"Lay Vicars" in the DoT

There is a category of lay ministry that has been quietly implemented and expanded here in the Diocese of Texas. It is called the "Lay Vicar." The current bishop, soon to retire, has been placing lay persons in charge of mission congregations and even in charge of parish congregations rather than have the parish enter into a search process for a rector. The distinction in this diocese between mission congregation and parish congregation is that missions are not financially self-supported while parishes are, and that missions are served and led by bishop's appointees rather than by called clergy as are parishes. In addition, a mission congregation is allotted one lay delegate unless the mission has an average Sunday of attendance that exceeds 200, qualifying it for two delegates, or more than 400 which qualifies it for three lay delegates. Few mission congregations are thus allotted more than one lay delegate. Meanwhile self-supporting parish congregations are allotted four lay delegates.


In addition, all diocesan clergy are voting delegates. This allotment of lay delegates is important for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that some in this diocese, including the bishop, have expressed sympathies for those who wish to see some sort of alternative structure established for 'conservatives' either within or outside the Church. With the bishop now appointing here Lay Persons to head up parish congregations, the parish's lay leader, functioning as a replacement for a rector, is now a direct appointee of the bishop. This denies the congregation the normal relationship that a congregation and a rector typically enjoy, and effects an extraordinary influence by the bishop upon the most influential leadership in the congregation, and thus upon its lay delegate votes. It also denies that congregation a representation among the clergy Order.

It has become clear quite recently that there are no diocesan canons that govern the appointment or ministry of a "Lay Vicar." While the National Constitution and Canons govern with precision the ministry and accountability of the "Priest-in-Charge," there is no mention whatever of the term "Vicar," much less "Lay Vicar." In our own diocesan canons, the one use of "Vicar" in any canon governing ministry concerns Mission Congregations, and by its use of the term "Priest-in-charge" makes clear that this canon is equating the two. Indeed, few people would suppose that a Vicar is anything but a clergy-person. In this diocese, we now apparently have the anomaly of "Lay Vicar" or, effectively, "Lay Clergy." This category of Vicar was not initiated with the scrutiny of Diocesan Council, but instead through episcopal fiat. I think we clergy would have done better to raise question at that time. But now with the expansion of this ministry quietly into parish congregational ministry, I think it behooves us here to call it into question.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if people in dioceses other than my own are aware of the existence of this anomalous category of ministry being used in their own dioceses. If so, in what ways? Are there diocesan canons that govern their deployment, training, accountability, etc.?
If you will post this, I'll be grateful. And thank you for your ministry.

God's Peace.
Jim +