Thursday, February 18, 2010 | Last Updated Friday, February 25, 2011 17:09 Pacific/Honolulu
Licensed ministries
Certain roles in churches are filled by laypeople who have been licensed by the Bishop to function in these capacities. The ministries that need a license are specified by the canons (church laws) of the Episcopal Church; they are the following: Eucharistic Minister,Eucharistic Visitor, Worship Leader, Preacher, Catechist, and Pastoral Leader.
The Diocese of Hawai‘i has specified the training requirements for a number of these roles. Requirements for licensing are outlined by the Commission on Ministry and then forwarded to Bishop Fitzpatrick for approval. Currently, the ministries of Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Worship Leader, and Catechist are being licensed.
Applications for licensing should be mailed to Office of the Bishop, Attn: Licensed Ministries, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813. Licenses last for three years and are renewed on the First Sunday of Advent.
Currently, any Deacon or Priest in a congregation may train the Eucharistic Ministers in that congregation. Eucharistic Visitors are being trained by the Deacons of the Diocese, and Worship Leaders can be trained by Canon Liz Beasley or by the Deacon or Priest in a congregation, following the requirements outlined in the document linked below.
Please note that the former licensed ministry of "Layreader" no longer exists. Anyone reading the lessons at a worship service in an Episcopal church should be trained by a Deacon or Priest in that church (or by anyone to whom this responsibility has been delegated), but the Lector (as such a person is called) does not need a license from the Bishop. However, if the person is also assisting by serving the chalice at Communion, then that person should be trained and licensed as a Eucharistic Minister.
Definition of licensed ministries (from the Canons of the Episcopal Church)
The Licensed Ministries in an Episcopal church are defined by the Canons of the Episcopal Church in Title III, Canon 4. They are defined below, in the order in which they appear in the Canons.
A Pastoral Leader is a lay person authorized to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances, as defined by the Bishop.
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.
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.
A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
A Catechist is a lay person authorized to prepare persons for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows, and shall function under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.
Requirements for licensing (documents to download)
Eucharistic MinisterEucharistic VisitorCatechistWorship Leader
Application form
Eucharistic Minister or Eucharistic Visitor