In explaning the position of a trainee Rev Ken Riding said
"A Lay-Officer is a member training to be a Minister" if you wish to become a Lay Officer you must undertake the Ministers course immediately.
Photograph Rev Ken Riding - Senior Minister
Lay Officer Rules 
1. Applicants for Lay Officer must fulfil full criteria as listed within the application form.
2. From AGM 2009 those formally known as Deacon / Deaconess shall be known as Lay Officers of the Association attached to an Affiliated USA church.
3. All Lay Officers will be expected to train as future Ministers of the Association subject to agreed time constraints and enrolment criteria and must commence training immediately upon enrolment.
4. Churches / Groups should take care not to put forward an application to AUHS for a Lay Officer if there are already two Ordained Ministers within their Church / Group as member cannot be considered for the position of Lay Officer until a vacancy arises within their Church / Group for Minister Training.
5. Lay Officers may not wear clerical dress or take services.
6. Lay Officers may attend the Ministers Meeting but can not vote.
7. Lay Officers have no powers duties or responsibilites associated with the post of Minister.
From AGM 2009 the post of Deacon/Deaconess no longer exists within USA
From AGM 2009, AUHS no longer have Deacons / Deaconesses. Members undertaking Ministers Training are now known as “Lay Officers” and have no authority to take services on behalf of AUHS until they are “Ordained Ministers”. A Lay Officer has no authority within the Church / Group and no responsibilities they must not wear clerical dress. Applications must be tendered from Church/Group Committee’s only for Lay Officer and these should be sent to Senior Minister. Churches/Groups may have a maximum of two Ordained Ministers and may not make application for a Lay Officer if they already have two Ordained Ministers within their Church / Group, in which event, members interested in Lay Officer must wait for a vacancy within their Church/Group.
Application Criteria
Members considering application for Lay Officer should first read the criteria list below.
Must first be a Lay Officer |
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Have successfully completed Basic Awareness Course BEFORE beginning the Ministers course |
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Have a criminal records disclosure prior to commencement of Ministers Course |
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Minimum of 7 years involvement in the Movement |
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Minimum 5 years continuous fully paid-up membership with AUHS (Please note course cannot be commenced whilst serving five year membership.) |
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Have successfully completed a two year Minister’s correspondence course |
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Have successfully completed training in running a circle |
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Have extensive experience of chairing meetings |
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Be conversant with the Ministers Handbook |
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Be nominated by their own church |
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Be referenced by three other churches of which one could be from prior to their joining the Assoc. |
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and the others U.S.A affiliated |
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Take an oral examination |
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Be judged on their platform work (special arrangements will be made for healers applications) |
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Have attended the three-day residential course |
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Be interviewed by the Executive |
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Have successfully completed the Ministers Course within 36 months of start date |
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And finally serve a period of not less than one year as Minister Elect prior to Ordination |
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A fee over and above their membership and/or healing subscription will then be payable |
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