What is Reader Ministry?
Reader ministry is a distinct lay ministry which serves God both inside and outside the church. Readers are lay people who are trained, and licensed by their bishop, to preach and teach, enable mission, and lead in church and society. They might have a broad ministry inside and outside the church, or might focus their ministry in a particular area such as preaching, schools work, or funeral ministry.
Some of our current Readers have said the following:
- “What I love about being a Reader is the variety of what comes up and how it can be flexible to your personal situation. From discipleship groups in the week to being up front on Sundays. From visiting older folk to engaging with teenagers. From working with asylum seekers to driving for Foodbank. There is a place for you, whatever your age, in your church and your community.”
- “One of the things I love about Reader ministry is the way I can serve in the place where I’ve lived for 25 years. The knowledge of the local context enables me to make connections and work across boundaries, for example when setting up a weekly drop-in for our church, in a community centre. The variety of opportunities is also very satisfying. As well as coordinating arrangements for our weekly drop-in, I regularly lead services and preach. I have recently taken my first funeral (burial of ashes) service. I feel that the Reader training we received, and continue to receive, enables me to confidently turn my hand to different aspects of ministry and to engage in regular theological reflection. The group that I trained with still meets regularly several times a year and provides a supportive safe space to reflect together.”
- “I love the variety of my role. I regularly lead worship at Eucharistic and Family Praise services and preach at both. I also help with the distribution of the Eucharist and reading the gospel and leading intercessions. I chair our Worship Committee, liaising with the Vicar, staff team and musicians to help plan and evaluate worship. I visit those from our congregation who are housebound or in hospital and take communion to the sick. I am the lead for Messy Church and I work with our recently recruited Family and Children’s Minister on that.”
- “I have grown into funeral ministry and love being the bridge between lay people and the Church, getting to know the mourners at the visit and helping guide them into making the funeral very personal to their loved one, especially with favourite music plus poems or tributes read by members of the family, while keeping the service within the comforting and hope-filled structure of the CofE liturgy. Readers can often bring a great deal of personal life experience into this ministry and people may feel more comfortable opening up or asking questions about the religious side of things to us rather than to a priest. I feel very privileged to walk alongside the bereaved and offer the support of God’s love and hope at this time of turmoil.”
Is Reader Ministry right for me?
Information on the pathways to Reader Ministry training
To discuss Reader ministry and your vocation do contact the Vocations team. It is also recommended that you discuss in detail with your incumbent.
Tim Bull
Barbara Naisbett-Groet
Ruth Dennigan
Simon Moore
Vocations Team: Seeking direction?
The Vocations Team has the task of encouraging and nourishing vocation across the diocese. If you would like to explore your vocation please speak to your incumbent who will contact one of the Advisers from your archdeaconry. There are three or four Vocations Advisers in each Archdeaconry, and it is their role to advise both clergy and those wishing to explore their vocation to any form of ministry in the Church. The team comprises both lay and ordained people.
You can also contact the Vocations Team whose individual details are above