Overview – Lay Ministries
The Diocesan School stands ready to assist Rectors in preparing lay persons for Licensed Lay Ministries. These ministries are very important for the spiritual development and growth of our parishes. They are licensed to respond to the sensitive nature of the ministry, to provide accurate and well-grounded information to other members of the parish, and to offer the appropriate education to perform the ministry.
Licensed Lay Ministries (Constitution and Canons, Title III, Section 3)
A confirmed communicant in good standing or, in extraordinary circumstances, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop, a communicant in good standing, may be licensed by the Ecclesiastical Authority to serve as Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, or Catechist.
The Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith may request the Ecclesiastical Authority with jurisdiction to license persons within that congregation or other community of faith to exercise such ministries.
A person licensed in any Diocese under the provisions of this Canon may serve in another congregation or other community of faith in the same or another Diocese only at the invitation of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight; and with the consent of the Ecclesiastical Authority in whose jurisdiction the service will occur.
Eucharistic Visitor
According to Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 7 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.
Eucharistic Visitor Training
Because of distance, cost of travel, and other considerations, a new training process for Eucharistic Visitors has been developed, along with standardized training materials which will be used for consistency throughout the Diocese. The standardized materials for Training will be available by June 2008. These materials will be available by request through the Diocesan School.
There are three ways in which a Eucharistic Visitor may be trained:
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Pursuant to the request of Bishop Frade, Eucharistic Visitor Training materials have been standardized for consistency throughout the Diocese. They may be downloaded here or obtained through your local Deanery. In addition, a DVD entitled "With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life" by Henri Nowen is available through the Deanery for inclusion in the standardized training.
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The Deaneries have been asked to establish Eucharistic
Visitor training events on a deanery-wide basis. These one-day events will
be publicized throughout the Deaneries and the standardized training
materials will be used for consistency throughout the Diocese.
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The Diocesan School will provide Eucharistic Visitor
training which will be announced through Diocesan publications and this web site.
The Diocesan School will offer Eucharistic Visitor training in Spanish, initially in the Dade County area. Dates will be announced.
There will be no license renewal training program. Eucharistic Visitors, in good standing, who continue to function in their ministry under the supervision of their rector, may be recommended to the Bishop for license renewal every three years.
The Diocesan School may on occasion offer a voluntary refresher experience which will be publicized prior to its offering.
Other Lay Ministries
Training for the Lay Ministries of Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Catechist, and Bible Study Leader is the responsibility of the local Rector or Deacon. To assist Rectors in determining the appropriate requirements for licensed ministries in their parishes, the Diocesan School Board has prepared a list of courses offered by the Diocesan School that Rectors may wish to use when considering a layperson for a licensed ministry. These Diocesan School courses are only suggestions and are offered as a service to Rectors. Some suggested courses may not be applicable in particular circumstances; additional courses may be helpful in other cases.
Courses for Lay Ministries
Depending on the particular ministry, The Diocesan School Core Curriculum courses listed below are suggested for particular ministries. In addition to the recommended courses, and depending on the needs of the parish, Spanish courses from other educational venues may also be appropriate.
| 1. Pastoral Leader is a lay person authorized to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances, as defined by the Bishop.
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Recommended Courses: A Pastoral Leader is (by definition) not a deacon, and the requirements for this ministry will depend on the needs of the congregation for which the lay person is to act. The courses that appear appropriate for this ministry are: Spiritual Journey 1 and 2, Old Testament 101 and 102, New Testament 101 and 102, Contemporary Society, Church History 101 and 102, Basic Systematic and Moral Theology 201 and 202, Liturgics (BCP), Practical Liturgics, Stephen Ministry 1 and 2, Homiletics, Courses Required by Title III of the Canons, Prayer in Christian Life, and Healthcare Ministry Visitation.
| 2. Worship Leader is a lay person, who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
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Recommended courses: It is assumed that a Worship Leader will also be a preacher to the congregation. The courses that appear appropriate are: Spiritual Journey 1 and 2, Old Testament 101 and 102, New Testament 101 and 102, Contemporary Society, (9) Church History 101 and 102, Basic Systematic and Moral Theology 201 and 202, Liturgics, Practical Liturgics, Homiletics, Courses Required by Title III of the Canons, and Prayer in Christian Life.
| 3. Preacher is a lay person authorized to preach. Person 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 of faith.
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Recommended courses: The courses that appear appropriate are: Spiritual Journey 1 and 2, Old Testament 101 and 102, New Testament 101 and 102, Contemporary Society, Church History 101 and 102, Basic Systematic and Moral Theology 201 and 202, Homiletics, Courses Required by Title III of the Canons, and Prayer in Christian Life.
| 4. Eucharistic Minister (formerly known as Chalice Bearer) 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, Priest or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
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Recommended courses: This training is by invitation of the Rector or priest-in-charge and is provided at the parish level.
| 5. 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 of other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
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Recommended courses: The courses that appear appropriate are Spiritual Journey 1 and 2, Church History 101 and 102, Basic Systematic and Moral Theology 201, and Prayer in Christian Life.
| 6. Bible Study Leader is a person who leads group Bible Study or teaches courses in Scripture.
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Recommended courses: Old Testament 101 and 102, New Testament 101 and 102 and Basic Systematic and Moral Theology 201.
We hope these recommendations are helpful. The Diocesan School Board invites comments and suggestions, which may be sent by e-mail to Ms. Pamela Kittinger Fuller, Administrator of the Diocesan School, or to Mr. Thomas O’Brien, Chair of the Diocesan School Board.
