Proposed Lay Licensing Standards

Lay Licensing Standards
in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
(Draft 1/16/07)

The following are proposed licensing standards for lay worship ministries as approved by the Commission on Ministry. The Diocese of Washington will be holding public hearings about these proposed standards on March 20 and March 31, 2007. (March 20: 7:30-9 p.m. at St. John's, Beltsville; March 31: 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. at Christ Church, Chaptico) In addition to the hearings, we are holding open a period of public comment until April 15th. All comments should be sent to The Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud by email or postal mail: Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Episcopal Church House, Mount Saint Alban, Washington, DC 20016-5094.

Introduction

The canons of the Episcopal Church specify that six lay ministries within the church be licensed by the Diocese. These ministries are catechists, preachers, pastoral leaders, worship leaders, Eucharistic ministers and Eucharistic visitors. Four of these ministries represent the Church in a public setting of worship. Catechists, along with preachers and pastoral leaders, provide essential teaching ministries for the well-being of the congregation. Eucharistic visitors and pastoral leaders provide essential care for those in the congregation who are unable to participate in the public life of the congregation. The canons charge the Commission on Ministry to develop standards for the licensing of these ministries.

What follows are the licensing standards developed by the Commission on Ministry. In all cases those seeking this license may meet these requirements by obtaining formal training i.e. through seminary-based or church-based programs, or clergy and lay leaders may develop their own training that in their estimation meets these standards. Each ministry requires some form of training in addition to meeting the basic requirements.

Application may be made at any time for these ministries using the form provided on the diocesan website, www.edow.org . Licenses may be given for up to three years and are renewable at the end of the licensed period. The rector or chaplain, or in an interim, the senior warden, is responsible for renewing all licenses. Licenses are specific to the congregation in which the recipient is a member and that is served by the recipient. A congregation may mean a parish, school, academic ministry or cathedral. When licensed ministers are invited to participate in diocesan or multi-congregational events an exception may be made to the congregational limit of this license. Clergy and lay congregational leaders are reminded that these ministries are best represented by those who have discerned both a vocation and gifts for this service to the church.

Basic Requirements

The following qualities are expected of all those licensed for ministries in this diocese:

Communicant in good-standing confirmed or received through a parish program that emphasizes the traditions and polity of the Episcopal Church;

Regular attendance at worship;

Having an interest in helping and serving a congregation;

Physical, psychological and spiritual health;

Willingness to work under the direction of the clergy (or the wardens during an interim period);

Willingness to participate in the training and continuing education related to the licensed ministry;

Maintaining an active life of prayer and devotion.

The following basic education is required of all those seeking licensed ministries. This basic education is to be provided by clergy and/or lay leaders of congregations.

Knowledge of the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer 1979 and the role of lay ministers in this liturgy

Knowledge of the Holy Eucharist and its administration

Training about power, authority and boundaries in leadership

For all those serving as catechists, Eucharistic visitors, pastoral leaders and worship leaders the following additional work is required:

Safe-guarding Our Children training as provided by the Diocese of Washington.

At present no course is being offered by the Diocese of Washington in the area of prevention of misconduct in working with adults. This course offering is currently under study by the diocese. A number of congregations in the diocese do offer this training including, St. Timothy's and St. Luke's, DC. If you would like to offer this training to your licensed ministers it is recommended that you contact the clergy and lay leadership in these congregations.

In addition the Task Force on Racial Reconciliation offers periodic workshops and events related to training in the areas of anti-racism and racial diversity. Licensed lay ministers are strongly encouraged to participate in an offering by this committee.

Catechists/Pastoral Leaders/Lay Preachers

These ministers speak for the church and/or train others. The requirements for these ministries are a basic knowledge of:

The interpretation, authority, use and application of Scripture;
Church history;
The polity, governance and structure/organization of the ECUSA and our relationship to the world-wide Anglican Communion;
The baptismal covenant and its application to ministry;
Christian ethics;
Individual and corporate prayer;
Contemporary society and the issues faced and the ECUSA response to these issues;
Liturgy

Worship Leaders

These ministers conduct public worship within the congregation and at other sites such as nursing homes or schools. The requirements for this ministry include:

Understanding of non-Eucharistic worship and the ability to lead these services including Morning and Evening Prayer and Compline, services of healing and Holy Communion under Special Circumstances;
Understanding of Scripture—interpretation, authority, use and application, and ability to lead a discussion on an assigned text or preach on it;
Understanding of Christian ethics.

Competency in these requirements could be demonstrated by any one of the following:

Completion of an Episcopal/Anglican denominationally based course of study such as Education for Ministry, DOCC, Via Media, Cathedral College courses etc.

Completion of relevant seminary classes or workshops in areas such as preaching, biblical study, pastoral care, liturgy and/or ethics;

Completion of on-line courses from academic institutions in related fields;

Clergy-directed independent study or a mentor relationship with a clergy person.

Eucharistic Visitors

These ministers are responsible for visiting sick and shut-in members with Holy Communion who are unable to participate in Sunday worship. The requirements for this ministry include:

Pastoral skills including being able to address issues related to the home-bound or nursing home-bound, the terminally ill, death and dying;
Understanding aging and family dynamics;
Willingness to keep confidentiality;
Knowledge of when to notify clergy if changes have occurred in those visited;
Commitment to report regularly to the clergy on those visited;
Commitment to visit regularly;
Understanding of the liturgical services used in ministering to the sick and shut-in including services and prayers for healing and anointing, Holy Communion under Special Circumstances.

Competency in these requirements could be demonstrated by any one of the following:

Completion of relevant seminary classes or workshops in areas such as preaching, biblical study, pastoral care, liturgy and/or ethics;

Completion of on-line courses from academic institutions in related fields;

Clergy-directed independent study or a mentor relationship with a clergy person.

Eucharistic Ministers

These ministers assist with the distribution of wine and bread during the Holy Eucharist services. The requirements for this ministry include:

Understanding the names and uses of altar vessels and linens;
Understanding the service of Holy Eucharist;
Ability to administer the chalice and or paten.

Competency in these requirements could be demonstrated by any one of the following:

Completion of clergy or lay led practice sessions;

Participation in an instructed Holy Eucharist led by clergy.