Section 2C:  Preacher

A Preacher is a lay person authorized to preach. Persons so authorized shall only preach in congregations 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 Preacher 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 Preacher is a confirmed communicant in good standing or, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop, a communicant in good standing. The Preacher functions with the permission of the Bishop and under the direct supervision of the Bishop’s Office. Once licensed, the Preacher functions at the discretion of the Bishop and under the direct supervision of the congregation’s Priest-in-Charge.

The license is only valid for the congregation in which the Preacher is a member at the time of licensing. The Preacher may be given special permission by the Bishop to preach in other circumstances or in other congregations provided he or she has received an invitation to preach by that Priest-in-Charge. The Preacher, under the direction of the Priest-in-Charge, will pursue continuing education as approved by the Bishop.

Training

Applicants for the ministry of Preacher 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 module

• Holy Scriptures, interpretation, contents and background

2 CDSP CALL Modules, taken from for example: Old Testament Overview; Introduction to New Testament Interpretation; The Anglican Bible, Scriptural Conversation and Formation; The New Testament – the Parables.

• The Hymnal (and other authorized music resources)

EICS Liturgy Module

• The conduct of public worship

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

• An overview of Church history including current events in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

1 CDSP CALL module, such as: Changing Church: Mission, Leadership, and Beloved Community

• Christian ethics and moral theology

1 CDSP CALL module, such as: Facing Choices: ethics in the Anglican Church

• Church doctrine as set forth in the Creeds and An Outline of Faith, commonly called the Catechism

EICS module (2-3 zoom sessions)

• Pastoral dynamics of preaching

An online course in Homiletics will be provided.

Homiletics, including use of voice

An online course in Homiletics will be provided.

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

This would involve up to 6 CDSP modules and 2 EICS modules. Cost of CDSP modules would be $1000 - $1230. Likely time of completion 15-24 months.

Certification

The term of a Preacher License is three years and may be renewed at the discretion of the Bishop upon evidence of diocesan approved continuing education and the needs of the congregation. The license can be revoked by the Bishop at any time. The Bishop may issue a license while training is on-going.

Documentation

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

• Documentation of training, examination and competency in the areas listed above in “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 Preacher Documentation of licensing of Preachers will be maintained and displayed in the parish.

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