Ministry Personnel
- All Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, Ordained Supply and Diaconal Supply, are granted the right to administer the Sacraments upon the completion of the approval of the call or appointment without the need for a Licence to Administer the Sacraments.
- Designated Lay Ministers and Candidate Supply Ministers are granted the right to administer the Sacraments (for the duration of their appointment)
- upon completion of an appropriate and approved course of study that covers the Theology and Practice of Sacraments in The United Church of Canada; and
- upon application of the Pastoral Charge; including a copy of the minuted motion, and
- the approval from your Regional Minister
- the approval of the Executive Minister for Pacific Mountain Regional Council.
Please note: any license issued will expire if the person is no longer a full member of the requesting Community of Faith within the Pacific Mountain Regional Council or when their appointment ends.
Lay People (Sacraments Elder)
Lay persons other than Designated Lay Ministers (not Recognized by Pacific Mountain Regional Council) may be granted the right to administer the Sacraments subject to:
- the satisfaction of the conditions defined for Sacraments Elders in The Manual, Section I.2.4; and
- the approval of Regional Minister; and
- the approval of the Executive Minister upon receipt of the request of the Regional Minister.
- A Sacraments Elder may administer the sacraments in their Community of Faith for a twelve (12) month term. The term must be renewed by July 1 of each year by application to Pacific Mountain Region. The licence automatically ends if a member of the Order of Ministry or Designated Lay Minister is called or appointed to the Pastoral Charge.
- One Sacrament Elders will be licensed per Community of Faith. Application may be made for this restriction to be waived for extenuating circumstances.
Process
- The Regional Minister for Pastoral Relations and Community of Faith Support identifies, or the pastoral charge self-identifies, to the Region, the need for a Sacraments Elder.
- The pastoral charge recommends a layperson who would be suitable for licensing as a Sacraments Elder.
- Upon receiving the recommendation of their community of faith the layperson will complete an application and assessment form for submission to the Lay Leadership Support Committee.
- The layperson recommended for a sacraments license is assessed by the Lay Leadership Support Committee,
- The applicant completes the course of study with a mentor.
- Upon completion of the course material, the mentor who facilitated the course submits a written recommendation to the Lay Leadership Support Committee.
- The Lay Leadership Support Committee schedules an interview to reassess the applicant and completes the appropriate section of the application form.
- The Lay Leadership Support Committee forwards the recommendation to the Pacific Mountain Regional Executive Minister for action.
- The Executive Minister (or Designate) will grant the License and will notify the Applicant, the Pastoral Charge, the Lay Leadership Support Committee, the Regional Minister, and the Pacific Mountain Executive.