A SPECIAL service to celebrate lay ministry was held at Worcester Cathedral on Sunday.
The service was the climax for more than 40 people who have completed a year-long course to be Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs) and who will work as part of the ministry teams in parishes, supporting their Vicars and Licensed Lay Ministers.
Authorised Lay Ministers work as volunteers in their parishes as pastoral workers, community workers, in helping to lead acts of worship, in sharing their faith with others, as children’s and youth workers or as parish administrators.
Each person completes a number of training sessions in their specialist area over the course of a year and there is some training for all ALMs.
Bishop of Worcester Dr John Inge said: “The emergence of this ministry is one of the most exciting things that has happened during my nearly ten years as Bishop of Worcester.
“As a result of the authorisation of more than 300 ALMs over several years, there are now more people offering authorised ministry in the Diocese than ever before. That is a cause for great celebration.”
The Rev Doug Chaplin, Mission Development Officer in the Diocese was the preacher at the service.
He encouraged all those present to think of themselves as ‘God’s gift’.
“The gifts God gives are for everyone who He calls into his Church. We should all help to serve and build up the ministry of others, sharing our faith and helping ourselves and others to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus,” he said.
The ALMs come from a range of parishes across Worcestershire and Dudley.
They have been trained to work collaboratively in ministry teams and are authorised in their own parishes.
