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 Lay License Standards (approved November 09, 2007) [pdf]
Licensing Request Form [Word]
Ministry Training
To Be Licensed By The Bishop
Time Limit and Renewal of License
Where To Submit Licensing Requests
Types of Lay Leaders:
• Pastoral Leader
• Worship Leader
• Lay Preacher
• Eucharistic Minister
• Eucharistic Visitor
• Catechist
TO BE LICENSED BY THE BISHOP
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A communicant in good standing may serve as Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor or Catechist, if licensed by the Bishop or Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in which the person is a member. Guidelines for training and selection of such persons shall be established by the Bishop.
The Presiding Bishop or the Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces may license a member of the Armed Forces to exercise one or more of these ministries in the Armed Forces in accordance with the provisions of this Canon.
A diocesan Bishop or the Ecclesiastical Authority may license duly certified Church Army Evangelists to exercise one or more of these ministries in accordance with the provisions of this Canon.
TIME LIMIT AND RENEWAL OF
LICENSE (top)
A license shall be given only at the request, and upon the recommendation, of the Member of the Clergy in charge of the Congregation in which the person will be serving. The license shall be issued for a period of one year and shall be revocable by the Bishop, or upon the request of the Member of the Clergy in charge of the Congregation.
Renewal of the license shall be determined on the basis of the acceptable performance of the ministry by the licenses and upon the endorsement of the Member of the Clergy in charge of the Congregation in which the person is serving. License renewals will be processed by Regions, as follows, to aid in the efficient distribution of the administrative work:
Region One Parishes will renew their lay licenses in January
Region Two Parishes will renew their lay licenses in March
Region Three Parishes will renew their lay licenses in May
Region Four Parishes will renew their lay licenses in July
Region Five Parishes will renew their lay licenses in September
Region Six Parishes will renew their lay licenses in November
A person licensed in this Diocese under the provisions of this Canon (Title III, Canon 4) may serve in another Congregation in the same Diocese at the invitation of the Member of the Clergy in charge.
WHERE TO SUBMIT
LICENSING REQUESTS (top)
Licensing Request Form [Word]
Members of the Clergy in charge of the congregation shall submit their endorsements to the Diocesan Headquarters at:
Attn: George McConnell
Bishop's Office
Episcopal Church House
Mount Saint Alban
Washington , DC 20016
(202) 537-6555
TYPES OF LAY LEADERS(top)
Pastoral Leader (top)
A Pastoral Leader is a Lay Person licensed to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a Congregation under special circumstances by the Bishop. As defined by the Bishop the licensed individual may lead regularly the Offices authorized by the Book of Common Prayer. Prior to licensing, a Pastoral Leader shall be trained, examined, and found competent in the following subjects: (a) The Holy Scriptures, contents and background; (b) The Book of the Common Prayer and The Hymnal; (c) The conduct of public worship; (d) Use of the voice; (e) Church History; (f) The Church's Doctrine as set forth in the Creeds and An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism; (g) Parish Administration; (h) Appropriate Canons; (i) Pastoral Care.
Our current understanding of the Canons is that a Pastoral Leader incorporates all the functions of the other five licensing categories; therefore, an individual possessing this license would not need licenses to function in the other categories. Requests for this license must be evidenced by advanced education or preparation in appropriate historical and theological fields. A Pastoral Leader shall not be licensed if, in the judgment of the Bishop or the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Congregation is able to and has had reasonable opportunity to secure a resident Member of the Clergy in charge.
Worship Leader (top)
A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Requests for this license must be evidenced by advanced education or preparation in appropriate historical and theological fields.
Lay Preacher (top)
A Preacher is a lay person authorized to preach. Persons so authorized shall only preach in congregations under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community. Requests for this license must be evidenced by advanced education or preparation in appropriate historical and theological fields.
Eucharistic Minister (top)
A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
Eucharistic Visitor (top)
A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Prior to licensing, the individual expecting to receive this license must complete Eucharistic Visitor Training conducted by their rector/priest-in-charge and complete the Diocese Prevention of Sexual Misconduct Training.
Catechist (top)
A Catechist is a lay person authorized to prepare persons for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows, and shall function under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Catechist are encouraged to take the Diocesan Prevention of Sexual Misconduct Training.
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Last Update: 09/09/08
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