A groundbreaking lay leadership program
“Bishops speak to our tradition and how it impacts our present and future.
Priests speak to the life of the whole congregation, and
Deacons call us into the world to care for those in need.
Lay preachers speak of living the Gospel in everyday life.”
—The Rev. Stephen Smith, Director of the Lay Preacher Training Initiative
The Lay Preacher Training Initiative, funded by a generous grant from Trinity Episcopal Church, Wall Street, is a local formation experience designed to prepare effective, confident, and passionate licensed lay preachers for our Church. Six pilot dioceses have taken part in the initial two-year rollout of the program, raising up two local trainers and up to six lay preachers in training each for regular study of scripture and theology, exegesis strategies, and practical homiletics. The cornerstone of the program is preaching to feedback, both to peers within the cohort and regularly in their local congregations. The first 30 lay preachers to complete the Lay Preacher pilot program will celebrate their new ministry at a noon service of Holy Eucharist to be held at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
Under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith, the Lay Preacher Training Initiative envisions a broadening of partnerships with dioceses and diocesan schools for ministry to identify and train local individuals called to preach the Good News, with timelines that are adjustable for each local context.
Download a brochure about the program.
Representatives of dioceses interested in participating in the 2024 program cycle should fill out the contact form.
Videos of the Lay Preacher Training Initiative
Lay Preacher Conference for Southern Ohio and Idaho-February 2023
Lay Preacher Training 2022
Importance of Training Lay Preachers
Bishop Scott Barker reflects on why the Diocese of Nebraska chose to be a partner in piloting the Lay Preacher Training Initiative.
