This September sees more people being admitted as Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) in Worcester Cathedral, and others starting their training for this ministry.
Among the many lay ministries in the church, LLM or Reader Ministry (as it always used to be called) is one of the oldest, and unusual because it requires the bishop’s licence, unlike other lay ministries which either have local authorisation or need absolutely no authorisation at all.
LLMs are expected to undergo more rigorous training to become licenced teachers, preachers, and theologians in the Church of England, while remaining clearly lay and not ordained, concerned with the life of the church in daily life, leisure and workplace.
An LLM nowadays is expected to use their theological training and insight to help their church discern what God is doing in their community and in our time and identify the best ways to respond. This can include traditional preaching and teaching ministry, but also more entrepreneurial, pioneering, and different approaches to supporting mission and discipleship.
Pray for those who are being licensed this September, for those starting their training, and for anyone considering their call to this ministry as part of God’s many gifts and callings to the church.
Could you be being called to Reader ministry?
