Discernment of Ministry

In 1925 when the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist Churches joined to form The United Church of Canada, lay preachers became a part of this union. Today, lay preachers continue to be a part of our life as a church in offering worship leadership as licensed lay worship leaders.

Presbyteries and Conferences are responsible for providing education opportunities for licensed lay worship leaders using the guidelines found in the following resource:

LLWL 730: Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Guidelines for Preparation [20 pp/282 KB]

A lay person who is interested in this program may make inquiries of his or her presbytery, which has the responsibility for administering the guidelines and licensing those who take this course.

Licensed lay worship leaders can provide Sunday worship leadership in pastoral charges in the presbytery in which they are licensed. Licensed lay worship leaders are not appointed by presbytery to presbytery vacancies.

The church locator will help you reach people in presbyteries and Conferences who can help in this process. The education centres often offer programs on learning to lead worship and to preach.

Further information is available from:

• Ministry Vocations
  Human Resources
  The United Church of Canada
  3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300
  Toronto, ON Canada M8X 2Y4
  E-mail: Ministry Vocations