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Of Licensed Ministries

Updated: September 9, 2025Lay Licensed Ministries

Of Licensed Ministries

Of Licensed Ministries (Title III, Canon 4)

1. Licenses expire each year on March 1. Each year, two types of license will expire, according to the following schedule:

    • 2025 – Eucharistic Minister (EM) and Eucharistic Visitor (EV)
    • 2026 – Pastoral Leader and Worship Leader
    • 2027 – Preacher and Catechist

This cycle repeats every three years.

Regardless of when licenses are issued during the three year period, ALL still expire on the March 1st date of the year according to the above schedule.

2. The Bishop’s staff maintains a database to track all licenses.

3. The Chair of the Commission on Ministry will appoint a subcommittee to oversee the lay license process. This subcommittee will be responsible (with the advice of the whole COM) for:

  • Developing new licensed ministry forms
  • Reviewing and revising the detailed procedures in the licensing process
  • Reviewing applications for the preacher, catechist, pastoral leader and worship leader licenses, and recommending the granting of same licenses to the COM and Bishop
  • Devising and implementing an education and training program for the four licenses listed above

4. The training and necessary approvals for the EM and EV licenses are done at the congregational level. All license applications require the approval of the clergy person in charge and the Vestry/Bishop’s Committee before being sent to the diocese for action.