SIX new lay ministers have been officially appointed to parishes across the diocese.
They were licenced to their parishes as readers at a special service at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday (September 27) conducted by bishop of Dudley, Martin Gorick.
Readers are trained and licensed lay ministers in the Church of England who offer a ministry of preaching and teaching in parishes that is complementary to ordained ministry.
All those being licensed have completed two years of training through the Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham. After being licensed they carry out a wide range of tasks within their parishes and beyond, especially helping others to reflect on their faith and how it relates to their daily lives.
Those admitted and licensed were Tony Bill, serving in Kidderminster East, Helen Black, serving at Hampton, Sedgebarrow and Hinton on the Green, Evesham, Sue Cousins, serving in Kidderminster West, Claire Darnborough, serving at Great Malvern Priory, Robbie Porter, serving at St Martin in the Cornmarket, Worcester and, Kathryn Trinder, serving East Vale and Avon Villages, just outside of Evesham
Bishop Martin said: “Lay Ministers play a very important role in our churches, sharing their faith with others and serving them in God’s name. My father was a lay minister, so I grew up knowing how valuable that lay voice is as God’s word is opened and explored in our worship and lived out in daily life. I was delighted to be able to license and welcome these six people to this very important role.”
