Local Preachers, sometimes called Lay Preachers in other denominations, have always been a mainstay of Methodist Worship. They enable us to provide worship Sunday by Sunday in so many churches, and are a focus of leadership in their local churches. Local Preachers are trained and accredited by the Methodist Church through local groups and tutors. The training takes between two and five years to complete, and they are appointed to the Circuit.
Worship Leaders play a significant part in the leading of services in their local church and around the Circuit. They are appointed by the Church Council following a period of study which is the same as that undertaken by Local Preachers in the first half of their training.