Readers in Training
The Diocesan Reader Training Scheme is overseen by the Growing Vocations and Lay Ministry Officers, who are part of the Ministry Development Team. If you would like more information about training please contact the Ministry Development Administrator in the first instance.
Diocese of St Albans Readers in Training Programme Vision Statement
Our vision is to train Readers for wide-ranging collaborative leadership, through which they will bring a distinctive lay voice to the church and society. They will be ‘Living God’s Love’ through their ministry: through preaching, teaching, and leading worship, they will draw others deeper into God; they will lead and enable others in the making of new disciples of Jesus Christ; and they will pastorally serve the needy and lead others in likewise transforming communities inside and outside the church with God’s servant-hearted love.
2019 – 2020 Timetable St Albans
2019 – 2020 Handbook for Corporate Worship at ERMC
To find out about the Reader Training Programme click on this link Reader-Training-Programme.
RiT Resources – click this link for resources which Readers in Training can download as well as links to useful websites.
Considering training for Reader Ministry?
Future cohorts of Readers In Training will be on a 2 year Reader training programme. Prior to this prospective Readers In Training will be required to complete a prerequisite year course, either Foundations, or a Pioneer Ministry course for those wishing to pursue pioneer Reader ministry. Those who apply for these courses and are interested in exploring Reader ministry will need to indicate on the form that they wish to see a Vocations Adviser, so that they can discern the call to Reader ministry with them.
Foundations is applicable to those who are considering exploring Reader ministry that would be exercised in inherited forms of church regardless of the worshipping and theological tradition of that church, and various practical ministry options.
Pioneer Readers principally exercise their ministry in new worshipping communities and other pioneering contexts. Their ministry will primarily engage with those outside the church, drawing them into a journey of worship and discipleship in new forms of church. The CMS pioneer mission course is applicable to those considering exploring Pioneer Reader ministry.
Exemptions for taking a prerequisite course can be made on the grounds of either a prior theological qualification (e.g. a theology degree), significant prior ministerial experience, or age (Readers must be licenced before the age of 70). If you are interested in exploring Reader ministry and believe that you may qualify for an exemption from a prerequisite course then please contact the Lay Ministry Officer, The Revd Phil Bryson via email at lmo@stalbans.anglican.org
Cost
There is no course fee to take part in this training but your time and willingness to be involved in the mission of God.
Safeguarding
Readers in Training are required to complete Module C1 online training. This module takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, and can be found here.
At the point of being licenced, Readers are required, as soon as practicable to attend Module C3 classroom course, which is 6 hours in length. Readers have to then attend a Module C3 Refresher course every three years. Classroom courses can be booked here.
If a Reader In Training has any safeguarding concerns, or any safeguarding disclosures are made to them, these should be raised in the first instance to their Parish Safeguarding Officer if it relates to an incident or person(s) in parish. If, however, the incident or person(s) are related to other aspects of the training outside of their parish, this should be referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, for whom the contact details can be found here.
