As defined by Canons:A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
Worship Leader
Knowledge Base
- History of the Daily Office
- Canons and rubrics regarding lay leadership of worship
- Liturgy- an understanding of the role of worship leader
- The Daily Office (morning, noonday, evening, compline, daily devotions)
- Revised Common Lectionary
- Lesser Feasts & Fasts
- Enriching Our Worship 1
- Online resources
- Authorized hymnals
Competencies
- Leading Daily Office in the absence of a priest
- Demonstrated use of voice in leading public worship
Formation
Training should also include:
- A period of mentored-officiating
- Instruction on how to access and use essential online resources (ex. bcponline.org, lectionarypage.net, dailylectio.net)
In addition to encouragement of parishes to provide this training, we also lift up Bexley-Seabury’s Pathways for Baptismal Living course, Worship Leader Course.
Duration of License & Renewal
A Worship Leader will be licensed for up to 3 years at a time. Before or immediately after 3 years have passed, the licensed lay Worship Leader should receive some refreshing of their training and 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.