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Lay Funeral Ministers

Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers and Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO

Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers are lay people trained to conduct funerals on behalf of the Bishop in their local commuinties. They hold the BIshop's licence or PtO and are an important resource in responding to the pastoral needs and missional opportuinties that funerals present.

For more information about Funeral Ministry and resources see Death, Dying and Funerals.

If you are interested in the role of a Lay Funeral Minister please contact Helen Scheven.

Lay Funeral Ministers are licensed to a parish, benefice or deanery within the diocese. At the age of 70, Lay Funeral Ministers transfer from a licence to a Permission to Officiate (PtO).

Lay Funeral Minister licences and PtOs are administered by the Vocations and Training Team. For information about licence and PtO requirements, renewals and transfers please contact Cath Hughes. 

On this page you can find information about:

Length of Lay Funeral Ministry Licences and PtOs

Length of Lay Funeral Ministry Licences

  • Lay Funeral Minister licences are issued for 5 years until the age of 70, or until the next diocesan renewal date. 
  • All diocesan Lay Funeral Minister licences are renewed at the quinquennial renewal on 01 May in the 1st and 6th years of each decade.
  • As Lay Funeral Ministers are required to have valid DBS clearance and safeguarding training, their licence will only remain valid if these are kept up to date. See further details below.

Length of Lay Funeral Ministry PtOs

  • The length of PtO granted depends on the age of the Lay Funeral Minister: age 70 - 3 years; age 71 to 75 - 2 years; age 76 and over - 1 year.
  • As Lay Funeral Ministers are required to have valid DBS clearance and safeguarding training, their PtO will only remain valid if these are kept up to date.
  • PtOs are not part of the quinquennial renewals and are only renewed in a quinquennial renewal year if they would be due to expire that year anyway.

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Renewing a Lay Funeral Ministry Licence or PtO

  • When a Lay Funeral Ministry licence is due to expire, a Lay Funeral Minister will be invited to renew their licence. They will need to complete a Lay Funeral Minister licence renewal form.
  • When a Lay Funeral Ministry PtO is due to expire or a Lay Funeral Minister is due to transfer from a licence to a PtO they will be invited to apply for a new PtO. They will need to complete a Lay Funeral Minister PtO application form. 
  • If you wish to reinstate a dormant Lay Funeral Ministry licence or PtO please contact Cath Hughes.
  • Before renewing or reinstating a Lay Funeral Ministry licence or PtO the requirements must be met.

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Requirements for a Lay Funeral Ministry Licence or PtO

Requirements for a Lay Funeral Ministry Licence

The requirements for holding a Bishop's Lay Funeral Ministry licence are:

Requirements for a Lay Funeral Ministry PtO

The requirements for having a  Lay Funeral Ministry PtO are:

It is also recommended as good practice that Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO continue to:

  • review their role descriptor with their incumbent
  • develop their ministry and take advantage of training opportunities.

These recommended practices are administered locally and not required as part of the PtO application, renewal or transfer process.

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DBS and Safeguarding Training Requirements

DBS Requirements for Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers and Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO

  • Enhanced clearance for adult and child workforce, including adult and child barred lists checks.
  • DBS certificates are valid for 3 years.

Information about DBS checks can be found here.

Safeguarding Training Requirements for Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers

  • Basic Awareness
  • Foundation
  • Leadership
  • Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse

Safeguarding Training Requirements for Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO

  • Basic Awareness
  • Foundation
  • PtO Pathway (unless Leadership level is required for another role)
  • Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse

Information about safeguarding training can be found here.

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Transferring a Lay Funeral Ministry Licence or PtO

If you wish to transfer your Lay Funeral Ministry licence or PtO to a different parish or benefice within the diocese, you can apply to do this once you have settled into your new parish(es) for a period of six months.

Applying to transfer a Lay Ministry Licence or PtO

To apply to transfer your licence or PtO you will need to:

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Lay Funeral Ministry Reviews

Incumbents are asked to carry out a review of each licensed Lay Funeral Minister's ministry. The purpose of the review is to focus on the ministry the Lay Funeral Minister offers and to explore what this means for them in the coming months and years.

Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers

Licensed Lay Funeral Ministers are required to have a full review with their incumbent once every five years and to review their role descriptor annually. 

The full review includes:

  • completing the review form and sending it to the incumbent before the review.
  • having a review with their incumbent, during which a role descriptor/working agreement is agreed. A role descriptor template and a guide to drawing up a written role descriptor are available to use if needed.

Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO

Lay Funeral Ministers with PtO are advised to have an annual review with their incumbent and to agree their role descriptor but this is not required as part of the PtO application or transfer process.

A role descriptor template for Lay Funeral Minister PtOs and a guide to drawing up a written role descriptor are available to use if needed.

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Page last updated: Tuesday 24th February 2026 3:45 PM
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