(Adopted by General Assembly 1991)
In the past an office of lay preacher has been recognised in order to formally recognise the contribution to the church of lay people who have assisted in the tasks of trained clerical ministry.
The ‘conduct of public worship is the sole responsibility of the minister and he or she may do this in whatsoever manner he or she considers best, but always in accordance with the settled usages and practices of the Church’ (Appendix D-1 (b) (1) Book of Order). Bearing this in mind, and the fact that there is more flexibility in worship than in the past, the office of Lay Preacher has been set aside from the 1988 Assembly. However, it is recognised that some form of accreditation is appropriate in many instances. This is particularly true in Pacific Island congregations.
Those so recognised before 1988 may, with review, still be appropriately used for the conduct of public worship. These guidelines envisage a certificate of proficiency will be awarded by the Presbytery or Union District Council after a suitable programme has been undertaken such as set out below. Courses for PIC lay preachers may be approved by the Pacific Islands Ministers’ Associations in consultation with their Presbyteries. These guidelines will benefit ministers by providing them with a way of ascertaining whether any individual has attained proficiency in the conduct of public worship, to a level negotiated by the Presbytery or Union District Council. If an individual has been awarded a certificate of proficiency it shows that the Presbytery or Union District Council has accepted an individual’s study and practical work as being sufficient for the award. It in no way guarantees right of access to preaching, but may be an appropriate guide to ministers, Presbyteries and Union District Councils as to who may be suitable to preach and conduct worship. There may also be other individuals who wish to enter learning contracts for their own growth or to enhance their ministry in areas other than conducting public worship.
1) Where a Session or Parish Council considers that a communicant member of a Presbyterian charge or Cooperative venture has given satisfactory service for at least one year, it may request the Presbytery or Union District Council to accept the member for an ongoing contract of learning.
2) In considering the suitability of the candidate for acceptance, the Presbytery or Union District Council will consider the extent to which the candidate has already attained a satisfactory educational background and experience as a Church member, theological understanding, and ability in communication. If the Presbytery/Union District Council resolves to enter into a learning contract with the candidate, it will take such factors into account, in establishing the content of the learning contract.
3) In establishing a learning contract, the following essential requirements are to be provided for:
A) Appropriate academic study, involving:
i) Exposure to a broad variety of theological opinion; ii) A sound academic and biblical base; iii) The successful study of the following topics, as a minimum: Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine, Pastoral Theology and Church History. To satisfy the requirement of appropriate academic study, candidates will be expected to make a selection from one or more of the following alternatives, (or others which may be from time to time considered appropriate by the Presbytery or Union District Council).
NOTE: Courses will vary regionally, and some are group/parish based, which may make them unavailable to some students. i) University study: which includes the following:
ii) Group studies: which include the following:
iii) Correspondence Study:
iv) General Study: A number of church groups run a variety of courses which specialise in particular theological or pastoral areas, e.g. Support, Spiritual Growth Ministries. Many of these could be a valuable part of training.
B) Practical experience:
This will normally follow academic study and will include instruction in preaching (including the role of preaching), and the conduct of public worship (including an understanding of the order of public worship). The student will take a significant leadership role in at least ten services of worship.
It is expected that training will take at least three years (and probably more) in total. In the case of both academic study and practical experience, candidates should not be expected to study in isolation or preach unsupervised.
The Presbytery/Union District Council shall ensure that there is:
4) Those who achieve a level of academic and practical training to the satisfaction of the Presbytery or Union District Council may then be awarded a certificate and commissioned as a lay preacher. (Before the Presbytery or Union District Council gives its approval in respect of a person who is a member of a Pacific Islanders Church, it shall consult with the Pacific Islanders Ministers’ Association.)
5) On commissioning, the Presbytery or Union District Council shall ensure that arrangements are made for regularly monitored ongoing learning.
6) Presbyteries and Union District Councils should, after review, accept as Lay Preachers all people who were licensed as such prior to the introduction of these guidelines. The following may be used as criteria for review:
7) Presbyteries/Union District Councils shall maintain a list of persons who hold a Certificate of Proficiency in the Conduct of Public Worship or who are approved to conduct public worship under guideline (6) above. This list shall be reviewed annually by the Presbytery Clerk or Secretary of the Union District Council. All affected persons shall be advised of the result of that review.
8) Ministers are encouraged to use, for the purposes of public worship, persons on the list described in Guideline 7 above.
9) It is the responsibility of the Presbytery or Union District Council to review (using criteria such as those in (6) above) approval given to individuals pursuant to these guidelines every five years, and to provide regular opportunities for continuing education, learning and growing. Where appropriate, a Presbytery or Union District Council may cancel a Certificate of Proficiency.
10) The obtaining of a Certificate of Proficiency or a Lay Preacher’s licence does not, of itself, entitle the holder to administer the Sacrament of Holy Communion.