An ordained minister is ex officio approved to administer the sacraments of Baptism and Communion and may use the honorific style "The Reverend".
[3] The United Church diaconate dates back to the establishment of Presbyterian and Methodist Deaconess Orders and Deaconness training schools in the 1890's.
[4] Once a person interested in ministry has completed the discernment process at the congregational and Regional Council levels, there are various educational requirements to be met.
[6] At the 42nd General Council in 2015 — subsequently approved by the wider church in 2017 — the old Transfer and Settlement system was eliminated completely;[7] newly graduated candidates for ministry now must find and accept a call from a community of faith before ordination or commissioning can proceed.
[8] Ordination and commissioning of all successful candidates in a conference takes place at the Regional Council's annual meeting each spring.
Upon ordination or commissioning, the minister's membership with his or her sponsoring community of faith is transferred to the Regional Council where he or she has been called.
Lay ministers are not automatically licensed to administer the sacraments of baptism or Communion, but can apply to their Regional Council for the ability to do that.
They are otherwise trained to lead worship, and in the case of DLMs and CDMs, can provide leadership and educational roles within a congregation.
(Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Beausejour, Manitoba, offers an alternate path to recognized designated lay ministry for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit candidates.