Methodist Local Preacher - Local Preachers and The Liturgy

Local Preachers and The Liturgy

Compared to lay people in some other denominations, Methodist local preachers are accorded significant authority over the progress of a service, for which they are seen as having overall responsibility, rather than just delivering the sermon. A local preacher may, at his or her discretion, do a number of different things:

• modify the order of service
• omit or include any part of the order of service
• determine which Bible readings are to be included, which may - but need not - be selected from those defined in the lectionary
• involve other people in the preparation and leading of the worship

Increasingly, in British Methodism, Local Preachers accept guidance from the churches to which they go, for example in regular or seasonal local elements of liturgy, or in using those nominated in a rota of readers or prayer leaders. A relatively recent development is the appointment of Worship Leaders who are members of the local church and authorised to share in the leading of worship there. All preachers and worship leaders are offered additional resources for shaping worship and preaching by their own charity, the Leaders of Worship & Preachers' Trust (LWPT) which publishes a quarterly journal (Ichthus) and has its own website.