Ministerial Fellowship
Become a licensed lay minister
Licensed lay ministers, also sometimes known as readers, are lay men and women from diverse backgrounds who have been authorized by the Church to teach, preach, lead worship and give pastoral care. They are leaders in mission and ministry in their parishes and ministry settings.
Lay Ministers are involved in the Church’s ministry and mission on a day-to-day basis.
People train and are licensed, accredited or commissioned in a wide variety of roles in the Church.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
St Aidan's Seminary actively encourages the involvement and leadership of lay people in the ministry and mission of the church.
Christians are involved in the Church’s ministry and mission on a day-to-day basis in churches, community and social action projects, places of work, schools, hospitals and prisons, local neighborhoods and many other places, settings and institutions.
The Church has long encouraged lay people to train and be licensed, accredited or commissioned in a wide variety of formal and semi-formal roles in the Church. These pages will outline these different opportunities. There are also a wide range of other lay ministries which people undertake in their parish or local ministry setting. These will be agreed with their incumbent and will not necessarily require any licence, commission or permission. There is no hierarchy of ministries, so this in no way suggests that a lack of licence, commission or permission undervalues such ministries.
If you are considering a calling to Lay Ministry, visit our contact pages. For more information talk to your parish priest or chaplain. To explore how Lay Ministries are exercised locally please contact your Area Director of Training and Development.
Licensed lay ministers (LLMs) are licensed through the Fellowship of Celtic Churches.