Licensed Lay Ministers are those lay persons who serve in the role of Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, or Worship Leader. All of these roles require a license from the bishop per the Canons of The Episcopal Church (see below)
The Office of the Episcopate oversees the licensing of liturgical assistants in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.
Eucharistic Minister
Eucharistic Ministers are lay people licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the eucharist. Lay Eucharistic Ministers may be licensed to administer the consecrated bread and wine at any celebration of the Eucharist.
Eucharistic Visitors
Eucharistic Visitors are lay persons licensed to go from a Sunday Eucharist or other principal celebrations of the Eucharist to share the sacrament with members of the congregation who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity.
All applicants for new or renewed licenses to serve as a Eucharistic Visitor must be current on diocesan Safe Church training and have a current background check completed. This ministry is often with people who are in situations where they can be vulnerable and the change is in keeping with diocesan theology to do Safe Church training. The applicant’s rector or priest-in-charge must verify on the application that the applicant has met those conditions in order for a license to be issued.
Worship Leaders
A worship leader is a layperson who regularly leads public worship under the direction of a clergyperson or other designated leader of a congregation.
Currently the Commission on Ministry is working on a new comprehensive Worship Leader training and licensing process for ECCT we had hoped would be rolled out this year. With staffing changes this has been delayed.
To receive a license, the applicant must watch the training led by Bishop Douglas that can be found below.
Application forms for three-year licenses (complete, sign, and mail)
Please complete the application, including applicant signature and the signature of the Rector, Priest-in-Charge, or, in cases where no priest is present, the Senior Warden. Return completed applications to The Commons, c/o the Administrator for Licensing & Training.
Definitions from the canons of The Episcopal Church (2006)
Title III, Canon 4, 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.
Title III, Canon 4, 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.
Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 4 A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.