Is God calling you to ministry in the church?
If you are thinking of working for your local church or would
like to learn more about becoming a member of the Clergy or Laity,
please don't
hesitate to get in
touch as there are many options open to you. A good first
step would be to talk to your local church about their experience or
needs.
Articles on
Lay Ministry:
- Course:
Equipping God's people
- Letter from The Bishop
- Introduction
- What is Licensed Lay Minister Ministry
all about?
- Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
- Bridging the Gap
- Discernment, Selection &
Training
- The Route to Licensed Lay Ministry
- Working Agreements and Continuing
Ministerial Education
- Flow Chart to becoming a Licensed Lay
Minister
- Useful addresses
Application Form
If you would like to apply for an information pack on becoming a Lay Minister simply get in touch with Stella O'Brien at the PDT using this form:
Your email address is for us to reply to you only and will not be collected for any marketing purposes, nor shared with any third-party organisations.Course: Equipping God’s People
Equipping God’s People is a training
course in basic Christian doctrine, but with a practical
emphasis. Though primarily designed for those who wish to
become Lay Ministers (Readers) in the Diocese, it is suitable for those
who simply wish to serve the local church in some form of practical lay
ministry. The practical emphasis of the course gives students
experience early on, thus helping them to confirm or discover a call to
Readership (or to some other role), and it provides opportunities for
them to apply what they are learning to leading worship, writing and
preaching sermons, and other activities such as Bible study
leadership.
The course is derived from the Methodist Faith and Worship
course. Rather than study each of the traditional divisions
of theology in turn, the course takes an integrated approach, and works
in a spiral, so that, for example, work on the Gospels and the person
of Jesus early in the course is followed a few units later by different
aspects of Christology, and a few units later again, by the Atonement
and the Resurrection. This allows students to build on their
knowledge and deepen their understanding, as they encounter and revisit
new aspects of theology. In addition, the theological
disciplines are integrated with the acquiring of practical skills; so,
for example, when studying an Old Testament passage, the student may be
guided to look at a hymn which illustrates it, or invited to write a
prayer of adoration when reading about the nature of God.
While the course material is studied by students on their own, it is
written in an interactive style. In order to learn, students
interact with the units and through it with the people who have written
them. There are frequent opportunities to read the Bible, to
reflect, and to do various activities. Some issues designed
for discussion in the tutorial sessions are marked as such, allowing
tutors to see how students are engaging with the subject.
Tutorial sessions also include an overview of material studied,
clarifying anything which students have found difficult, some focus on
how they are coping with the practical demands of worship and
preaching, and a short time of worship, led by students in
turn. Further support will be available from your tutor by
email or phone.
The course is designed to help students increase in knowledge, in
Christian conviction, and in practical competence. As
knowledge and experience grows, and as convictions deepen, so
competence will increase.
For more information on this or any other course, simply get in touch with the PDT.
__________________________________________________
The Rt Revd Dr Lee
Rayfield
Bishop of Swindon
Mark House, Field Rise, Swindon SN1
4HP
Tel:
01793 538654
__________________________________________________
In the Diocese of Bristol we are committed to developing the gifts of all the baptised and nurturing healthy partnerships in ministry and mission. Whether we are ordained or not, and whether we are paid by a specifically Christian organisation or not, we are all ‘full time’ Christian workers. Every disciple of Christ has a vocation to serve God.
Yet this does not mean uniformity. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ‘There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and everyone it is the same God at work’ (I Corinthians 12: 4-6). In the letter we know as Ephesians, the apostle reminds his readers that God has provided gifted people in order that the Church should be strengthened and brought to maturity. In our own day we are looking for those people whom God has gifted to serve him and build up his people through becoming a Reader or licensed Lay Minister.
Licensed Lay Ministers are already playing a vital part in leading worship, preaching and teaching, and providing pastoral care across our Diocese. Their role is becoming increasingly significant as we look to develop communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre growing in partnership, influence, numbers and commitment. Against a backdrop of reducing numbers of paid clergy, servant-hearted, deployable, gifted, mission-oriented Lay Ministers will be key members of leadership teams clarifying and communicating the values and vision necessary for growth.
There is an unhelpful view in some quarters that Lay Ministers are a ‘lesser form’ of clergy. That misunderstanding must be swept away so that lay people in general, and Lay Ministers in particular, can contribute to God’s mission and the Church’s ministry as they should. These are challenging but exciting times for the Diocese of Bristol and we are confident that God will provide the people that are needed to take hold of opportunities, not least those who exercise the ministry of a Lay Minister.
With my hopes and prayers for your own vocation and ministry
+Lee
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INTRODUCTION
Within the Bristol Diocese we refer to Readers as Licensed Lay
Ministers (LLM). What is an LLM and what does LLM ministry involve? Is
it something for me? Well, if you are considering the possibility of
LLM ministry, or even just beginning to think about how God may be
calling you to serve His Church in a particular way (that may lead to
this or another form of ministry), then this booklet has been designed
for you. You will find here:
• a little history concerning
Reader (Licensed Lay Minister) ministry, and a suggestion as to its
possible future,
• accounts of the experiences of
‘real live’ Licensed Lay Ministers who speak of
what drew them into this ministry, of how it has changed their lives,
and of how it continues to excite and challenge them to respond to
God’s call, and
• information that you need to
know about the process of selection and training of Licensed Lay
Ministers.
Considering any form of public and authorised ministry in
Christ’s Church is always a daunting prospect. And nothing
can, nor should, take away that sense of fear and trembling, joy and
elation by which the human heart responds to God’s call. But
a little clear guidance on the process of selection and training, and a
reminder of how other people have grown through this experience, may
just help.
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WHAT IS READER (LICENSED LAY MINISTER) MINISTRY ALL ABOUT?
From the Church of England’s official publications
we can draw up the following definition:
Readers are called to be accredited lay ministers serving God in His
Church and in His world. They exercise a voluntary ministry that is
nationally accredited, episcopally-licensed and governed by canon.
Readers are theologically trained laity with a particular ministry of
preaching, teaching and leading worship. Once licensed by the Bishop
they can, under the direction of the parish priest:
• take Morning & Evening
Prayer, as well as other services of the Word, Compline, etc.,
• preach sermons,
• officiate at funerals (after
further training), and
• undertake pastoral and
educational work
In addition, and because of their formation, Licensed Lay Ministers are
obvious resources for:
• leading Bible study groups and
prayer groups
• running baptism and
confirmation groups, and
• playing a collaborative role
in a parish ministry team.
From diocese to diocese there may be some differences in the way that
Licensed Lay Minister ministry is exercised, as indeed there may be
some differences from parish to parish. But the above provides us with
good starting point from which to explore further.
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LICENSED LAY MINISTER MINISTRY: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
The Office of Reader is a very ancient and honourable office
indeed. It can be traced back in its origins to the early Church and
the role of the lector. In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Readers were
much used by the Church of England in making provision for churches
without a parish priest. However, the office as we now know it was
re-established in the Church of England in the 1860s.
Its purpose was to provide the Church with lay ministers who
were charged by the Bishop with the task of preaching, teaching,
leading worship and undertaking pastoral work that arose out of these
ministries. The story of the development of Reader ministry is a
fascinating one and shows (as with all ministries in the Church) how
from time to time Christian ministry has had to develop and change,
while remaining true to its original purpose and inspiration, in order
to meet the needs of the Church and the world.
Today dioceses are increasingly recognising the immensely valuable
resource that Readers represent to the Church. Indeed, Sunday by Sunday
and week by week thousands of services are taken, sermons are preached
and groups are run by Readers. Moreover, in response to their
increasingly important role in the Church, Reader training and their
continuing education has developed apace across the dioceses.
In this diocese there are almost 300 Licensed Lay Ministers holding
licenses – a figure comparable to almost three times the
number of stipendiary clergy. This diocese has recognized the
importance of Licensed Lay Minister ministry (and not only for today
but also tomorrow) by choosing to invest substantially in the training
of Licensed Lay Ministers and their continuing support. And it takes
especial pride in the work that Licensed Lay Ministers undertake.
As will be seen, to become a Licensed Lay Minister one must be ready to
give real time and energy to training, and be prepared to push
one’s mind, imagination and experience beyond what is
normally called for. However, while this may be daunting it is also
immensely rewarding and can be just plain good fun.
For the future it is clear that the Church is being called to discover
ways of being a community which cannot simply depend upon the assent or
support of the society in which it is set. New patterns of ministry are
emerging, patterns which do not simply do away with the old but which
seek to present the Good News of Christ to this and future generations
in ways that older patterns once did. In this change it seems that,
with their expertise and experience, Licensed Lay Ministers will have
an increasingly important role to play as they work in partnership with
the communities in which they serve. These are exciting times in which
to live; and to be a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church today will
involve not only contributing to the flourishing of a local Church
community but also participating in the great task of the Church in
every generation.
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BRIDGING THE GAP
Julia Chard and Paul Hunter are both experienced Licensed Lay
Ministers and Kate Davison has just been licensed. The ministry of
Licensed Lay Ministers is a very varied one and a recent survey of
dioceses in the Church of England revealed a series of different
pictures of this ministry. Licensed Lay Ministers are leaders in their
church community, lay preachers and leaders of worship. They exercise
some degree of pastoral ministry, often within the context of a
teaching role. Licensed Lay Ministers are organizers and spiritual
directors or prayer counsellors. Indeed, one of the most recent images
of Licensed Lay Minister ministry is that of a ‘bridge
ministry’. That is to say, Licensed Lay Ministers exercise a
form of ministry which very explicitly represents a
‘bridge’ between the Church and world; and within
the Church, between clergy and laity. This section shows how varied
this ministry of ‘bridging the gap’ can be.
Click here to read Ordinands stories >>
Julia Chard
During the years of bringing up a family and working in fashion and dressmaking, I occasionally attended the local church as time allowed.
I became aware of the men and women called ’Readers’ who complemented the Vicar’s leading in various ways. They were busy people like myself, yet apart from their inspiring practical preaching, they made time to pray and offer spiritual encouragement to the person in the pew.- I wanted to follow in their footsteps!
My desire to serve God, and to engage with the community developed through my prayer devotion and personal life experience. 1993 while I was in hospital recovering from a car accident, I was prompted to train as a hospital visitor. Alongside parish pastoral care I joined the ‘Taste and See’ study course at the Cathedral, to deepen my understanding of the Bible and application of Christian values in the church context. Also, looking at the possibilities of having a role within the Church of England meant meeting people from different church backgrounds. Research and writing essays gave me more confidence in speaking about my faith, which complemented my work in Spiritual Direction and supporting people in prayer- not in my own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. My Vicar encouraged me to lead a Bible study group, to lead Baptism preparation, and to regularly lead the prayer-time, speaking in front of the congregation to gain confidence in public speaking.
When I was fortunate in being selected for training as a ‘Reader,’ I became a visible part of the church image that I had never deemed possible in previous years, being licensed at Swindon in 1999 which was a momentous occasion on my faith journey.
Since then, through the support of the Church, my husband Julian, my family and friends, and my personal prayer development, I feel privileged to serve God, through the teaching of Jesus Christ to engage with the community and beyond as an Licensed Lay Minister. My role now involves local parish work, hospital visiting and Sub Warden of Readers for pastoral care in North Wiltshire, Chippenham and Kingswood & South Gloucester Deaneries. I‘m a member of the Bishop’s Advisory Group on Healing, and enjoy being Julia - a wife, a mother and a child of God!
Kate Davison
Becoming a Lay Minister was only a fairly small part of why I started the Equipping God's People course, so I’m going to start with that. Three things came together.
Over the years I’d been a regular church goer. But ‘Church’ was increasingly getting in the way of ‘God’. Being a Church Warden during a lengthy Interregnum meant a huge administrative and organisational commitment, but very few services where my worship wasn’t hijacked by parish demands. It would have been easy to leave the church.
Yet it also made me very aware of how much the parish needed additional trained ministers (we had no practising Readers at the time). I wanted to be able to help but I knew my own knowledge of the Bible and of prayer and preaching was sadly lacking; I wanted to learn more but was lazy. At the same time, I was spending increasing periods in Turkey, and had not been able to find Christian worship to join. Looking to the future, I wanted to have the knowledge and skills to be able to support others in Christian worship there.
I suspect I would have drifted along, but that wasn’t to be. One Sunday our church notices stated that an additional EGP course was about to start in my parish church; was anybody interested? I felt I’d run out of excuses! It still took me until the second year of the course to apply to become a Lay Minister; I needed to be sure it was what God was calling me to do. I want to be able to help others as we share God’s message, worship, and try to do God’s will.
Now we are about to start another vacancy, where I will be able to help as part of a team of trained ministers. And I’m also part of a rapidly growing house church in Turkey. So different from just two years ago!
Paul Hunter
Before I was a Lay Minister in the Church of England, I was a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church, and the reason for becoming either was all to do with a call I felt from God to preach the gospel. I have always loved the Bible, reading it through many times and studying it on various courses. When I came back to the Anglican Church, it seemed the obvious move to make, and I offered myself for selection and training.
I was licensed in 1995, and began to lead worship and preach at my home church of St Christopher’s Brislington in South Bristol. In addition to those duties I also lead intercessions, and assist at the Eucharist.
Now I sit on the Diocesan Readers’ Council, and act as Bristol Diocese Sub-Warden, responsible for the Bristol Archdeaconry which I enjoy as it puts me in touch with lots of fellow Lay Ministers.
While not always easy, I get a great deal of satisfaction from my ministry…except when the congregation fall asleep, of course!
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DISCERNMENT, SELECTION AND TRAINING
1. Licensed Lay Minister
Ministry is a very broad ministry. It can include preaching,
teaching, leading worship and pastoral work and may extend to an
involvement in many aspects of the local church’s life.
2. A sense of being called to Licensed
Lay ministry, as with every authorised ministry in the Church, emerges
from the foundation of Christian life. This means that you must have
been baptised and confirmed by a Bishop, and be an established and
regular communicant in your parish community. If the local church
discerns the need for someone with the gifts for this kind of ministry
you may find yourself being called upon to consider how you could meet
this need. Alternatively, you may already have felt God calling you to
consider this work through your prayer and reading of the Bible, in
which case your sense of an emerging vocation will need to be tested in
the context of your local church’s worship and mission.
Discerning a vocation to serve God in His Church in a particular way
always involves both a sense of individual calling and the recognition
by the church community of your vocation as a gift from God.
3. If you believe that God is calling you
to this ministry (or indeed to any ministry in the Church) you should
talk this over with your parish priest first of all. The parish priest
will probably consult with others (churchwardens, other clergy,
Licensed Lay Ministers or laity in your local context) to discern
whether you have the gifts that are required for this ministry in this
place and at this time. At this point he or she may advise that you
speak with the Director of Lay Ministry. However, if your parish priest
judges that your sense of vocation should be pursued straight away then
the first step is to get the backing of the full PCC from whom a
resolution will be required in due course. If both the individual and
the local church are agreed, then the process of discernment will
proceed to testing by the wider church. This means that those whom the
Bishop (who represents, in particular, the unity and integrity of the
Church) has appointed to undertake this task will test your vocation.
4. If, as most people are, you are
undertaking a course of study such as the Equipping God’s
People course your parish priest will encourage you to contact the
Director of Lay Ministry through your tutors and to complete an
application form. Once your application has been received, references
will be taken up and the Director of Lay Ministry or a vocations
adviser may meet with you (possibly on several occasions) in order to
explore your vocation and answer any questions you may have. Even if
the director does not ask to meet with you, you can still request a
meeting if you feel it would be helpful. It is the
director’s responsibility to enter you for a selection
conference so that your vocation to ministry can be tested by the wider
Church. [Please note: if the candidate is recently divorced then the
candidate may be asked to wait for up to three years before being
Admitted by the Bishop]
5. Selection Days are usually held twice
a year and involve individual interviews and group exercises. The day
has the character of a collaborative enterprise in which all involved
seek to understand better the nature of your vocation and whether this
developing vocation is best fulfilled by the Licensed Lay Minister form
of ministry.
6. The decision of the selection
conference is conveyed to you and your parish priest in writing from
the Director of Lay Ministry. If you are not to proceed, then you will
be given the opportunity to reflect on the outcome of the conference
and other ways in which your gifts could be used in God’s
service.
7. Age is also a factor; usually you must
be under 70 years of age to be licensed as a LLM but it is possible to
be admitted beyond this age in some circumstances.
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THE ROUTE TO LICENSED LAY MINISTERSHIP
There are three elements in the training of a Licensed Lay
Minister – the acquisition of biblical and theological
knowledge; the development of practical skills such as preaching and
leading worship; and the formation of attitudes and dispositions that
lead towards genuine spiritual maturity.
To work towards achieving this ‘blend’, your
training will consist of successful completion of the Equipping
God’s People Course. This is run jointly with the
Bristol Methodist District and you may be training alongside Methodist
Local Preachers. It is envisaged that after the successful completion
of the first two years of your training you will be admitted to the
office of Reader to serve as a Licensed Lay Minister.
While Equipping God’s People is the common form of training,
there are a number of different ways in which your biblical and
theological study can be undertaken. You will be helped to consider
carefully the most appropriate form that your training will
take. In doing this there may be several factors to take into
account in reaching a good decision: where you live, the easy
availability of computer technology, your preferred method of learning,
the advice of others, your prior experience and learning, etc.
• For most candidates we ask you
to begin Equipping God’s People before you go to
selection. This course is open to anyone who wishes to
explore Christian ministry and vocation and is in itself not a
guarantee of selection or of being admitted as a Licensed Lay
Minister. Usually towards the end of your first year you will
be encouraged to discuss with your parish priest the possibility of
going to selection and to decide whether this is the best route for
you. Your tutors and the Director of Lay Ministry are
available to help you discern your vocation and we also have a number
of experienced vocations advisers with whom you can talk.
Assignments & Placements
During the final term of your training if you have been selected to
train as a LLM you will undertake a placement of some form and
undertake a specific pastoral care module
• Your church placement will
involve preaching, leading worship and visiting in an Anglican church
whose main style of worship is in a tradition different from, or is
situated in a different context to, your own home church.
• The pastoral care course is a
seven week programme designed by the Methodist Church entitled
‘Prepared to Care.’
The placement will develop your practical skills and will require, with
your placement supervisor, reflection throughout. You will write a
report on the placement that will provide evidence of how well you are
developing your skills of reflective practice.
The route to becoming a Licensed Lay Minister is sometimes seen as a
long process, but it must be thorough, rigorous and challenging for we
live in a society that owes no favours to the Church. Modern ministers
must be able to witness to the Faith effectively, lead the people of
God in their locality, and be able to give an account of the hope that
is within them. None of this comes quickly to anyone and the Church has
always recognized that those it authorises to teach and preach in the
name of Christ must undergo a proper period of formation and
preparation.
St Paul took several years after his conversion to think through what
his encounter with the risen Jesus meant before he set out on his
astounding missionary journeys. This does not mean that Licensed Lay
Ministers in training will be simply sitting and waiting until they are
admitted and licensed in order to begin ministry. Much is possible
before that day; but this training is undertaken in the belief that
much more will become possible through a proper formation of mind and
heart.
Those who lead the courses for Licensed Lay Ministers believe fervently
that every candidate deserves the very best in teaching, and that every
candidate is called in turn to give of his or her best for God.
Assessment
Assessment during the entire period of your training will take a series
of different forms. After you have been accepted for training your
tutor, in conversation with you, will complete a yearly assessment on
your formation for the period of your training.
Assessment on the Equipping God’s People component (or
equivalent) of the training will involve the presentation and marking
of essay and assignment work some of which are practical in
nature. In addition you will be expected to successfully
complete your placement.
At the end of the first year of training there will be an informal
review of your formation with your tutors and a report will be sent to
the Director of Lay Ministry. In addition you will be asked to submit a
review of your experiences of the course. At the end of your
second year your tutors will write a formal report which will be
discussed with you before being forwarded to the director of Lay
Ministry. A recommendation will then be made to the Diocesan
Bishop concerning your suitability for Admission and licensing as a
Reader.
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WORKING AGREEMENTS & CONTINUING MINISTERIAL EDUCATION
At the conclusion of your training you will be asked to
establish a working agreement with the parish or team in which you will
serve and to complete an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
disclosure. This is now a common and accepted practice for
all Lay Ministers throughout the diocese.
Following your Admission and licensing you will be expected to join the
Continual Ministerial Education (CME) group. This group will provide an
opportunity to reflect upon the experience of ministry and offer
support amongst other newly licensed ministers as well as continue your
learning. This continues for the first 4 years after
admission.
All LLMs are licensed to conduct funerals; however you cannot involve
yourself in funeral ministry until your incumbent has indicated that he
or she is willing for you to do so. This will usually be
after they have given you sufficient training to be confident in your
ability to conduct such services.
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READER SELECTION PROCESS
• Potential Lay
Minister contacts Director of Lay Ministry
• An interview is arranged if
necessary
• An Application pack sent to
the candidate. (This contains application form, covering letter,
selection criteria and Confidential Self Declaration.)
• On Return of application form
reference requests are made from the following: Incumbent, EGP tutor, a
work based referee for those in employment and one other. (At least one
referee must be of a different sex to the candidate.)
• The referees’ pack
contains a description of Licensed Lay Ministry, covering letter and
reference form.
• A PCC declaration is sent to
the Incumbent with the reference request pack.
• References are collated and
interview packs created for the selection panel members
• Visits may be made to
candidates prior to selection by the Director of Lay Ministry in
certain circumstances.
• Selection panel /conference is
held.
• Candidates are phoned with the
results of the panel on the evening of selection
• Candidates and Incumbents are
written to with the formal panel decision.
• Tutors and PDT administrator
are informed of the panel decision.
• Interviews are arranged with
those who are not selected.
• Appeals may be made either by
the candidate, incumbent or both. A successful appeal will
result in the candidate attending a second selection conference.
• Candidates who have been
selected are formally requested to obtain enhanced CRB clearance.
• At the end of training a
second PCC declaration is required indicating willingness of a Parish
or Benefice to accept an individual’s ministry.
• In addition a work agreement
between Reader and Incumbent is required.
• A recommendation is made by
the Diocesan Readers’ Council to the Bishop for Admission and
Licensing.
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USEFUL ADDRESSES
See also: Parish Development Team contacts >>
Warden of Readers
Revd Derek Chedzey, Diocesan Church House, 23 Great George Street,
BRISTOL, BS1 5QZ
0117 9060 100,
Licensed Lay
Ministers’ Administrator
Mrs Stella O’Brien, Diocesan Church House, 23 Great George
Street, BRISTOL, BS1 5QZ
0117 9060 100
Archdeaconry Sub-Warden
for Bristol and Secretary to Readers Council
Mrs Anne Iles, 119 Monks Park Avenue, Horfield, BRISTOL, BS7 0UA
0117 969 2371
Archdeaconry Sub-Warden
for Malmesbury (Swindon Deanery)
Mrs Hilary Fortnam, Elsbridge, Swindon Road, Highworth, SWINDON, SN6
7DE 01793 764 803
Archdeaconry Sub-Warden
for Malmesbury (Chippenham, North Wiltshire & Kingswood and
South Gloucester Deaneries)
Mrs Julia Chard, 8 Glenside Close, Downend, BRISTOL, BS16 2QY
0117 902 1774
Chairman of Readers
Council
Rt Rev Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon, Mark House, Field Rise,
SWINDON, SN1 4HP
01793 538 654
Adviser for Licensed
Ministry (from 2 June 2008)
The Revd Samantha Rushton, Church House, 23 Great George Street,
BRISTOL, BS1 5QZ
0117 9060 100
Adviser for Licensed Lay
Ministry Training (Reader)
Mrs Anne Claar Thomasson-Rosingh
Church House, 23 Great George Street, BRISTOL, BS1 5QZ
0117 9060 100
Websites:
National Readers web site: www.readers.cofe.anglican.org
Church of England Ministry Division: www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/
Bristol Diocese: www.bristol.anglican.org
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