LICENSED LAY MINISTERS

Lay Ministers will be licensed by the Bishop to perform certain duties within specific congregations or 6261 Ministry Communities.  These duties may include:

• Praying for the 6261 Ministry Community, its congregations, its surrounding community, and its ministries
• Preaching
• Leading Worship services
• Leading Bible studies
• Leading and coordinating small groups
• Visiting those in the hospital, the homebound, and others who request a visit
• Potential for licensed Sacramental authorization in special circumstances

Every congregation is served by a variety of lay leaders!  Lay leaders are people who volunteer with altar guild, as assistant ministers, on committees/teams, who serve on Council, and who volunteer to help lead any ministry efforts.

Licensed lay ministers are a type of lay leader who has been formally licensed by the Bishop to perform certain tasks, worship leadership, and ministry within a congregation or 6261 Ministry Community setting.  All licensed lay ministers will complete the 2-year LLM formation path along with a mentor relationship for ongoing formation.

Lay ministers will be licensed by the Bishop by for service within the NEPA Synod, including 6261 Ministry Communities once they have completed the LLM formation path (see below).

Lay ministers will vary in their theological backgrounds and training, gifts and passions for ministry, and their availability for service.

Deacons and pastors are rostered ministers, called by the Synod to a 6261 Ministry Community.  Both deacons and pastors have completed a seminary-level theological degree with equivalent training and candidacy rostering requirements.

For more detailed descriptions of the roles of pastors and deacons please click here.

Lay ministers will be licensed to serve in their congregation when a pastor or deacon is unable to lead worship that Sunday.  There is no expectation that a lay minister would serve every Sunday!

As part of the 6261 Ministry Community staff, lay ministers will coordinate the Sunday leadership schedule with the deacon and pastors.  This way staff and congregation members will know who is serving where and when.

Lay ministers may serve when the pastor or deacon are on vacation, are sick, are on sabbatical, are taking parental leave, or simply when they are leading worship at one of the other 5 congregations of the 6261 Ministry Community.