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The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee -

Licensed Lay Ministry

By virtue of our baptism, we are all Christian ministers. The Holy Spirit authorizes and empowers every baptized person to carry on various ministries for the good of and on behalf of the congregation. For some Christians, this means being called to ordained ministry. For most of us, this means we become actively involved in lay ministry or ministries.

A Licensed Lay Minister…

  • Is faithful in praying, working, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God
  • Is a baptized and confirmed communicant in good standing
  • Has been faithful in corporate worship for the past year
  • Is part of the worshipping community at a parish and is known to the clergy and vestry
  • Has completed formation and continuing education required for this ministry
  • Understands that the guidelines for the selection, training, continuing education, and deployment of ministry are established by the Bishop in consultation with the Commission on Ministry
  • Completes all required Safe Church training and background check(s)

Parish Trained

The diocese encourages all parishes to establish a routine for identifying, discerning, training, continuing education, and supporting licensed lay ministry for their congregation. Annual revision of a roster of such licenses should be provided for diocesan records, and their license will be affirmed with a certificate signed by the Bishop. Regional training to supplement parish training will be offered by diocesan staff from time to time. Please note that there is no license or certificate for a Lay Reader or Lector.

Eucharistic Minister

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Eucharistic Visitor

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Worship Leader

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Diocesan Trained

The diocese will provide training for individuals identified by their parish, and endorsed by their Rector and Vestry, for licensed lay ministry for their congregation, and potential invitation by the diocese for sharing their ministry with other congregations.

Preacher

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Catechist

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Evangelist

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Diocesan Trained Certification

We are very eager to walk with those called to pastoral care as they explore how their gifts can flourish. The Pastoral Care Certificate program will extend from the Eucharistic Visitor licensure- this licensure is a requirement prior to moving forward with certification.We are partnering with Bexley-Seabury to create an online course that will provide a survey of different types and best practices for pastoral care. Since lay pastoral care ministry can look very different in different parishes, each parish is invited to discern what type of lay pastoral care they are called to offer.

Step 1: Initiating the Process of Becoming a Licensed Lay Minister

If you are discerning a call to ministry, you should contact your Rector or priest-in-charge. The Rector or priest-in-charge should then contact the diocesan Canon for Formation and Lay Ministry, Emily Bruner Doane ebrunerdoane@dioet.org or 870-926-9521.

 

Once you have held an initial conversation with your sponsoring clergy, you may complete the cohort application below.

  • Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Discernment Cohort Application
    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Discernment Cohort Application

    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Discernment Cohort Application

    Name
    Name
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Have you been baptized?

    According to the Canons of The Episcopal Church (III.4.1.a) only a “confirmed communicant in good standing…may be licensed by the Ecclesiastical Authority to serve as a…Eucharistic Visitor.”

    Learn more about the sacrament of holy baptism and how you can be baptized in The Episcopal Church here or by speaking to your parish clergy or wardens.

    Have you been confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church?

    According to the Canons of The Episcopal Church (III.4.1.a) only a “confirmed communicant in good standing…may be licensed by the Ecclesiastical Authority to serve as a…Eucharistic Visitor.”

    Learn more about the confirmation and how you can be confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church here or by speaking to your parish clergy or wardens.

Step 2: License Lay Ministry Mutual Application Form Set

These three forms are to be used after the discernment cohort has completed its work. Each party can use the forms below to complete their portion of the mutual application. If you encounter trouble issuing multiple forms, please close the browser window and reload the webpage.

  • Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Discerner Portion
    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Discerner Portion

    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Discerner Portion

    Name
    Name
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    I have completed my discernment process and am applying for the following Diocesan-trained Lay Licensed Ministry:

    Maximum file size: 314.57MB

  • Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Supervising Clergy Portion
    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Supervising Clergy Portion

    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Supervising Clergy Portion

    Clergy Name
    Clergy Name
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Discerner's Name
    Discerner's Name
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Have you confirmed that the discerner has been baptized?
    Have you confirmed that the discerner has been confirmed or received?
    Is the discerner a member in good standing?

    Maximum file size: 314.57MB

    Would you allow this person to fulfill this ministry in your congregation?

  • Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Vestry Portion
    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Vestry Portion

    Diocesan-Trained Licensed Lay Ministry Mutual Application: Vestry Portion

    Please download this letter. Once it has been completed and signed, return to this form, fill out the fields below, and upload a scanned copy of the letter.

    Name of Discerner
    Name of Discerner
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Name of Person Filing
    Name of Person Filing
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name

    Maximum file size: 314.57MB

Licensed Lay Ministry Renewals

This form can be used to renew diocesan and parish trained licenses for lay ministers or to apply for the first license for a parish-trained lay minister (Eucharistic Visitor, Eucharistic Minister, and Worship Leader). If you are being initially trained for Preacher, Catechist, or Evangelist, your initial license will be generated by the diocese.

If you need to complete more than five entries, please submit the form and refresh the page to submit more entries.

  • Licensed Lay Minister License Renewal
    Lay Licensing Renewal Request Form
    Name 1
    Name 1
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Licenses Requested:

     

    Name 2
    Name 2
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Licenses Requested:
    Name 3
    Name 3
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Licenses Requested:

     

    Name 4
    Name 4
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Licenses Requested:

     

    Name 5
    Name 5
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Licenses Requested:

     

    Name of Rector, Priest-in-Charge, Senior Warden
    Name of Rector, Priest-in-Charge, Senior Warden
    First Name
    Middle Name
    Last Name
    Certification