Licensed Lay Ministry
School for Ministry
Formation for All the Baptized
Creating and curating resources for ministry formation of all kinds, particularly lay ministry.
The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church provide for several licensed lay ministries:
- Pastoral Leader
- Worship Leader
- Preacher
- Eucharistic Minister
- Eucharistic Visitor
- Catechist
- Evangelist
The new FAB (Formation for All the Baptized) School for Ministry will support the formation and licensure process for those lay ministries. To be licensed as one of these types of lay ministers requires participation in a discernment process, endorsement of clergy and vestry, formation classes, meeting with the Commission on Ministry, and a commissioning service. Licensure means that the person can serve not only in their sponsoring parish, but also potentially in other parishes in the Diocese who would benefit from those ministries.
- Read more in the Constitution and Canons.
- Read more about the competencies and formation requirements for these licensed ministries HERE.
Process for Licensure
- Discernment Cohort
- Support from Community of Faith
- Formation
- Meeting with the Commission on Ministry
- Commissioning
Timeline for Licensure Process
Discernment
Those who are interested in being licensed for a particular licensed lay ministry will first participate in a 6 week discernment cohort on Zoom to identify their gifts for ministry, listen for God’s activity in their lives, and discern their next steps in their vocational calling. Included in this discernment process are 5 conversations with their clergy sponsors using a conversation guide created for that purpose, one per week during the discernment cohort. The last session of the cohort will include a meeting with the Commission on Ministry to share their story of discernment. The Commission on Ministry helps discern avenues for the expression and support of the ministry of all the baptized, lay and ordained. This cohort typically starts in March each year.
Support from the Community of Faith
Licensed lay ministers should be supported by their communities of faith, and need the endorsement of the member of the clergy exercising oversight, along with the support of the Vestry. The community of faith should also commit to financial support in the form of contributing to their formation classes (⅓ paid by the parish, ⅓ paid by the individual, and ⅓ paid by the Diocese) as well as for their background check. See which classes are required for which licenses HERE.
Formation
The path for formation will depend on the licensure track the lay minister is pursuing. The Diocese of Atlanta has partnered with Bexley-Seabury Seminary to provide formation for most ministry tracks through their Pathways program for licensure. The Diocese has also partnered with the Community of Hope International to provide pastoral care training. These classes will generally take place in the Fall. Read more about the formation requirements for each licensed lay ministry HERE.
Recommendation of the Commission on Ministry
Discerners will meet again with the Commission on Ministry to share what they learned in their formation. At the recommendation of the Commission, the Bishop may decide to license these lay ministers for ministry throughout the Diocese.
Commissioning
Those who have completed the process will be commissioned by the Bishop in a Diocesan service in January of each year, and begin their licensed lay ministries in the Diocese.
What’s Next?
Those interested in being licensed for one of these lay ministries should talk to their priest or the leader exercising oversight in their community of faith, and then email Canon Sally Ulrey.
Recent Stories
Licensed for Ministry
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.
Pathways Profiles: Bliss Peterson
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.
Lay Ministers to Hold Key Pastoral Roles
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.
Licensed Lay Ministers Commissioned
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.