Becoming an LLM

Welcome.

We are excited that you are considering your call, potentially to become a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader).

The Reader ministry is a very particular calling to a non-sacramental ministry. For those called to sacramental ministry, there are a wide variety of forms of ministry to consider, and these should be discussed in the first place with the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO).

The specific and unique quality of Reader Ministry is that it combines being Licensed, Lay and a Minister of the Anglican Church. You can find out why this combination is so important to us by reading our vision in ‘Licensed Lay Ministry – Vision’.

You can also read about the formal processes involved in presenting yourself as a candidate, and undertaking the necessary training and licensing in chapters 7 to 9 of the ‘LLM (Reader) Guidelines’. There are also some useful contacts in the back of these guidelines, and on our Contacts page.

There are many people who can help you consider this step, before presenting yourself as a candidate. Your incumbent, other Readers, your housegroup leader, and others who know you well should be able to make helpful observations. You will need the recommendation of your incumbent and PCC to undertake the training, so it is important to gain their support. The Warden of Readers and the Principal of the Local Ministry Program (LMP) are also very willing to help. You should also consider the time that will be required to undertake the initial training.

When you are ready, you should complete the application form and other documentation, which can be obtained from the Candidates Secretary of the LLM (Reader)s’ Board. Eventually this should result in your being called to a Selection Meeting of the Bishop’s Advisory Panel. The meeting normally consists of three or four interviews covering areas such as: vocation, faith, spirituality and worship, personality and character, relationships and potential for training. There is also some group work.

Following the selection meeting, the panel makes its recommendations to the Bishop. With the Bishop’s approval and a satisfactory CRB process conducted, you will be ready to begin training at the start of the next academic year in September.

We wish you every blessing as you seek to discern your calling to ministry.

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