Episcopalians promise to “serve Christ in all persons” as part of the baptismal covenant. After special training for their own ministries, 19 people recently were commissioned at the Cathedral of St. Philip as licensed lay ministers (LLMs) — a designation that permits people who are not clergy to provide pastoral care, sermons, Eucharist and more.
Bliss Peterson was terrified that she would say or do the wrong thing to someone who grieved. But pastoral care training was required to become a licensed lay minister.
On January 27, 2024, Diocesan Bishop Rob Wright commissioned 17 lay ministers from 14 parishes. The Episcopal Church in its Constitution and Canons provides for licensing lay people in a process similar to that for ordained ministry.
Bishop Rob Wright on January 28 commissioned lay ministers from 14 parishes. Seven were licensed to serve throughout the Diocese of Atlanta as preachers, worship leaders, eucharistic ministers, eucharistic visitors, and catechists. Seven others were commissioned by Bishop Wright to serve as lay pastoral caregivers in their home parishes.
