If you would like to become a Lay Preacher in the Uniting Church, you will need to candidate through your local congregation and Presbytery. Lay Preacher candidates then participate in a program of prescribed academic studies and supervised ministry under the guidance and oversight of their Presbytery.

Once you have been accepted as a Lay Preacher candidate, the process forward may look something like this:

1. Completion of Trinity College Queensland’s Short Course Program for Lay Preachers;
2. Completion of six critically-evaluated sermons and services under the direction of a Presbytery appointed supervisor;
3. Recommendation for completion by your local congregation’s Church Council;
4. Successful interview conducted by your Presbytery’s appropriate body;
5. Vote of Presbytery to accredit person as a Lay Preacher
6. Service of Commissioning in your local congregation

We offer four short courses required for Lay Preachers: Theology, New Testament, Old Testament and Preaching. These courses may be taken as a five week lecture series, as a weekend intensive, or online. To complete the program, candidates submit one 1500 word assessment item/short course. Upon completion of our Short Course Program for Lay Preachers, Trinity College Queensland will notify your Presbytery.