Lay Leaders of Worship

The course enables parishes across the Diocese to discern the gifts of lay people as local Lay Leaders of Worship (LLWs) and provides training for them, on completion of which, they receive a letter of permission from the Bishop recognising them as Lay Leaders of Worship in their church/benefice. They are then locally commissioned by the incumbent and prayed for by the church community.

Is this course for me?

If you are an active disciple in your church, and have a sense God is calling you into local leadership, we suggest a conversation with your vicar. They will help you in your discernment and thinking through your gifts and skills. If you have practical questions or concerns, please contact the Ministry Development Administrator.

Safeguarding requirements

It is a requirement for all LLWs to complete the online Safeguarding courses: Basic Awareness module and Foundations module. The Foundations certificate needs to be renewed every three years. The parish is responsible for ensuring that LLWs keep up to date with safeguarding requirements.

Parishes need to conduct a basic disclosure (DBS check) for those on the LLW course/commissioned as LLWs.

What does the course cover?

The Nature of Worship
This session explores the nature of worship by looking at some definitions and biblical passages, and considering the role of the worship leader as the one who facilitates others in worship.

Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship
This session looks at the structure of both Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship resources, and principles for how to use them.

Using Other Resources: Music and Intercessions
This session covers some criteria for choosing and using music in services, and the use of intercessions in services.

Leading worship
This session considers practicalities in preparing for leading worship, communication skills involved in leading worship, and follow up after services.

Making worship accessible for children, young people and families
But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs”. (Luke 18:16, see also Matt 19:14; Mark 10:14). We are called to enable youth, children and families to be able to come to Jesus. It is therefore important that our worship can be welcoming and accessible to any youth, children and families in our churches and to any who may attend. This session looks at practicalities in leading and enabling worship that is accessible to youth, children and families – both in explicitly All Age Worship and acts of worship more generally.

Leading Worship in Pioneering Contexts
The church is called to reach new people with God’s love. As well as doing this through our existing church communities, this also involves developing new worshipping communities. This can be through adapting a form of church like Messy Church, Youth Church, Café Church, Forest Church etc.; or it can be by engaging with the people and needs of the local community and shaping a worshipping community around them. This session considers important principles and practicalities involved in leading worship in any such pioneering context.