Lay Ministry

There are different lay ministry courses to equip people in a variety of ways as they answer God’s call on their lives.

Lay Leaders of Worship

Worship is at the heart of our Christian discipleship and witness, yet some churches across the Diocese do not hold a service every Sunday because they do not have licensed ministers to lead. In some churches circumstances require that services are held at different times each week. In other churches worship is led by lay people who feel ill-equipped or have little training. This diocesan scheme is designed to address these concerns and to help make it possible for public worship to take place in every church every Sunday. It enables parishes across the Diocese to discern the gifts of lay people as local Lay Leaders of Worship (LLWs) and provides agreed training for them, on completion of which they receive a letter of permission from the Bishop recognising them as Lay Leaders of Worship in their local benefice. The commissioning is formally marked by the incumbent in one of the regular services in the benefice.

Enabling Ministry Course

The Enabling Ministry Course offers participants the opportunity to work towards a leadership role in an area of ministry in a specific benefice, recognising the diversity of contexts, worshipping traditions, and ministerial activities in churches across the diocese. Those who complete this course for an ‘Enabler’ role will, like Lay Leaders of Worship, receive a letter of recognition from the Bishop and then be commissioned by their incumbent to their local benefice in an act of worship:

• Discipleship Enabler – for those involved in teaching the faith
• Mission Enabler – for those involved in mission, pioneering and evangelism
• Pastoral Enabler – for those involved in pastoral and community care
• Pre-Reader – this stream is specifically for those who feel called to explore the possibility of Reader ministry.

Reader Ministry

Readers are lay people in the Church of England, from all walks of life, who are called by God, theologically trained and licensed by the Church to preach, teach, lead worship and assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.

Those interested in training for Reader ministry are required to complete the Enabling Ministry Course (some exceptions do apply) and see a Vocations Adviser, who can discern the call to Reader ministry with them, before they can be accepted onto the two year Reader training programme.