Discernment
Discernment for licensed lay ministry is centered in one’s own home parish. The leadership within your parish must nominate and affirm your candidacy as a licensed parish chaplain. For those seeking to become a licensed diocesan chaplain, the dean of your deanery must also affirm your candidacy.
Training
When your parish leadership nominates and affirms your ministry, you must complete the required training for licensed parish chaplains, which is outlined in the scope of practice for licensed lay chaplains. Once the training is complete, you must complete the required paperwork through the Commission on Ministry to fulfill the licensing process.
Licensed Parish Chaplain
Licensed parish chaplains provide pastoral/spiritual care within the context of their home parishes, under the supervision of the leadership within the parish.
Licensed Diocesan Chaplain
Licensed diocesan chaplains provide pastoral/spiritual care in wider diocesan contexts.
After you have been licensed as a parish chaplain and you have been serving within your home parish for at least six months, your parish leadership can decide to nominate and affirm your candidacy as a licensed diocesan chaplain. You must then complete Lay CPE Level 2 and complete the necessary paperwork through the Commission on Ministry to fulfill the licensing process. Diocesan chaplains must arrange for on-going supervision of their chaplaincy practice and have their license renewed every three years.