Am I being Called to a Ministry in the Church? What Might My

Am I being Called? The Process

Call

1. People identify their sense of call in many ways. Some might be at a stage in life where they have more time on their hands and so begin to explore past inklings of some sort of call. There may be a need in a parish or congregation to which they feel a desire to help. Some bring life experiences from other communities with them as they return to the homes of their past. Some may have been encouraged by clergy or congregation members.

2. Personal and Community discernment

People recognize calls in many ways. It might begin with your own life experiences that have framed your spirituality and formed your commitment to the Church. It is important for each of us to have an honest self-awareness about why we feel called, and what our personal reasons might be. None of us can “earn” the right to minister in any way ministry is a gift of trust offered by the spirit to the strong and the broken.

This is a stage where conversations that are loving and honest must take place with your clergy and other Christians.

In every case, the community of faith that you are a part of must affirm your call in their midst. This happens in different ways for different ministries, even in a time when it is difficult to find Church officers such as wardens and treasurers. Parishes should be working on ways to identify, support and teach the importance of these ministries in addition to Licensed Lay Ministry and Eucharistic ministries.
Discernment and Mentoring
Mentoring and Discernment will blend together. Relationship is important!
After people have recognized a sense of call, they will have questions. It is up to the body of Christ and the incumbent to answer them. There MUST be a relationship there. It takes time. What particular ministry is someone being called to? Why? What is your story? What questions do you have? The type of ministry to which they might feel called must be described and explained. This is a time of prayer and nurture. It is a time for conversation and affirmation. Once the ministry has been defined as much as possible, the time has arrived for that person to fill out an application for training.
Training

3. It is at this time, that you will fill out the application. You can get these from the Diocesan Website, the Lay Minister’s Chaplain or from Synod Office. Applications MUST be approved by a meeting of vestry or parish council. Once the application is completed, it is to be sent to the Lay minister’s Chaplain who will give approval of the training process in consultation with the bishop. The training process and options are outlined below.

Training processes and resources. A practical Outline

1. In various ways people identify a sense of call.

2. The clergy and people work to help them confirm that calling.

3. Parishes have plans in place to mentor and teach people for the various ministries, liturgical and otherwise. 

4. People who will be serving seniors, youth, or vulnerable are required to obtain a Police Court Check and a vulnerable sector check. Your clergy can help you with this.

5.  Your clergy will help you in every step of the way. In the case of Licensed lay Ministry and Eucharistic Ministry, there is a level of training that must be completed.
If an individual is being mentored to only be a Eucharistic Minister the training may be more specific to the Eucharist and practices, but must include a brief history of the Eucharist, the structure of the Eucharist, how to serve and receive teaching around the Four-Fold action of Communion, and parish traditions.

6.  Licensed Lay Ministers must also receive Eucharistic training even if they are NOT eucharistic ministers. 

7. The training program depends on a partnership between your clergy, parish, congregation and you. It is not enough for the minister or Chaplain to simply ask for a license to be issued without preparation.

8. We have now begun to use the book To Love and Serve, Anglican beliefs and Practices,” for our Lay training. Copies of this book are available from the National Church, and there will be a stock of them at Synod office. This text is up to date, and an excellent resource for all around study of our Church. It is recommended for parish studies, and as a resource for anyone looking to grow in understanding of our Church.

9. This book is to be given to the one in training, and that person is NOT left alone to work it out for themselves. There are study and reflection questions at the end of each chapter, and each parish or congregation must have a method of reflecting with the trainee such as a study group as they grow, and you grow together. The Clergy must make this possible.

10. IMPORTANT RESOURCES
We are organizing a page on our diocesan website which will provide applications, and links to various resources that can be used by clergy, parishes and individuals for training and ongoing growth.

11. Queen’s College is providing resources that everyone can use. Optional Teaching Modules 

Queen’s College has prepared online teaching modules that use our Textbook: Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe, eds. To Love & Serve: Anglican Beliefs and Practices (Cincinnati, OH: Forward Movement, 2022).
These modules are available to all of our Lay persons in the Diocese as a preparation for Licensed Lay Ministry. This is an ongoing preparation that Queen’s is doing in partnership with our Diocese, and the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Our diocese has shared in the cost of developing these programs.

There is no cost to any of our people using them.

They are not an Absolute requirement

They must be used, like the book, in conjunction by the parish support groups enabled by the clergy.

Enrollment for these courses are done through your clergy and Bishop.

An Outline is appended to this document.

Here is the Registration Process for anyone wishing to Use the Queen’s Modules

Here’s how registration should work.

1. The      interested person should make first contact with their Rector to express      their interest in the program.
2. The      Rector then contacts the Bishop with the name and email of the registrant.
3. The      Bishop then makes contact with the student to welcome them to the program      copying Queen’s and their Rector 
4. Queen’s      College will  register them via the      Canvas platform and they receive an login email from Canvas.

The Rector facilitates this:
There should be a conversation between student, Rector, and Bishop about 1) the nature of their ministry and the modules required, 2) who will the student’s support group be (i.e., Rector, Cohort of other students, or lay companions from the parish/congregation), and 3) how students are to acquire textbook (will diocese, parish, or student cover the cost?).

The videos will also be available via the Queen’s College YouTube channel. The discussion questions are pretty basic so there is no real “guide” so to speak. The text Book will certainly help.

APPENDIX

Queen’s College Lay Ministry Program

Optional Teaching Modules 

Queen’s College has prepared online teaching modules that use our Textbook: Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe, eds. To Love & Serve: Anglican Beliefs and Practices (Cincinnati, OH: Forward Movement, 2022).
These modules are available to all of our Lay persons in the Diocese as a preparation for Licensed Lay Ministry. This is an ongoing preparation that Queen’s is doing in partnership with our Diocese, and the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Our diocese has shared in the cost of developing these programs.

There is no cost to any of our people using them.

They are not an Absolute requirement

They must be used, like the book, in conjunction by the parish support groups enabled by the clergy.

Enrollment for these courses are done through your clergy and Bishop.

An Outline follows in this document.

Lay Ministry Basics

Module 1 – Baptism, Discipleship, and Calling 

Reading: Chapters 2 & 3, and BAS Baptism pg 146-165

Module 2 – The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Reading: Chapter 14

Module 3 – The Eucharist

Reading: Chapters 4 & 5

Module 4 – Prayer and Spirituality

Reading: Chapter 16 & 24

Module 5 – Anglicanism

Reading: Chapters 17 & 18, BAS Introduction 7-13

Ministry Specific Modules (proposed modules that will be ready to launch early in 2026)

Module 6 – Worship (the church Year and Lectionary)

Reading: Chapters 10 & 11, BAS Calendar 14-33 & Proper of the Church Year 262-267

Module 7 – Worship (Office and Eucharist)

Reading: Chapters 1 & 9, BAS Eucharist 174-215 & BAS Daily Prayer 36-44

Module 8 – Proclamation and Preaching

Reading: Chapters 25 & 26, and supplement

Module 9 – Eucharistic Ministry (Eucharistic Assistant and Home Communions)

Reading: Chapter 5, and BAS Eucharist 174-215 and Communion Under Special Circumstances 256-260

Module 10 – Pastoral Visiting

Reading: Supplement and BAS 551-564

Module 11 – Funerals 

Reading: Chapter 12 & BAS Funeral Liturgy 565-605

Module 12 – Parish Administration and Finance

Reading: Supplement & respective Diocesan Handbook

Outline for each session 

- Students highlight or make notes on things that resonate with them, they struggle to understand, or things that may require further exploration. 

- Readings may come from assigned texts that need to be purchased by student or provided by diocese, or selected chapters/articles provided by College. 

- Where appropriate sections from the BAS would be the assigned reading (i.e., in the module on the church year and the lectionary, etc.)

- Watch with others in cohort, with a clergy mentor, or others from your congregation. 

- The goal is for students to complete as much of the module as possible with others. In parishes, deaneries, or archdeaconries where multiple students may be completing modules a cohort would be formed. Where this is not possible a clergy mentor or designated lay companions would support the student. 

- Possible sample reflection questions, but this could vary according to modules.

- What resonated with you or connects with your own faith/ministry journey?

- Is there anything that you’re struggling with or don’t quite understand? 

- What in the video or module readings do you feel require further learning on your part? 

- Assigned reflection question for each module. 

- Students would complete reflection journal and submit to Queen’s College for evaluation. 

- Journal assignment would be no more than 750-1000. 

- This would be for the ministry specific modules. 

- Students would work with clergy mentor to complete a short practicum for each module (i.e., lead a service, conduct a pastoral visit or home communion, assist with funeral planning). 

- Mentor would provide feedback to the student following guidelines and form provided by Queen’s College and created in consultation with the three dioceses. This feedback should be shared with appropriate diocesan liaison. 

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ for Lay Ministry Program 

How much does the program cost? 

That is up to your diocese but the hope is that there will be no cost to you. 

How do I apply to the program? 

You should begin the conversation by speaking to your Rector and then from there arranging a conversation with your bishop about the path forward. 

Are there any educational requirements?

This program has no educational prerequisites other than those already in place for Licensed Lay Ministers in your diocese. 

How do I register for the modules? 

Once you have discussed your enrolment with your bishop, your name, email, and list of modules that you must finish will be sent to Queen’s College. You will then receive an invitation email from the Canvas platform to create an account. Once that is done you can begin with Module 1. 

What is the format of the program? 

The program is an online platform called Canvas. It is asynchronous, meaning that you can work at your own pace. 

Will I have to write papers or submit assignments? 

There are no papers or other written assignments that will be graded. For each module there is a journal reflection that must be submitted but that is really for your own growth and formation. For modules that have a practical focus you will be expected to complete a short practicum, meaning that you will need to be observed doing what is covered in that module. This might mean leading Sunday services, doing a home visit, or preaching, etc. 

Are there real-time, in person classes? 

There are no classes but the program is designed to include group discussion based on short videos and assigned readings. 

Are there supports in place to aid as I study? 

You are not expected to do this program on your own. Where possible your diocese may group you with others to form a cohort so that you can watch the videos and discuss readings in community. Where a cohort is not possible you will be assigned a clergy mentor, most likely your rector or other local clergy. Where there are no clergy, 1-3 local members of your parish/congregations will act as lay companions to read, watch, and discuss course materials along with you. 

I’m not very good with technology. Will there be tech support? 

Queen’s College will provide tech support. For assistance, please contact Rev. Robert Cooke at 709-753-0116 or robertcooke@queenscollegenl.ca. 

How long is the program? 

There is no set start or end dates for the program. You start whenever you’re ready and work at your own pace until the assigned modules are complete. 

How do I obtain the textbook? How much does it cost?

The textbook is Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe, eds. To Love & Serve: Anglican Beliefs and Practices (Cincinnati, OH: Forward Movement, 2022). Please consult with your diocese about how to obtain this book. 

Why do I need to do this program? 

With the changing dynamics of parish ministry and the challenges of maintaining traditional models of ministry, lay lead ministry is becoming increasingly important to ensure that necessary ministry still gets done. That means that those engaged in Licensed Lay Ministry need to be equipped with the appropriate knowledge and practical skills to be able to carry out those ministries. This LLM program aims to provide that knowledge and provide an opportunity to put those skills into practice in a safe, nurturing environment. 

I’m already doing ministry in my parish community. What is the difference between lay ministry and Licensed Lay Ministry? 

Ministry is the responsibility of all baptized Christians. As disciples of Christ, we are called to model a life of prayer, worship, service and care. All Christians are called to bear witness to the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ through words, actions, and prayerful presence in the world. There are some, though, who are called to a particular ministry within their local church or diocese. This ministry requires a special licence from your bishop to empower you to do that ministry. This might be the ministry of leading worship, pastoral visiting, lay preaching, or eucharistic ministry. Important requirements for that license are appropriate discernment, training, and preparation. Your bishop, rector, and local faith community help you discern whether you are called to licensed lay ministry. The completion of this program will help you gain the knowledge and practical skills that you will need to carry out your particular ministry.