Licensed Lay Ministry Applications Now Open!
Applications are now open for the next Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM) cohort, beginning training this September.
A Licensed Lay Minister is a lay person who, following a call from God, is trained and licensed by the Bishop to teach the faith, enable mission and lead in Church and society. LLMs are licensed to a parish or benefice and play a role in the wider leadership where they serve and minister in one or more of the following areas: Preaching & Services; Children’s, Families & Youth Work; Evangelism & Discipleship (courses); Local Missional Leader.
Training to be an LLM takes place over a two-year period, and applications for the next cohort beginning in September are now open. We sat down with an LLM and an LLM-in-training to hear their experience of the course and what it means to them to be an LLM.
Jasmine is Children & Families Team Leader at St Mary Magdalene in Newark. As she was completing the Apprentice Track internship, she began to wonder what might be next in her ministry, and upon the recommendation of her vicar, explored LLM training and decided it was for her.
Gary was licensed as an LLM for St Mark’s Woodthorpe in 2024. He’s had a 40 year career in law enforcement and is now a speed awareness trainer. Gary felt called to lay ministry by Jesus’ commission to ‘make disciples of all nations and teach them to follow me’ (Matthew 28:19-20). He was already serving in different ways in church, but felt God calling him to explore LLM.
Listen to their stories below.
If you think God might be calling you to Licensed Lay Ministry, we’d first encourage you to chat to your vicar or church leader. There is also a Lay Vocations Information Evening coming up on Wednesday 11th March, 7.30-9pm at Jubilee House. This is an opportunity to find out more information about various lay ministry pathways in the diocese including Licensed Lay Ministry training, authorised and commissioned ministry, youth & children’s ministry and more.
For Licensed Lay Ministry, there is an application and discernment process. The application deadline this year is the 18th May. Use this link to find out more.