CANON 20: OF LAY MINISTERS

Amended Provincial Synod 2019

1.   Appointment

(a)  Lay ministers shall be designated, appointed and admitted in accordance with regulations prescribed by each Diocesan Synod.

(b)  The exercise of the office of a Lay Minister shall be by licence of the Bishop who may grant, revoke or renew such licence as the Bishop deems fit.

(c)  The Bishop may delegate the authority to grant, revoke or renew a licence (or any one or more of these acts) to a Bishop Suffragan in the diocese, which delegation  may be withdrawn at any time.

2.  Duties

The duties of licensed Lay Ministers shall be one or more of the following:

(a) instructing and preparing candidates for Holy Baptism and Confirmation;
(b) preaching;
(c) assisting in the administration of Holy Communion;
(d) performing such other pastoral duties, not reserved to the ordained ministry, as the Bishop may determine, and 

(e)  ministry advancing the Anglican Communion marks of mission.

3.   Privileges of the Laity

Any lay person may:

(a) in an emergency, baptise;

(b) at the request of the incumbent or the Archdeacon, or in an emergency,
(i) conduct divine service,
(ii) bury the dead,

(c) in the service of Holy Communion, or in any other service, at the request of the Priest, read such scriptures and say such prayers as are not reserved to the ordained ministry.

4.   Declaration in terms of ACT VIII

In addition to any declaration that a Lay Minister may be required to make in terms of the Rules of the Diocese, or by its Bishop or any Incumbent (as the case may be), the Declaration set out in Act VIII of Provincial Synod, shall be made by the Lay Minister concerned.