As defined by Canons: A Preacher is a lay person 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.
Preacher
Knowledge Base
- Contents and background of Holy Scripture
- Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal
- Church history
- Christian ethics and moral theology
- Episcopal liturgical practice
- The church’s doctrine as set forth in the creeds and An Outline of the Faith
Competencies
- Use methods of exegesis in sermon preparation
- Demonstrated use of the voice in conveying the message of a sermon
- Preaching in context of liturgical experience
- Preaching to feedback
- Preaching (preparing the preacher, preparing to preach, framing and constructing a sermon)
- Understanding of diverse contexts
Formation
The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee partners with the Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) to provide training using curriculum and mentor training from the EPF Lay Preacher Training Initiative.
Duration of License & Renewal
A licensed lay Preacher will be licensed for up to 1 year at a time. Before or immediately after 1 year has passed, the licensed lay Preacher should have had opportunities to practice their ministry; received review of manuscripts prior to preaching; continued to develop their skill and spirituality; and should receive an assessment of their good standing.
At this time, a member of the clergy with oversight and responsibility for this ministry can recommend that their license be renewed or that they pursue other ministries within the church and give room for others to practice this ministry.