Lay Ministry: Readers & Parish Officers

Lay Ministry

Every Christian is called to serve and to share the good news of God’s love. The Church authorises some lay people for particular ministries of leadership and service. Some of these are recognised by the Church nationally and have a legal standing.

Readers are a fully trained and recognised ministry. They lead many types of worship, preach and teach, visit pastorally, prepare people for baptism or confirmation and represent the Church in many ways. More information is available at www.readers.cofe.anglican.org. If you think you might be being called to be a Reader, please talk initially to your parish priest.

Church Army officers are also fully trained and recognised as evangelists. They work in parish and community settings. For more information, please visit the Church Army website: www.churcharmy.org.uk

Others have a call to the religious life, as monks and nuns, friars, brothers and sisters. To find out more about religious communities in the Church of England, please go to: www.orders.anglican.org/arcyb

Churchwardens are the elected lay leaders of a church and share with the clergy in giving spiritual leadership while having a particular responsibility for maintaining the building and facilities. They serve for one year at a time and are admitted to office by the Archdeacon.

In addition there are many other roles: Children’s work leader; Youth leader; server; Pastoral visitor; House group leader; Secretary or Treasurer of the Parochial Church Council; Communion assistant; choir member, organist; music leader; flower arranger… the list is almost endless. All of these are the various means by which Christians might work out their following of Jesus, and serve the Church and community.

Readers

What is a Reader?
A Reader is someone who is called by God, selected and trained by the Church and licensed by the Bishop to exercise a ministry of preaching and teaching. Readers are lay people, who work with parish clergy and the congregation in building up the ministry of the whole people of God.

In the Church of England there have been Readers for more than 130 years, but this ministry can be traced back to the days of the early Church. In the Diocese of Winchester, there are around 250 Readers actively involved in leading worship, in preaching and in the varied work of their parishes.

The ministry of Readers is a valuable resource for the work of the Church and the spread of the Gospel, and the need for this ministry continues to grow.

What does a Reader do?
A Reader is trained to use their gifts in some or all of these ways:

• preaching at church services
• leading Worship
• assisting at Holy Communion
• taking funerals
• teaching in groups, at Sunday School, Bible studies and confirmation classes
• visiting people at home and in hospital
• exploring the meaning of the Gospel for everyday life, at home, at work and in the community
• working together with the leaders of their local church

The ministry of a Reader is usually based in a particular parish or group of parishes but can also be exercised in the wider context of a Deanery. Some Readers are attached to chaplaincies and others exercise their ministry in their workplaces.

Who might become a Reader?
This ministry is open to both women and men who feel that God is calling them to a lay ministry of preaching, leading public worship and preaching. Candidates should be between the ages of 23 and 62. Formal educational qualifications are not required, but an ability to communicate, a willingness to learn and to spend time studying are important.

Candidates for Reader ministry need to be committed Church members and have the support of their parish priest, PCC and the people of their local Church. If, after conversations with their parish priest and with others, including Readers in ministry, a person feels that they are called to this important lay ministry, they begin the formal process of selection.

The Selection Process
The ministry of Reader is a ministry recognised and accredited throughout the Anglican Communion. For this reason selection for Reader ministry requires not only the support of local clergy and people but also the recommendation of a panel of selectors representing the wider church.

Selectors are drawn from clergy and Readers of both sexes, and are appointed by the bishop.

The selection process involves references, a police check and a whole day of interviews with selectors. At the end of the day the selectors may recommend that a candidate be formally admitted as a 'Reader in Training'.

Recommendation for Admission as a Reader comes at the end of the training programme and is dependent upon successful completion of the course and affirmation of the Reader's ministry by the local church.

The Training Programme
The training programme usually lasts three years, though candidates who have done comparable study previously may be exempted from some parts of the training.

In the first two years the training consists of theological study undertaken in tutorial groups using modules which cover such subjects as New Testament, Doctrine, Ethics and History. There are also a number of residential weekends and study days, looking at the skills required for leading public worship and preaching within the context of a ministry that is pastorally aware. During this time students gain as much practical experience as possible in their own parishes.

In the third year this training continues but there is also a placement with another parish, and a term's work on the relationship between faith and daily life.

Candidates who complete this course successfully are admitted by the Bishop to be a Reader and licensed by him to preach and teach and take up pastoral responsibilities. Admission and Licensing take place in a service in Winchester Cathedral.

Continuing Ministerial Development
After licensing, Readers should take up further training opportunities available through the Diocesan CMD programme, as well as other agencies. The programme includes workshops on preaching, biblical study, pastoral training and training for conducting funerals.

In many instances, the study days and residentials offered through the programme are open to Readers and clergy. This is an important aspect of the collaboration between ordained and lay ministers that the Department of Ministry Development seeks to encourage.

For more information on the CMD programme email ian.knight@winchester.anglican.org

Ministry Specification
Every licensed Reader is expected to complete a Ministry Specification which they agree with their incumbent, or the person to whom they are accountable for their ministry. This sets out the role and responsibilities of the Reader for the coming year and details such things as the number of times they will preach each month, and which services they will lead. Click here to download the specification.

Further details from:
The Warden of Readers
The Revd Simon Baker
The Diocesan Office
Old Alresford Place
Alresford
Hampshire SO24 9DH
Email: simon.baker@winchester.anglican.org

Administrator for Reader Licensing
Mrs Lesley Grimm
Tel: 01962 737315
Email: lesley.grimm@winchester.anglican.org

Parish Officers

Churchwardens
For forms and general enquiries contact Jayne Tarry.

Downloads
 

Section N3.8 Public Worship with Communion by Extension - download a copy (pdf)

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