The ECORC Licensed Lay Worship Leaders (LLWLs) Forum

A Forum to support the East Central Ontario Regional Council (ECORC) Covenant Support Team and the ECORC Pastoral Relations Minister in recruiting, training, interviewing, and recommending the licensing of Licensed Lay Worship Leaders (LLWLs).

A licensed lay worship leader is a full member of the United Church of Canada who has been determined to have gifts and a sense of call to the ministry of worship leadership and preaching, and who has developed these gifts through participation in a course of study and is licensed by a regional council.

**Also, check out the LLWL NETWORK webpage which provides specific details on the wider group that includes all current LLWL’s and students in the online/United in Learning LLWL Program. (just click LLWL NETWORK above to be taken directly to the Network page)

PULPIT SUPPLY
Is your church looking for Sunday pulpit supply?  Who are you going to call?  Consult this list for available LLWL support:  ECORC – List of Approved LLWLs (19) Available for Pulpit Supply (as of August 23, 2026).  This current list includes 19 LLWL’s that are also available for pulpit supply, other than their home community of faith.  There are presently 20 approved Licensed Lay Worship Leaders (LLWLs) within ECORC.

$261 per Sunday is the 2026 Pulpit Supply rate. The 2026 mileage reimbursement rate is $0.60/km. based on return trip kilometre total from the LLWL’s home location. This pulpit supply rate is for one Sunday service. If there are two or more services and locations, the minimum approved remuneration pulpit supply rate is an additional 25% above this $261 rate. Consult the new 2026 ECORC LLWL Manual (see link below) for further details on current LLWL policies & procedures, guidelines for both LLWLs and communities of faith. Please contact Paul Kneebone (LLWL Forum – Secretary) if you require further information.

Note to all church Treasurers and LLWLs:  The Canada Revenue Agency requires that a T4A be issued by a congregation to any individual(s) who have been compensated over $500 in a calendar year for their services, such as honorariums or pulpit supply payments. The amount should be reported in Box 48 – “Fees for Service”. *Since LLWLs are categorized by CRA as private contractors, these issued T4A’s should include both the pulpit supply fee AND mileage compensation totals.  It is incumbent on all churches to properly issue these completed T4A’s to fulfill their CRA requirements.

Purpose

• To support the East Central Ontario Regional Council (ECORC) Covenant Support Team and the ECORC Pastoral Relations Minister in recruiting, training, interviewing, and recommending the licensing and license renewal of Licensed Lay Worship Leaders (LLWLs) and in the oversight and discipline of LLWLs.

• For Licensed Lay Worship Leaders to support each other as a community of practice, including the LLWL Network, where LLWLs share and learn from each other.

East Central Ontario Regional Council – A Guide for LLWLs and Communities of Faith in ECORC – 2026.

Membership

Membership includes representative ordered ministry personnel serving in the East Central Ontario region, the ECORC pastoral relations minister, and 3 to 5 LLWLs of serving in the region. One of the ordered ministry personnel will serve as a Corresponding Member of the CST. The LLWLs serving on the Forum should also represent a range of geographical locations.

Current members of the ECORC – LLWL FORUM (as of March 14, 2026)

Meetings

The LLWL Forum shall meet at least 4 times a year at the call of the LLWL Chairperson in consultation with the ECORC Pastoral Relations Minister. See a list of past meeting minutes below

Duties

Accountable to and directed by the ECORC Covenant Support Team, the ECORC Licensed Lay Worship Leaders Forum shall:

• elect its chairperson and secretary annually.
• recommend to the Covenant Support Team (CST) three to five LLWLs to serve renewable three-year terms on the Forum.
• oversee and regularly review the LLWL Licensing and Renewal policy of the ECORC;
• provide recommendations to the CST on policies and procedures related to the work of LLWLs and receive and respond to input from the LLWL Network;
• encourage on-going learning and seek to provide opportunities for further development of LLWL skills through training and education, in partnership with the CST;
• help ensure clear communication and accountability, linking the LLWL Network and Forum to the CST;
• circulate the names of LLWLs within the bounds of those lay people who have been licensed and are approved to lead worship throughout the East Central Ontario Regional;
• encourage experienced LLWLs to mentor students and newly licensed LLWLs so that they might reflect together on the LLWL role and the individual’s effectiveness;
• call to the attention of the CST any programmatic or performance issues that may arise, including actions taken to resolve the issue;
• provide recommendations for policy revisions and supporting rationale in writing to the CST; and
• maintain a handbook of approved policies, practices, and procedures for use by LLWLs and CoFs within the bounds of ECORC/ providing revisions to the CST for review and recommendations to the ECOR Council of Elders.

Please contact Paul Kneebone (LLWL Forum – Secretary) if you require further information.

Training

Are you feeling a persistent nudge or calling to be a part of the lay ministry in our region of the United Church of Canada? Many lay people are called to courageously step forward to give leadership in worship. Those who participate in a Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL) Program are choosing to develop their leadership gifts further. We welcome you to explore the possibility of becoming a Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL).

The Online Licensed Lay Worship Leader Program is a two-year online program designed to prepare lay people for worship leadership within The United Church of Canada. Vancouver School of Theology (VST) hosts, supports, and is an enthusiastic partner with Canadian Shield Regional Council in the LLWL program. The program consists of four sequential modules that combine online learning, mentor sessions, independent study, and practical assignments.

Each module is offered once every two years, and participants may begin the program with any module as it is offered. Participants are not required to begin with Module 1 and may complete the remaining modules as they become available.

The program includes an orientation webinar at the beginning of each module, assigned readings, six mentor group sessions, written and practical assignments, opportunities for peer feedback, and engagement with United Church worship resources.

Here is the link to get started — including registration, how the program works, details on the 4 modules, pre-requisites and contact information: Licensed Lay Worship Leader Program – Vancouver School of Theology Also, feel free to contact Paul Kneebone (LLWL Forum – Secretary) for further information.

Secondary contact: 

Reverend Susan Garrod-Schuster – Interim Pastoral Relations Minister