Guidelines and Requirements for Pastoral Leader

Updated: December 2, 2025Lay Licensed Ministries

Guidelines and Requirements for Pastoral Leader

Guidelines and Requirements to be Licensed as a Pastoral Leader

Title III, Canon 4, Section 6

Under the direction of the Bishop, a Pastoral Leader is a lay person authorized to exercise pastoral and administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances.

Discernment

Candidates considering the ministry of Catechist should initiate discussion with sponsoring clergy, spiritual directors, or other appropriate guides to discuss honestly how to test a call.

Discernment Questions for those discerning a call to this ministry:

  • What has attracted me to this ministry?
  • What does the Baptismal Covenant mean to me?
  • What is ministry and what are things that I do that are ministry?
  • Am I willing to share parts of my faith journey, as appropriate with others?
  • Have I asked God whether God might be calling me to this ministry?
  • Can I tell the story of why I feel called to this ministry?
  • What gifts do I have that would be an asset for this ministry? What gifts do I bring now and what gifts do I hope to develop/grow?
  • How would I respond to someone who asked, “What is important to know about God?”
  • How have I experienced God’s grace in my life?
  • Am I curious about Christian theology and the history of the Church?
  • Would I enjoy finding out what others are seeking as they connect/reconnect with the church?
  • Can I envision myself in the role of a teacher and be eager to foster a safe and respectful environment where others can learn and share?
  • What do I hope to help people understand or experience through my service as a Catechist?

Qualities of Call

  • A personal sense of ministry. A person of prayer who seeks to develop their own spirituality.
  • A mentor is required for the first year after licensure. The lay licensing committee can assist you find a mentor.
  • Ability to analyze, prioritize, plan and pay attention to detail.
  • Takes initiative in working both independently and with a group.
  • Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
  • Understands necessity of confidentiality.
  • Good communication skills.
    • Listens well
    • Seeks and listens for significant thoughts, ideas, and feelings of the person or group.
    • Articulates thoughts and ideas in a manner that is comforting, clear, and concise.

Background Knowledge:

  • A basic understanding of Holy Scripture (Old and New Testaments), church history, The Book of Common Prayer, ethics and theology (at the level of catechism and creeds).
  • A college level understanding of psychology and family systems theory.
  • Basic principles of spiritual development and spiritual direction.
  • Familiarization with the Church’s Manual of Business Methods.
  • A general knowledge of the Canons, polity, structure, and decision-making process of The Episcopal Church.
  • Specific knowledge of the canons of The Episcopal Church and The Diocese of West Missouri that relate to parish administration.
  • A general knowledge of bookkeeping and insurance.

Skills

  • Ability to effectively work in ministry teams
  • Ability to facilitate and/or coordinate services to parishioners in the following circumstances:
    • Counsel, comfort, and pray with persons afflicted with illnesses of all kinds and can offer the same to family and friends of the ill person.
    • Aid and comfort families and individuals in issues of death and dying.
    • Counsel and comfort families and individual in typical pastoral care issues including, but not limited to:
      • Life transitions
      • Children and parenting
      • Care of aging parents
      • Human relationships or their lack (loneliness)
      • Economic hardship
      • Alcoholism and substance abuse
      • Hospitalizations and other medical situations.
  • Can make referral to professional caregiver when appropriate.
  • Can prepare financial reports and maintain financial records in collaboration with the Parish and Diocesan Treasurers
  • Can prepare the annual Parochial Report
  • Can properly maintain:
    • the Service Register
    • membership records and execute letters of transfer
    • the Parish Register

Education and Training Possibilities

  • Pastoral Leader Certificate Program, Bishop Kemper School of Ministry. (Preferred)
  • Any educational training available through the Diocese including, but not limited to:
    • Leadership Essential presentations. This is a series of educational offerings from the Bishop’s Staff.
  • 1 unit from a Continuing Pastoral Education Program (CPE).
  • The Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership (CALL), particularly the “A Pastoral Care Series” of online courses.
  • Courses from accredited seminaries, local or through distance learning.
  • Education for Ministry (EfM).

To be Licensed (First Application)

  • Licenses are renewed in a set rotation every three years not based on date it was issued. This license is due for renewal by March 1, 2026.
  • Completion of application
  • Recommendation of the Finance Director/Diocesan Treasurer.
  • Personal visit with the Bishop.
  • Criminal background check. Contact the Human Resource Administrator and Finance Assistant (hr-finasst@diowestmo.org) for information.
  • Completion of Diversity Workshop. Contact Shirley Bolden at shirleybolden772@gmail.com for information.
  • At the time of licensure, the lay licensing committee will work with the licensee to find a mentor that can provide them with support and guidance as they begin this ministry.
  • Safe Church, Safe Community training modules are required. Contact the Human Resource Administrator and Finance Assistant for information. (hr-finasst@diowestmo.org)

To Renew Your License (Subsequent Applications)

  • Licenses are renewed in a set rotation every three years not based on date it was issued. This license is due for renewal by March 1, 2026.
  • Completion of renewal application
  • Attach a written report that discusses how you would evaluate your ministry up to this point. Have you completed any continuing education? What is your plan for the next three years?
  • Completion of Endorsements on the second page.

Resources:

  •  An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Charles Gerkin, Abingdon Press, 1997.
  • Crisis Counseling. Howard W. Stone, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Revised Edition 1993.
  • All Our Losses, All Our Griefs: Resources for Pastoral Care. Kenneth Mitchell and Herbert Anderson, Westminster John Knox Press, 1983.
  • How Will They Hear Us If We Don’t Listen. Ronald Johnson, Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1994.
  • Creative Ministry. Henri J.M. Nouwen, Doubleday, 1991.
  • Caring for God’s People. Philip Culbertson, Fortress Press, 2000.
  • Teaching …Sermons on Suffering. Barbara Brown Taylor, Abingdon Press, 1989.
  • Generation to Generation. Edwin H. Friedman. The Guilford Press, 1985.
  • Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs. Episcopal Parish Services. 2001.
  • How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems. Peter Steinke. Alban Institute, Inc. 2006
  • The Diocese of West Missouri Mentoring Guidelines.

"*" indicates required fields

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Is this application for a new license or renew a current license?*
Name*
ex: St. Martin's, Anytown
Do you have the recommendation of the Diocesan Finance Director and/or Diocesan Treasurer?*
If you do not have recommendation from either of these roles, please do not continue with this application. Instead, please contact finance@diowestmo.org and/or treasurer@diowestmo.org to make an appointment.
Do you have the recommendation of your Vestry or Bishop's Committee?*
If you have not yet met with the bishop, please do not continue with this application. Instead, please contact the bishop's executive assistant to set a Pastoral Leader discernment appointment (bishopsassistant@diowestmo.org)
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This date is required. If none, please stop your application and visit https://diowestmo.org/admin/background-information-release-form/ to submit your "Criminal and Social Security Trace (Verified Plus)" application.
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If none, please be aware that Diversity & Reconciliation training is required within the next 18 months. Watch the events section of our website for upcoming Diversity & Reconciliation Training courses.
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This date is required. If none, please stop your application and contact the Human Resources Administrator and Finance Assistant (hr-finasst@diowestmo.org) to request access to the Safe Church, Safe Community online coursework.
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Required for licensed renewals, only: Attach a written report that discusses how you would evaluate your ministry up to this point. Have you completed any continuing education? What is your plan for the next three years?
Max. file size: 128 MB.
I pledge to carry out this ministry to the glory of God under the authority of the Bishop of West Missouri, and with the integrity befitting this sacred trust.
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