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Prospective Reader Candidates for 2013
Posted on Thursday 30 August 2012
John Ashe, the Warden of Readers, has emailed all Licensed Clergy about prospective Reader candidates for 2013.
I am writing to remind you of the timetable for the selection of Readers in 2013. If you have someone in your congregation who might be called to Reader Ministry, now is the time to start the process of discernment if we are to be ready for them to begin training next year.
The Office of Reader continues to be a vital part of our ministry across the diocese. Readers are lay people who are called to serve the Church in a preaching, teaching and pastoral ministry. They are theologically trained to proclaim the gospel, to lead worship and to minister alongside and in collaboration with their parish priests. Before starting training (which leads to the nationally accredited Church of England Readers’ Certificate), they must be recommended by their parish priest and Parochial Church Council.
The Readers’ website gives much useful information:
www.readers.cofe.anglican.org
Our own Diocesan website gives an outline of our local training which is done at Emmaus House in the Cathedral Close:
www.norwich.anglican.org/training/ministry/
We ask all those wishing to explore their vocation to meet with a Vocations Advisor several times over a period of months before going forward for selection. Following this period of exploration, the Vocations Advisor will write to the incumbent who then refers them to me. A list of the Vocation Advisers (including their contact details) can be found at: www.norwich.anglican.org/training/vocation/vocation-advisors
The selection days in 2013 will be on Saturdays, 20th April and 11th May. In order be able to make the arrangements for the selection day we need a referral from the incumbent by the end of February at the very latest. Those recommended for training must attend a Summer School at the end of August. This forms part of their induction to the course as well as providing initial teaching for their first 2 modules. The dates of the Summer School are invariably the week leading up to the Bank holiday at the end of August (for 2013 the dates are 17-24 August). It would help potential candidates to be aware of this as early as possible. There is also an extremely valuable Training Day for incumbents/supervisors of any new Reader students at Emmaus House on Thursday 20th June 2013. Please ring-fence this date if at all possible.
I would also like to re-iterate the situation regarding the upper age limit for Reader selection. In the past this was 62 so that the candidate would be admitted by the age of 65. After discussion with the Bishop, I am prepared to relax this. Candidates must still have the full support of their Incumbent / Priest-in-Charge and the PCC, complete their training and then be admitted prior to their 70th birthday. Admission is always on Readers’ Day, the first Saturday in September. Once they reach the age of 70, a Reader’s Licence comes to an end and they continue to minister with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate. Although many continue to offer valuable service long after their 70th birthday, it is important that they have some time when they hold the Bishop’s Licence.
I am most grateful to all who offer themselves for this important ministry and am keen to encourage more people to explore this vocation. The trend, over a number of years, is that people have waited longer before testing their vocation. I would be equally delighted to hear from younger people; some of our Readers were first admitted in their twenties.
Do be in touch with me, or with Sharon Costello, my PA, if you would like to discuss this.
John Ashe
Warden of Readers and Archdeacon of Lynn
01362 688032
archdeacon.lynn@norwich.anglican.org
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