack of forms:

Overseas Permission to Officiate (‘OPTO’)

If you have been ordained in another church of the Anglican Communion, you will need to apply for OPTO. This is for if you wish to minister for a significant period of time, or you are apply for a clerical job in the Church of England. This involved apply for both ‘normal’ PTO in the diocese, and OPTO in the province of Canterbury. This process is managed by the Bishop’s Chaplain, and enquiries should be sent to Jo Winn-Smith: bishops.chaplain@cofeguildford.org.uk

If you are simply coming for a very brief period, and only wish to minister for a single occasion, a short-form version of the process is available.

Temporary PTO / ‘Safe to Receive’

Church of England clergy from other dioceses may from time to time be invited to take services, or assist (e.g. preach). Over the years this has been variously referred to as ‘temporary PTO’ or ‘safe to receive’. However, under canon law, the requisite permission does not lie with the diocesan of the receiving diocese, but rather the responsibility for ensuring the visiting minister is able to undertake such duties lies with the incumbent of the receiving parish.

Canon C8.2.a.i, says that the incumbent (or person(s) with that authority in a vacancy, or in the case of a cathedral or chapel) may invite a cleric on a temporary basis (of not more than seven days in 3 months), to officiate without recourse to the diocesan, provided they know the person has authority to minister and is of good standing.

In the diocese of Guildford, we advise:

that authority to minister can be ascertained by checking if the individual is on the National Register of Clergy: National Register of Clergy | The Church of England
comfort regarding good standing can be gained by ascertaining the individual’s safeguarding status. Ideally, this should be confirmed independently, by seeking confirmation of their training from their Parish Safeguarding Officer (or equivalent)
we also recommend that a visiting minister, for the safety of all, should not be left in sole charge of the church, and specifically not of children or vulnerable adults, and so a representative of the parish should be present to oversee and assist at all times

If a Guildford incumbent has any difficulty in verifying the status of a person whom they have invited, they should seek the advice and assistance of the Bishop’s Chaplain, Jo Winn-Smith: bishops.chaplain@cofeguildford.org.uk

Permissions to Officiate or Assist in Services by Ministers of Other Denominations

The Church of England rejoices in its shared faith with other Christians. Its formal procedures for services involving ecumenical siblings are governed by Canon B43. A list of ‘designated churches’, with whom the Church of England has doctrinal agreement, enabling the sharing of some aspects of services, can be found here. And a Code of Practice on ecumenical services is also available here. If possible, verification of their safeguarding training should be sought.

Please contact the Bishop’s Chaplain, Jo Winn-Smith, for advice, as we recognise it is not immediately straightforward, and she would be happy to assist, particularly with regard to drafting appropriate liturgies and a pastoral approach: bishops.chaplain@cofeguildford.org.uk