Section 2B:  Worship Leader

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.

Applicants for the ministry of Worship Leader are recommended by their Rector/Priest-in-Charge to the Bishop for licensing. The recommendation will outline the nature of the ministry envisaged and the qualities that the candidate would bring though exercising this ministry. The Bishop will refer candidates to EICS who will establish an appropriate training program. The Bishop may license a candidate prior to the completion of training. EICS will inform COMB of candidates who have been licensed.

The Worship Leader is a confirmed communicant in good standing or, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop, a communicant in good standing. The Worship Leader functions with the permission of the Bishop and under the direct supervision of the Bishop’s Office. Once licensed, the Pastoral Leader functions at the discretion of the Bishop and under the direct supervision of the congregation’s Priest-in-Charge.

The Worship Leader functions solely at the discretion of the Priest-in-Charge and is licensed to lead worship only in the congregation in which the Worship Leader is a member at the time of licensing. The Worship Leader may be given special permission by the Bishop to lead worship in other circumstances or in other congregations provided he or she has received an invitation to do so from the Priest-in-Charge of the congregation. A Worship Leader may preach the sermon, if he or she is also a licensed Preacher, or if not a licensed Preacher, may deliver a sermon provided by an ordained Priest canonically resident or licensed to officiate in the Diocese. The Worship Leader, under the direction of the Priest-in-Charge, will pursue Diocesan-approved continuing education.

Training

Applicants for the ministry of Worship Leader will be trained under a program devised by EICS appropriate to this ministry, and, if necessary, modified according to the applicant’s previous education and experience. The program may be primarily self-study or distance study and may include reading material, seminars, webinars or actual courses. The areas of study are:

• The Book of Common Prayer and its authorized supplements

 EICS Liturgy Module

• Conduct of public worship

EICS session

• The Sacraments

EICS session

• An understanding of the unique liturgical roles of Lay People, Priests, and Deacons

1 CDSP CALL module, such as: Introduction to Liturgical Leadership

• The Hymnal and other authorized musical resources

EICS Liturgy Module

• Use of voice

Undertaken by parish Priest

• Safeguarding God’s Children (Praesidium Academy)
• Anti-Racism Training

The applicant for Worship Leader must also meet all the requirements for licensing of Eucharistic Minister.

Plus 2 other CDSP CALL modules – 1 on Scripture and 1 on Digital Worship. This amounts to 3 CDSP modules totaling $615. Timescale 12-18 months.

Certification

The term of a Worship Leader License is three years with required annual reviews by the Priest-in-Charge or the Bishop. The license may be renewed at the discretion of the Bishop upon evidence of Diocesan-approved continuing education and the needs of the congregation as determined by the Bishop. The Bishop may issue a license while training is on-going.

Documentation

The Priest-in-Charge will maintain a confidential personnel file for the Worship Leader that shall contain the following:

• Documentation of training, examination and competency in the areas listed above under “Training”
• A copy of the application sent to the Bishop by the Priest-in-Charge
• A copy of the certificate from the Bishop licensing the person to be a Worship Leader

Documentation of licensing of Worship Leaders will be maintained and displayed in the parish.

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