Licensed Lay Ministry

From the Bishop of North Carolina

While ordained ministers, whether deacon or priest, are usually the ones who lead Sunday morning services, there are many opportunities in The Episcopal Church for lay people to lead and participate in services. If you are a lay person interested in becoming a worship leader, preacher, catechist, Eucharistic minister or Eucharistic visitor, please read the following guidelines and then talk to your rector or vicar about becoming licensed.

WORSHIP LEADER, PREACHER AND CATECHIST

A 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.

A preacher is a layperson 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 of faith.

A catechist is a layperson 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.

A license is issued for a period of time not to exceed three years.

A worship leader is someone who has regular responsibility in worship services, i.e. leading Morning or Evening Prayer and Compline in the absence of a clergy person or leads public worship services in hospitals, prisons and other institutions.

In the Diocese of North Carolina, the bishop does not license a preacher to preach sermons of their own composition, except in the case of persons who have at least two years of seminary education, successfully completed Education for Ministry through the University of the South, or other equivalent training or preparation accepted by the bishop.

A catechist is trained to prepare persons as above.

Training is required for worship leaders, preachers and catechists under the direction of a deacon or member of the clergy.

Worship Leader/Preacher/Catechist License Request

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND EUCHARISTIC VISITORS

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.

A Eucharistic visitor is a layperson 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.

A license is issued for a period of time not to exceed three years.

A Eucharistic minister is licensed to administer wine or bread in public worship. After three years or less, it is advisable to replace the Eucharistic minister, requiring at least one year before requesting re-license for another term. This rotation helps to prevent the appearance of perpetually entitled ministers and will share this ministry more widely among the congregation.

Please use your own judgment as to how many Eucharistic visitors you genuinely need for rotation of this ministry to take the sacrament directly from church to the sick and infirm.

The total number of Eucharistic ministers and visitors authorized in a congregation is left to the judgment of the rector, vicar or priest-in-charge.

Training is required for both Eucharistic ministers and Eucharistic visitors under the direction of a deacon or member of the clergy.

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. The license shall be issued for a period of time to be determined under Canon II.4.1(a) and may be renewed. The license may be revoked by the ecclesiastical authority upon request of or upon notice to the member of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.

LEM License Request