The first year of our School for Ministry is concluding in May and, almost immediately, we are beginning our second year! Bishop Hughes established the School for Ministry for the Diocese of Newark, to better support and help form members of the diocese for their particular ministries. The School for Ministry has been initially focused on training lay ministers for licensed lay ministries, such as Worship Leader, Preacher, and Pastoral Leader.
Courses are largely provided by Zoom, using online materials for study, with some key sessions in person. The school is served by its director, Dr. Laura Moore, as well as facilitators from around the diocese. In our first year, we had the able help of Dr. Jill Comings, the Rev. Nate Darville, the Rev. Susan Ironside, the Rev. Deacon Gail Kertland, the Rev. Andy Olivo, and Canon Andrew Wright.
2025-2026 Training
Worship Leader Training – training in how to plan and lead public worship for lay leaders. Includes training in Morning Prayer and “Ante-Communion” (the Liturgy of the Word from Holy Eucharist). This training has two sessions, May 28 (zoom) and June 14 (in person).
Preacher Training – training in reading and understanding scripture for sermon writing, how to prepare and deliver a sermon. The training meets monthly for 6 sessions (5 on zoom, 1 in person), beginning on August 23 and ending February 21, with no meeting in December.
Pastoral Leader Training – training to serve in pastoral leadership in your parish as a lay person. The role of a Pastoral Leader will vary from parish to parish (and depending on whether the parish has clergy or not), but this ministry may include some of the following: providing initial or occasional pastoral care, leading worship or preaching from time to time, assisting with administrative oversight (ensuring that the service register and the parish register are maintained, for example), or other roles as needed. This training includes Worship Leader Training and Preacher Training as well as focused training as a Pastoral Leader. Sessions begin May 28 and are approximately monthly through May 16 (in person June 14 and February 21 and otherwise on zoom; approximately monthly, skipping December and April).
Please visit the School for Ministry page to learn more about these opportunities and specific information about registration, dates of training, and costs for training.
