Rob Little was licensed as a new Lay Minister at St John in Bedwardine in Worcester yesterday. The service was conducted in his home church by Bishop Alan Winton, former Bishop of Thetford in the Diocese of Norwich who is now an Honorary Assistant Bishop in our diocese.
Licensed Lay Ministers, sometimes known as Readers, are authorised in particular to exercise a ministry of preaching and teaching and offer lay leadership in Mission. They undergo a two-year training course before being admitted to the role. After being licensed they carry out a wide range of tasks within their parishes and beyond, especially helping others to reflect on their faith and how it relates to their daily lives.
Rob has been a member of St John in Bedwardine for over 20 years, serving as an Authorised Lay Minster (ALM) for a number of years before training for Reader Ministry at Queen’s Theological College in Birmingham. He said:
“I had been feeling very conscious of the limits of my ALM role and although I didn’t think I wanted to move into a more formal ministry role, the idea started to take route after I attended an online event looking at the different types of ministry available. I realised that I wanted to learn more about my faith and then share that knowledge with others. The training was challenging but enjoyable and I am looking forward to my new role with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as I put into practice everything that I’ve learnt. It has also sparked a hunger in me to continue to learn and read more as I continue to explore my faith.”
Co-warden of Readers, Kath Davis preached at Sunday’s licensing service. She said: “Today is a beginning and not an ending. Even though you have finished the official training, you now need to build on that foundation as you continue to learn to be the person that God wants you to be. There is aways something new to learn in our journey of faith as we take that understanding into our hearts and lives. My prayer for all of us is that our relationship with God continues to deepen every day.”
Alongside Rob’s licensing, Sunday’s service was a celebration of all those who are Licensed Lay Ministers across our diocese. A number of Readers achieved long service awards, including Ron Rust from the benefice of Stoulton w Drakes Broughton & Pirton. Ron received a certificate marking 50 years as a Licensed Lay Minister.
