Diocesan Guidelines for the Bishop's Regulations for Reader Ministry

June 2003

These guidelines indicate where practice in the Diocese of St Albans varies from the Regulations published on behalf of the Bishops by the Archbishops’ Council and dated January 2000. The numerical references refer to the paragraphs of that document.

1. The duties of Readers

1.5 When a Reader accepts an occasional (as distinct from regular or frequent) invitation to take part in a service of another denomination, the Reader will inform the incumbent of the parish where the service is to take place. The approval of the incumbent, PCC and the Warden of Readers will be sought for regular or frequent occasions.

2. Selection

2.5 The policy of the House of Bishops and the diocese of St Albans on Child Protection will be followed. Prior to interview for selection candidates will be checked according to the Enhanced Disclosure procedures of the Criminal Records Bureau.

3. Training

3.1 The St Albans Reader Training Scheme charges no fees to Readers in training. Other costs incurred (e.g. courses offered by other providers, books, travel, etc.) are the responsibility of the individual or parish. Advice on bursaries and grants may be obtained from the Principal Tutor and the Treasurer of the Readers’ Committee. The diocese and Warden of Readers are anxious to ensure that financial considerations do not preclude candidates training for Reader ministry.

4. Admission and Licensing

4.2 The minimum age for Admission in the diocese of St Albans is 23 years.

4.3 It is required that a statement of arrangements, known in the Regulations as a written agreement (see Regulations 5.2), is reviewed every three years and that checking under the Child Protection Procedures is also undertaken every three years. This process operates instead of regular relicensing. [The small number of Readers who accepted the option (given at the time of this change) not to submit ‘written agreements’ are subject to regular renewal of their Licences.]

4.8 Ad Clerum 14 (Vacancy: assistant ministers in vacancy of the benefice) requires that the prospective incumbent/priest-in-charge should meet any Reader in the parish.

4.11 Records are retained by the Secretary of the Diocesan Readers’ Association.

5. Conditions of Service

5.2 Prior to Admission (or to Licensing if coming from another diocese) a Reader should submit a written statement of arrangements for ministry (known as a written agreement in the Regulations) drawn up in consultation with the incumbent, a PCC member, a Deanery Pastoral Committee member and the Deanery Adviser, and any friend whom the Reader may nominate. The written statement is reviewed every three years by the Reader, incumbent and Deanery Adviser. It is not intended that this statement, or agreement, is a contract of employment.

5.3 It is not intended the Readers should submit an Annual Report. From time to time a Return of Work for a year may be requested to provide statistical data.

6. Finance

6.3 The diocesan Readers’ Association is financed by an annual grant from the Board for Christian Development of the diocese.

6.4 Since Readers hold an unpaid honorary office (see Regulation 6.1) there is no entitlement to a fee offered for the conduct of a funeral at a crematorium or public cemetery. Where a fee is offered, as is customary, the Reader should pass it to the incumbent or priest-in-charge (who, in turn, passes it to the Diocesan Stipends’ Fund or deducts it from his stipend) for the support of the Church’s ministry.

7. Deployment and Transfer

7.2 The administration of the transfer procedure is undertaken by the Secretary of the diocesan Readers’ Association.

7.3 On moving to another parish within the diocese of St Albans the Reader, after a period of six months, prepares a revised statement of arrangements in accordance with the procedure outlined in Section 5.2.

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