Introduction

As you may know, several changes have recently taken place in GCI. The core difference is that our focus has changed from that of a training institution to that of a supporting association. The transformation has also resulted in us changing our name from Growth Counselling Institute to New Zealand Biblical Counselling Association (NZBCA).

This page aims to answer the question: “How do these changes impact the members of GCI?”

Context

At GCI’s inception four years ago, we were concerned with the lack of biblical counselling in the local churches in New Zealand. We recognised that what was needed was to promote biblical counselling; offer training to all interested in biblical counselling and support biblical counsellors in their respective ministries.

Four years later, we re-assessed what was working and how best to be more effective in what we do. The outcome of this assessment has resulted in the recent developments.

The leadership’s original convictions have not changed, and we trust that the recent changes will make us more focused and efficient in serving our members.

What is in a name?

The change in name from Growth Counselling Institute to New Zealand Biblical Counsellors Association has been necessary to reflect our change of focus from a training institution to an association. To this end, we have also simplified our mission statement. Our mission is to foster and support biblical counsellors serving local churches.

Training

The main difference between GCI and NZBCA is that of training.

As GCI, we were committed to providing quality biblical counselling training from the level of foundational training to that of internal accreditation.

NZBCA, continues to be committed to quality biblical counselling training; however, we have decided that the best way in which to accomplish this is to recognise currently accredited training programmes which are being offered by various  recognised training institutions (e.g. CCEF, ACBC, etc.).

In addition, we have partnered with a New Zealand Theological College (Grace Theological College) which has been training biblical counsellors for many years to date. Grace Theological College currently offers a custom made and internally accredited biblical counselling course, especially designed for NZBCA. This will assist with keeping the costs of training to a minimum as well as ensure that the training is relative to New Zealand

This means that NZBCA members, with a bachelor’s degree, can pursue an externally accredited master’s degree in Biblical Counselling with Grace Theological College.

NZBCA will continue to be involved in ongoing support, basic training, continuing education (CE) and supervision. This will occur in conjunction with the formal training offered by the training institutions mentioned above.

All new members of NZBCA will be required to complete an introductory Biblical counselling course, which will be run by NZBCA. This can be conducted in person or online. This will ensure that new members start their journey of Biblical counselling with an informed basic  understanding of Biblical counselling. 

NZBCA will run ongoing development sessions and continuing education for all members of NZBCA to enrich their growth in knowledge and understanding of Biblical counselling.

Support

One of the critical functions of NZBCA is that of support. This will be provided to our members in several different ways, ranging from weekly emails; personal development exercises; practical skills continuing education; supervision (group and individual);  fellowship with other members (online and in-person); regional and national conferences, etc.

Membership categories

Figure 1 (below) illustrates the various membership categories within NZBCA. The diagram may look complicated at first glance; however, this will be an easy and automatic process when it comes into effect. Members will be slotted into their correct membership categories.

All new members will be placed in membership categories according to their previous training accreditation in addition to their biblical counselling experience.

The value of these membership categories is that each member can progress through membership ranks to a point where they are ready to supervise others.

Promotion of Biblical Counselling

NZBCA plans to grow its membership. We will therefore be promoting our association to individuals who may be interested in being equipped in Biblical counselling. This will also extend to those individuals who have previously been trained in biblical counselling but are not currently members of an supportive association.

NZBCA will also accommodate counsellors who belong to other associations, for the sake of their professional practise, and would also like to have membership in NZBCA.

NZBCA aims to excel at the promotion of biblical counselling in local churches. Not only would we like to see Biblical counselling being offered in local churches; we would also like to see local churches embracing biblical counselling as one of their church’s ministries.

NZBCA plans to formulate a directory of biblical counsellors across New Zealand that can referred to when specific counselling needs within New Zealand churches are identified.

We aim to support local church leaders to establish biblical counselling ministries. A separate membership category will exist for local churches. NZBCA members working in those  member churches will receive additional benefits.

An additional aim is to promote biblical counselling to churches which may not have a referral pathway for congregants who need Biblical counsel.

Biblical counselling provides an excellent means of proclaiming the Gospel to unsaved counselees. NZBCA therefore aims to promote supportive relationships/networks within the medical field and other community agencies.

Striving for excellence

NZBCA is an association that exists and desires above all else to honour God. We aim to encourage all our members to strive for excellence and we are welcome feedback and suggestions from our members.

We will also carefully consider any complaints from counselees, churches and/or other service agencies regarding our members. This will a encourage the development of our members and association. It will also ensure accountability and provide learning opportunities.

We aim to ensure that NZBCA maintains a high standard of continuing education, support and conduct, to make our members proud and to be recognised as a credible association in the counselling fraternity – even by those who may disagree with our worldview. Our desire is to be credible witnesses of the Lord we serve.

NZBCA strives to care for our members; serve the local churches to which our members belong and those churches who lack counselling resources.

NZBCA will support members in effective evangelism when the opportunity presents itself in the counselling sessions.

Other opportunities for members

Our association encourages and supports research in which our members may wish to embark. We encourage members to author well-researched articles and publish them on our website.

NZBCA belongs to its members. Our members are therefore encouraged to become involved in various aspects of our association, ranging from marketing to website maintenance, etc.

Future developments may include online counselling. This will be an excellent opportunity for those who feel more comfortable using this method of counselling and will broaden our scope of ministry.in