Canon XI – Licensed Persons
11.1 – Licensed Clergy
Subject to the provisions of the Canons of General Convention, Members of the Clergy not canonically resident in the Diocese of Albany may be licensed by the Bishop, or if there be no Bishop, by the Standing Committee, to officiate in the Diocese. Specific preconditions to licensing shall be at the discretion of the Bishop. The types of license are as follows:
11.2 – Members of the Clergy Canonically Resident in other Dioceses of the Episcopal Church
A. Members of the Clergy, Canonically Resident in other dioceses, who wish to officiate in the Diocese of Albany on a regular basis shall submit an application for license on the form supplied by the Bishop and, if so licensed, shall report on the conduct of that ministry in such manner as the Bishop shall direct. These Members of the Clergy shall be eligible for two types of license.
B. Licensed Minister-in-Charge: This license grants the holder the right to serve in the designated cure for the duration of the license. The holder may also hold appointed positions in the Diocese or its Deaneries, and will be expected to attend, as a non-voting participant, the same conventions, workshops, conferences, and retreats as canonically resident clergy. The term of this license shall be two years, unless surrendered or revoked.
C. Licensed Supply: This license grants the holder the right to officiate at worship in congregations of the Diocese upon request of the Rector, Warden, or Minister-in-charge. The term of this license shall be one year, unless surrendered or revoked.
11.3 – Members of the Clergy Ordained in other Churches Of the Anglican Communion
Unless Letters Dimissory have been otherwise presented pursuant to the Canons of the General Convention, Members of the Clergy ordained in other Churches of the Anglican Communion may only be granted Licensed Supply status.
11.4 – ELCA Pastors
A. Pastors ordained by a Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may be licensed to officiate in a congregation in the Diocese of Albany upon application by the Rector or Priest-in-charge of that Congregation. The application shall state the reason for the request. In congregations where there is no Rector or Priest-in-charge, the application shall be made by the Dean of the Deanery. The application shall be endorsed by two-thirds of the whole number of Wardens and Vestry Members of that Congregation.
B. The license shall grant the holder the right to officiate only in and for the congregation specified in the application. Only The Book of Common Prayershall be used in worship. The Rector, Priest-in-charge, or Dean, as the case may be, shall directly supervise all ministry performed under this license. The license shall be for the period specified in the application, which, in any case, shall not exceed one year. Any extension of the license beyond one year shall only be granted after a new application as in Paragraph (A) above.
11.5 – Licensed Lay Persons
A person shall not be licensed as a Lay Reader or Chalice Bearer unless such person bas been selected and trained in conformity with guidelines established by the Bishop.
11.6 – Lay Readers
A. A confirmed adult communicant in good standing may be licensed as a Lay Reader by the Bishop. Such license shall be granted only at the request of the Rector or Priest in Charge of the Congregation in which the Lay Reader will serve.
B. In all matters relating to the conduct of services aLay Reader shall conform to the directions of the Rector or Priest in Charge of the Congregation in which the person is serving, and, in all cases, to the directions of the Bishop. The Lay Reader shall act in accordance with the rubrics and other directions of the Book of Common Prayer in every respect.
C. The license of a Lay Reader shall be issued for a period not to exceed three years and shall be revocable at any time. Renewal of the license shall be determined on the basis of acceptable performance of the ministry and upon the endorsement of the Rector or Priest in Charge of the Congregation in which the Lay Reader is serving.
11.7 – Lay Eucharistic Minister
A. A confirmed adult communicant in good standing may be specially licensed as a Lay Eucharistic Minister by the Bishop. Such special license shall be granted only at the request of the Rector or Priest in Charge of the Congregation in which this ministry will be exercised and with the concurrence of the Vestry.
B. This extraordinary ministry shall not take the place of the ministry of Priests and Deacons in the exercise of their office and shall be performed in accordance with the Rubrics and Directions of the Book of Common Prayer and the Canons of General Convention. Such ministry shall be restricted to the Congregation in which the Lay Eucharistic Minister is licensed and under the direction of the Priest at whose request the license was granted.
C. The license of a Lay Eucharistic Minister shall be issued for a period not to exceed three years and shall be revocable by the Bishop at any time. Such license shall terminate when the Rector or Priest in Charge, at whose request the license was granted, is no longer in charge of the Congregation. The license may be renewed upon the request of the Rector or Priest in Charge of the Congregation in which the Lay Eucharistic Minister is serving, with the concurrence of the Vestry.
11.8 – Standards for Ordination and Consecration
A. To be eligible to be ordained to the Diaconate or Priesthood, or consecrated a Bishop, a person must live within the covenant of Marriage between one man and one woman, or be celibate and abstinent.
Standards for Election, Appointing, and Licensing
B. To be eligible to be elected, appointed or licensed to any position of ordained ministry in the Diocese, a member of the clergy must live within the covenant of Marriage between one man and one woman, or be celibate and abstinent.
