Licensed Lay Ministries

Application for Licensing of Eucharistic Ministers & Eucharistic Visitors

In the Canons of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church (2022) Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 1(a), 6 & 7 the following information is provided regarding the ministries of Eucharistic Ministers and Eucharistic Visitors. In the canons it is established that lay ministers in The Episcopal Church will be confirmed communicants in good standing:
Sec. 1 (a) A confirmed communicant in good standing or, in extraordinary circumstances, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop, a communicant in good standing, may be licensed by the Ecclesiastical Authority to serve as Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Evangelist, or Catechist. Requirements and guidelines for the selection, training, continuing education, and deployment of such persons, and the duration of licenses shall be established by the Bishop in consultation with the Commission on Ministry.
Then the canons describe the functions of Eucharistic Ministers and Eucharistic Visitors:
Sec. 6. A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other
community of faith.
Sec. 7. A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.

Application Process - If someone would like to become a Eucharistic Minister or Eucharistic Visitor, they will engage in the following process: 

1. Individuals proposed for licensing receive Safe Church, Safe Communitites for Children and Youth Training & certificate
2. Receives training to be Eucharistic Minister/Eucharistic Visitor
   - Contact The Ven. Kellie Mysinger at kellie@cecbg.com about EM/EV training 
3. Member of clergy or other leader exercising oversite applies for an inidividual proposed for licensing via online form 
4. Bishop reviews applications
5. If approved, the congregation will receive a certificate of appointment for the licensed individual

Application for Eucharistic Minister and Eucharistic Visitor can be found here. 

All licenses expire December 31 of the last year that they are affective. We recommend that congregations review their expiring lay licenses towards of the end of the calendar year to prepare for applying for new licenses. New lay license applications will be reviewed at the beginning of each quarter (January, April, July, October), so prior to the beginning of a new quarter is the best time to submit new applications.