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Local Ordained Ministry

Local Ordained Ministers (LOMs) are ministers of word and sacrament ordained by a Presbytery for ministry in a particular parish.

Local Ordained Ministry (LOM) was introduced in 2002 as one of four strands of ordained ministry in our church. The first Local Ordained Ministers were ordained in 2004.

  • A person becoming a Local Ordained Minister from within the parish is likely to have already been ordained as an elder.
  • LOMs have the same responsibilities and standing as Nationally Ordained Ministers and may be called on to exercise the same duties in the Presbytery or the wider church, including ministerial membership of presbytery, moderation of the session/parish council and administration of the sacraments of holy communion and baptism.
  • Appointments are for a fixed term of up to 5 years, renewable thereafter.
  • LOMs are not available for a call to another parish without going through National Assessment and being trained as a NOM.

The Local Ministry regulatory framework in the Book of Order Ministry Regulations and Student Regulations helps ensure that the Parish knows what it wants, that people are chosen, trained and supported well, and that responsibility towards the wider church through the Presbytery is exercised.