Lay Ministry Licensing - The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

Call to Ministry

Lay ministries are as multiple and varied as there are individuals in this diocese. You are doing lay ministry every moment of your life as you deal with one another, and as you deal with others in your local community. Lay ministry is the result of your baptism. You are baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and you were given gifts for ministry. These gifts are to be developed and directed towards the spread of God’s kingdom.

Lay Ministries

While there are a multitude of lay ministries, the Committee on Lay Ministry and this page are primarily aimed at those ministries requiring licenses. Those licenses are: Worship Leader, Eucharistic Minister (EM), Eucharistic Visitor (EV), Catechist, Pastoral Leader, Evangelism Facilitator and Preacher. Although the training requirements vary, the procedure to request a license for any one of the seven ministries will be identical. Clergy in charge should click on each license for details, then contact Thea Mangels, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, at 916.442.6918 x213 or via e-mail to thea@norcalepiscopal.org with any questions.

Lay Ministry Licensing Workshops

Are you seeking a lay ministry license? Perhaps you are just interested in a little more information about lay ministry licensing? If you nodded yes to either of these questions, please join us for our upcoming Lay Ministry workshops, presented by the Lay Ministry Committee of the Commission on Ministry. Open to ALL - whether seeking a license or not, we hope to see you at our next workshop (see links at right).

Normally there are two or three workshops geographically spread around the diocese each year, as well as Licensing sessions at the annual Bishop’s Conference. Workshops always included sessions for the licenses; there are additional broadening and continuing education sessions. As space permits there are also sessions for non-licensed ministries such as altar guilds or lectors, as well as presentations by other commissions and agencies of the diocese.  For questions about workshops, please contact Mary Boeger at email.

Committees/Contacts

Any of the members of the Committee on Lay Ministry can answer general questions or be able to assist with more specific questions and training. Click here to view a list of current committee members and their contact information.

Upcoming Workshops