Licensed Lay Ministries
Kay Sturm
Licensing for lay ministries in the diocese is coordinated by Kay Sturm (pictured here) at The Anglican Academy at the Bishop’s Center in Columbus. All of these ministries are, by canon, to be licensed by the Bishop for a period not to exceed three years. The Bishop has designated The Anglican Academy as the agency responsible for licensure. New and renewed licenses are issued from this office. All current licenses expire on the first Sunday in Advent 2009.
Below is a list of the Licensed Lay Ministries under Canon III.4.3-7.
Eucharistic Minister, formerly LEM I - Chalicist
Eucharistic Visitor, formerly LEM II
Worship Leader, formerly Lay Reader
Preacher
Pastoral Leader (new)
Catechist (new)
Here are some basic guidelines for the training for each of these ministries:
Eucharistic Ministers are trained at the parish level, by the Deacon or Priest of the congregation. After training, the rector, vicar or priest in charge should request that licenses be issued by completing a two-part form. Contact the Anglican Academy for a copy or print out these two pages, cover letter and application .
Eucharistic Visitor training consists of two parts. One is the Eucharistic Visitor training performed in the parish according to new guidelines published in February 2006. The second part is the Diocesan sponsored Sexual Misconduct/Child Abuse Prevention training offered monthly in locations throughout the Diocese. This training must also be completed before a license can be issued. After training, the rector, vicar or priest in charge should request that licenses be issued by completing a two-part form. Contact the Anglican Academy for a copy or print out these two pages, cover letter and application .
Worship Leaders are the newest group to receive training sponsored by the Anglican Academy. Please contact Kay Sturm at the Anglican Academy to request information on upcoming classes. Training for Worship Leaders will be offered in the fall of 2008.
Applications for the Worship Leader license are given to all attending the class. The application is signed by the trainer, then must be signed and mailed to the Anglican Academy by the clergy person in the attendee’s parish. Worship Leaders who were already licensed as “Lay Readers” were “grandfathered” at the request of the Priest in charge of the congregation.
Preachers may be licensed at the recommendation of the Rector, Vicar or Priest-in-charge of their congregation after completing a training program. The Diocese of Southern Ohio will begin a program in September of 2008 to train and license preachers in congregations where there is a need. Rectors, Vicars or Priests-in-charge may nominate persons from their congregation to train for licensing as preachers. Those nominated should be active communicant members in good standing, well respected in their congregations, practice an active spiritual life and be knowledgeable and articulate about the Christian faith. Two years of Education for Ministry or the equivalent is a prerequisite. The training program will be a three-year program that will meet monthly at the Procter Camp & Conference Center for three hours on Saturdays 10 times per year. The program will include worship, Bible study, theological reflection and the practice of writing, delivering and evaluating sermons. The cost of the program will be $400 per year. Some scholarship money is available.
For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Karl Ruttan at karl_ruttan@episcopal-dso.org. An application with the priest's letter of nomination should be sent to Canon Ruttan, Canon for Life Formation at The Bishop's Center, 125 E. Broad St, Columbus 43215-3649. Application forms are available here. Nomination letters from the sponsoring priest should include information about the nominee's attributes, ministry and spiritual life, why this person is being nominated and how this ministry will be used in the congregation. Applications are due by Aug. 1, 2008.
Pastoral Leaders are not yet a part of our system, but plans are in the works to devise a training program.
Catechists are not yet a part of our system, but plans are being laid to incorporate them.
All new and current licenses will be in effect until Advent I, 2009.
Questions about these programs and the licensing procedures may be directed to Kay Sturm, or Canon Karl Ruttan at 800-461-8424 or 614-461-8429.