The Ministry of Preaching
Lay preachers bring the Gospel into congregations, dioceses, and communities with faithfulness, creativity, and deep love for the church. Often bi-vocational and rooted in lived experience, they offer voices shaped by daily life, local context, and the call of the Holy Spirit. Whether lay or ordained, Episcopal preaching is rooted in robust formation and shared theological grounding for faithful and bold proclamation.
Adapted from the Episcopal Lay Preaching Network, a partner of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation.
Diocesan Lay Preaching Program
In Southern Ohio, our primary formation for lay persons seeking a preaching license is our year-long diocesan Lay Preacher Training Program which offers comprehensive and in-depth training in the theory and practice of preaching to form effective, confident, and passionate licensed lay preachers for our church. The course, which utilizes curriculum from the Episcopal Preaching Foundation, includes 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 the student’s home congregation.
Requirements for the Course
All students completing the diocesan Lay Preacher Training Program must complete the following before graduating:
- Scriptural study as offered through Education for Ministry or via remote learning offered through an approved Episcopal seminary. Equivalent experience will be considered. Please be in contact with program faculty.
- Required reading: Opening the Bible by Roger Ferlo
Technologically, each student must have or create a Google Account in order to access Google Classroom.
Registration Details
Annually, ahead of each new course, the faculty of the Lay Preacher Program will host an informational session: an opportunity for interested laypersons to learn more about the program and its expectations before committing to the year-long course.
The cohort will gather at All Saints Episcopal Church in Washington Court House on the second Saturday of each month from May 2026-February 2027. A final class in March 2027 will take place at Procter Center. The class will pivot to Zoom in instances of dangerous weather.
The cost to participate in the year-long program is $500, which does not include books for required reading.
Our 2026 Informational Session will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Procter Center. The informational session is required for all those planning to participate in the year-long course.
The deadline to complete the full program application in order to take the course is May 1. The application form will be made available to participants in the info session.
RSVP for the info session by April 1, 2026.
Contact the Program Coordinator
If you have questions about the Lay Preacher Program, or want to express interest in joining the next cohort, contact our coordinator, Mark Conrad (St. John’s, Lancaster) by email or at 740-243-4933.
Requirements for Licensure
After training is completed, each person seeking licensure must also complete Dismantling Racism Training and Safe Church Training according to diocesan policy before a license would be awarded. Visit the lay licensing page for more information and to complete the licensing application.
