The Diocese of Tyler is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025–2028 Church Personnel Re-Certification Program, officially approved by Bishop Gregory Kelly on May 21, 2025. This program, titled Healthy Boundaries in Ministry: Re-Certification Training 2025-2028, was developed by the Office of Ethics and Integrity in partnership with VIRTUS®.
This re-certification is a key part of the Church Personnel Certification process, which includes a criminal background check, a renewed commitment to the Code of Conduct for Church Personnel, and attendance at a facilitated, in-person training session.
“I want to express my gratitude to all of our Church personnel for their dedication to ethics and integrity in ministry, which means treating everyone with respect and dignity as you would treat Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Gregory Kelly.
The training builds on the foundational Protecting God’s Children® program, which has been required as the since 2022 for all clergy, paid staff, seminarians, and volunteers who work with minors or vulnerable adults. This remains the initial training program for new Church personnel.
The re-certification course focuses on developing and maintaining healthy boundaries in ministry, helping participants move beyond basic awareness to practical application in real-life ministry settings.
“This renewal is an important part of continued service in our local Church,” said Bishop Kelly. “Boundaries are safeguards: they protect the people we are called to serve, and they protect the integrity of the ministry that has been entrusted to us.”
All Church personnel continuing in ministry must complete re-certification training every three years to remain in good standing. The in-person training must be completed within 60 days before or after the expiration of one’s current certification. A new background check and re-commitment to the Code of Conduct are also required.
Grace Period: Those whose certification expires before August 31, 2025, have until September 30, 2025, to complete the re-certification process.
For more information about the Church Personnel Certification process or the Diocese’s Safe Environment efforts, please visit: https://www.dioceseoftyler.org/safeenvironment/
About Virtus
VIRTUS is the brand name that identifies best practices programs designed to help prevent wrongdoing and promote “right doing” within religious organizations. The VIRTUS programs empower organizations and people to better control risk and improve the lives of all those who interact with the Church.
The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. (National Catholic) created the programs. Monsignor Kevin McCoy, past board chairman of National Catholic, asked whether child sexual abuse could be prevented and, if so, how? In March of 1998, National Catholic invited prominent national experts—experts in many disciplines—to discuss these questions at a forum in Washington, D.C. From those discussions, the initiative for the VIRTUS programs was created.
