Licensed Lay Ministry

The ministry of the Church is the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is entrusted to all the baptized, and ordered under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the unity and the mission of the Church.

The Catechism in the Prayer Book begins the section on “The Ministry” (p. 855) in this way:

Q. Who are the ministers of the Church?
A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.
Q. What is the ministry of the laity?
A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

Most of the Church’s ministry is carried out by lay persons during the course of their daily life: in their prayers, homes, schools, work, relationships, and volunteer service in their communities. For the sake of the unity and mission of the local congregation, and the good order of the Church, a number of lay ministries within the congregation require local training and licensing by the Diocese of West Texas.

The clear expectation of The Episcopal Church Canons is that those licensed are to be confirmed communicants in good standing, though “in extraordinary circumstances, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop” a communicant in good standing may be licensed. (Title III. 4. 1(a)).

In the Diocese of West Texas, training for licensed lay ministries is entrusted to the local priest (or warden, in the absence of a priest), who then submits the names of those requesting licensing to the Bishop’s Office. Licenses are granted for a 3-year period, and are renewable.

Diocesan Lay Ministry Licenses

DIOCESAN PROCEDURES AND POLICY:
LICENSING OF LAY MINISTRY UNDER THE PROVISION OF TITLE III

Lay Ministry License Request Form

Lay licenses are good for a three (3) year period. During the three years, new congregation members may be added. The Lay Minister should be confirmed and in good standing. Lay Ministers perform the ministry under the direction of the Rector/Vicar or Warden who has oversight of a congregation in the absence of clergy. The Lay Ministries licensed in this diocese are:

A. WORSHIP LEADER‍

Lay person who leads worship of Morning, Noonday, Evening Prayer, and/or other prayer services.

B. EUCHARISTIC MINISTER (LEM)

Lay person who administers the Chalice at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. Underextraordinary circumstances, this person may be authorized by the Bishop to distribute the Bread at the Eucharist.

C. EUCHARISTIC VISITORS (LEV)

A lay person who following a Sunday Celebration of Holy Eucharist takes the ConsecratedElements to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration.

D. LECTOR‍

A lay person who reads the scripture lessons and/or leads the Prayers of the People duringworship. While this ministry does not require a Licensing of Lay Ministry from the Bishop’s office, the person should be licensed for this ministry by the Rector/Vicar of the congregation. Printed Licenses for Lector are available from the Bishop’s office, when requested.

Licenses for Worship Leader, Eucharistic Minister, and Eucharistic Visitor will be issued upon application to the Bishop’s office from the Rector/Vicar or Warden who has the responsibilities of a congregation in the absence of clergy.‍

Download a copy of the Diocesan Procedures and Policy Licensing of Lay Ministry

Contact

Melissa Soderberg, Executive Assistant to the Bishop's Office
melissa.soderberg@dwtx.org
o. (210) 824-5387
Lay Ministry License Request Form