Lay Ministry Overview
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The Diocese offers LAY MINISTRY training for Reader; Pastoral Assistant; Lay Evangelist, Children's Ministry and Mission Shaped Ministry. |
Lay Ministry in the Diocese of Chelmsford
Every baptised Christian is called to ‘shine as a light in the world’ and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.From the time of the early church people have been given gifts and skills for ministry and mission by God and called to various particular ministries, both lay and ordained. In the Diocese of Chelmsford people have been selected, trained and licensed for Reader ministry for many years and now the Diocese is offering training for Pastoral Assistants and Lay Evangelists.
The following gives a brief explanation about the different lay ministries and the training offered. For further information about selection and training for each of the ministries please contact:
Liz Watson Diocesan Office 53 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1AT
Tel: 01245 294449
email: lwatson@chelmsford.anglican.org
Readers
Reader ministry is ‘a ministry of preaching and teaching in the pastoral context’. A Reader’s main duties may include:- preaching
- teaching
- leading worship
- assisting at Holy Communion
- pastoral work
- conducting funerals
- exercising and encouraging other ministries as appropriate
- collaborating with clergy and other ministers
Pastoral Assistants
The ministry of Pastoral Assistant is ‘a ministry of pastoral care in the church and wider community’. Pastoral Assistants may be involved in a variety of pastoral roles including:- healing & wholeness
- supporting the sick & bereaved
- hospital, prison, industrial & other chaplaincies
- working with caring agencies in the wider community
- assisting with occasional offices
- co-ordinating a pastoral care team
- collaborating with clergy and other ministers
Lay Evangelists
The ministry of Lay Evangelist is ‘a ministry of communicating the Christian faith by word and action’. Lay Evangelists may have a variety of roles including:- working with those outside or on the fringes of the church
- making contact with people through work, leisure and community links
- working with individuals on their journey of faith
- leading Christian Outreach and Basics groups
- encouraging and enabling others in evangelism
- parish mission and outreach events
- collaborating with clergy and other ministers
Lay Evangelists are those in whom the church has discerned gifts for communicating the Christian faith. They are commissioned by the parish incumbent and church to communicate the message of Jesus Christ in relevant ways in a wide variety of contexts. Lay Evangelists
Children's Ministry
The Bishop's Certificate in Children's Ministry is a new course run by the Diocese. It offers a quality training programme to encourage, equip, and enthuse those who work with children as part of the ministry of the local church. For further information about the training for this ministry please contact: Children's Work Adviser. Tel: 01245 294440 Email: 
Children's Ministry
Mission Shaped Ministry
We are delighted to make the Mission Shaped Ministry course available for Essex and East London. The course is jointly sponsored by Fresh Expressions and CMS in partnership with Chelmsford Diocese and The Salvation Army London North-East Division, along with encouragement from other denominations.
The course is a significant mission resource and an effective means of furthering the mission-shaped church, fresh expressions and emerging church movement in the area. The course has a particular focus on the development of individuals and teams for practices of mission that engage those outside the reach of church as it is: initiating, growing and sustaining fresh expression of church.
This course is designed for laity, clergy and church leaders. We particularly encourage small groups from congregations to come as this increases the impact of the course to better equip churches and congregations. Some who attend will already be involved in fresh initiatives, others committed to exploring the way ahead. Mission Shaped Ministry
Selection
The selection process for each of the lay ministry training programmes is slightly different but a key aspect of each is that the candidate is sponsored by their parish priest, interviewed by a vocations adviser and then endorsed by their Parish Church Council. This process emphasises the importance of the local church community in discerning the gifts and calling of candidates.Training
The diocesan Course in Christian Studies is the normal foundation of the Lay Ministry Training Programmes, except for those who have already undertaken some theological training. This foundation course is open to all and covers the Bible, church history, creeds, sacraments, spirituality, discipleship and ethics. For more information about CCS click CCS.
Those who are interested may explore lay ministry with their parish priest and local Vocations Adviser. Application for selection for further training is made by the candidate and his/her parish or chaplaincy during, or on completion of, CCS.
Those selected for the training programmes may begin the course whilst completing the second year of CCS, though they may wish to complete CCS before beginning further training.
The Reader training course lasts 2 years. The Pastoral Assistant and Lay Evangelist courses last one year following CCS.
Commissioning
Commissioning takes place on completion of the training programmes.- Readers are Admitted and Licensed by the Diocesan Bishop at the annual Readers Day.
- Pastoral Assistants and Lay Evangelists are given permission to minister by their parish priest and Parish Church Council on behalf of the parish through a local commissioning service.
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