Diocese to train, license worship leaders

Diocese to train, license worship leaders

Andrew Wright, assistant rector at Trinity Fort Worth, and Janet Waggoner, canon to the ordinary, will offer training Oct. 3 for licensed worship leaders, to lead public worship.

The 2003 update of The Episcopal Church’s general canons authorized the training and licensing of laity to fill a number of new leadership roles in congregations. Worship leader is one of those positions, described in the canons (Title III.4.4) as “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.”

The diocese’s Commission on Ministry has established guidelines for training and licensing laity to fill this position, and others. Find the handbook they have developed on the diocesan website.

All CURRENT licensed worship leaders and all NEW/SOON-TO-BE licensed worship leaders are encouraged to attend this training, 7-9pm at Trinity, Fort Worth.  Please RSVP to Eleanor Doty (eleanor.doty@edotn.org, 817-534-1900). Clergy throughout the diocese have been urged to invite talented lay leaders among us whose gifts our congregations may want (and need!) to utilize.  Let’s equip our people for service in God’s good work!