The School of Discipleship
The School of Discipleship in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma seeks to support the ministry of all the baptized by offering opportunities for discernment, formation, and encouragement for the ways in which God calls each of us into ministry.
There are two types of opportunities for engaging in discipleship:
Ongoing formal training and formation for those interested in deepening their faith, engaging discernment, and participating in lay orders of ministry.
Lay Orders: For those called to specific ministries in the Episcopal Church including Catechists, Evangelists, Preachers, Worship Leaders, Pastoral Leaders, Eucharistic Ministers, and Eucharistic Visitors.
Faithful Innovation Training: Training to respond to God's call in your congregation by learning how to engage the 12 vital signs of congregational vitality.
Rotating and ad hoc programming intending to resource all the baptized, lay and ordained, for ministry in the world.
Past Programming has included: Small Church Conference, Marriage Retreat, Walking the Mourner's Path Facilitator Training, Enneagram Retreat
Lay Preachers
A lay preacher in the Episcopal Church is a baptized and confirmed member of the congregation who has been specifically trained and licensed by their bishop to preach. They serve as a bridge between the sacred text and the lived reality of our Christian life as lay people, enriching our understanding of the Word of God by showing how faith operates in workplaces, homes, and the modern world. Lay preachers diversify the voices in the pulpit, ensuring that the proclamation of the Gospel reflects the broad experiences of the entire faith community. By sharing their witness, they remind the congregation that ministry is a collective responsibility of all the baptized.
Are you called to be a Lay Preacher?
A relationship with God and a commitment to deepening your faith
A passion to nourish and sustain faith in your congregation
A desire to dive deep into scripture and interpret it in the context of the modern world
A love of learning, teaching, and sharing faith in the form of the spoken word
Applications Due May 1st!
Lay Orders
The School of Discipleship offers training as Lay Catechists, Lay Preachers, and Lay Evangelists. Lay Orders are areas of ministry in which lay persons may be formally licensed for leadership.
In 2025, we launched our new Lay Catechist Program, a six-month journey designed to prepare lay individuals to support others in their faith development. We are proud to have six participants who graduated and received certificates, representing six different congregations across our diocese.
Lay Catechists
Lay catechists walk with people in their journeys of faith planning, assisting, and leading opportunities for people to grow closer to God through prayer, scripture study, and relationships. Lay catechists primarily work within their local congregations but may also contribute to Diocesan-wide formation. Lay catechists may desire to work with a particular age group or generalize in lifelong formation.
Are you called to be a Lay Catechist?
A relationship with God and a commitment to deepening your faith
A commitment to your congregation
A desire to engage the ministry of teaching with a particular age group or across all age groups
A passion for learning, creative thinking, and working collaboratively
Applications Due July 1st!
We are the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma.