Lay Ministry Formation
Updated 17 July 2008
All baptized persons are ministers and confirmation further commits people to ministry. Ministry is anything that is done in the name of Jesus, from an act of kindness to preaching.
In a parish, particular ministries become more organized. A person may be mandated or authorized to carry out the ministry in the name of the parish and the parish accepts responsibility for the formation of that person's ministry. Lay ministry formation can be described as screening and appointment, training and supervision.
Screening and Appointment
The Incumbent, Wardens, Parish Council or Vestry, depending on the position, appoints or elects the person to a position. The term normally is from one September Vestry meeting to the next. The annual appointment allows for people to recommit or withdraw from a position.
The screening and appointment process involves establishing mutual expectations involved in a particular appointment. Position descriptions and parish policies describe the work and the things that must be done or not done.
The screening process will vary with the position. Positions with a greater degree of risk to the parish will have more stringent screening criteria. Screening could involve references, criminal record check and/or minimum time in the parish.
Training
Training is specific to each position.
Supervision
Each position is accountable to someone who is named as the supervisor. The supervisor will provide feed back on performance with the purpose of helping a person grow.
Ministry Descriptions
For the specifics on the formation process please refer to the ministry description:
Choir President rev April 21 2003
Envelop Secretary rev January 23, 2006
Head Server adopted November 3, 2003
Nursery Coordinator adopted May 14, 2007
Parish Lay Reader rev April 21 2003
Shepherd adopted April 21 2003
Sunday School Coordinator rev April 21 2003
Sunday School Teacher rev April 21 2003
Treasurer rev April 21 2003
Youth Worker adopted November 3, 2003
Instructions on ministries for which a ministry description has not been written: