A Celebration of Lay Ministries Service will be held on Saturday 14th September at 10.30am in York Minster to recognise and affirm the ministries of lay people in the Diocese of York.
As the body of Christ in the Diocese of York, its people and church communities will give thanks for the rich gifts of those who serve in a variety of lay ministries, all of which are a vital part of the ministry of the whole people of God as participants in God’s mission to the world.
The service will include:
- the authorisation of Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs). ALMs are lay people active in church life who have a particular gifting, vocation or calling to lay ministry, i.e. those called to work collaboratively alongside their wider ministry teams with a focus on growing, nurturing, and serving the wider parish community.
- the admission and licensing of ten new Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers), two LLMs transferring into the diocese from elsewhere, and two being re-licensed. Long Service Awards will be presented to three LLMs whose ministry has continued for many years. Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) are lay people who represent the church in a public, representative and leadership role. Expressed in a wide variety of ways, their ministry is focused in three main areas: Teaching the Faith, Enabling People in Mission and Being Leaders in Church and Society.
- the licensing of a new Church Army Evangelist who has been commissioned by the Church Army. Their Evangelists share the gospel with those on the margins of society and help to communicate God’s love in word and action with those who would rarely step inside the doors of a church building. The Church Army is a mission community of people with a passion for evangelism who are transforming lives and neighbourhoods throughout the British Isles and Ireland; its Evangelists live and breathe God’s love in creative and pioneering ways.
We celebrate these and all lay ministry within a service of the Eucharist at which Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will preside and Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, will preach.
Archbishop Stephen said, “It’s such a joy to celebrate with those who serve in our diocese in recognised lay ministry roles. We all have a vocation to serve Christ, and we are called to discern how this may best be lived out, using the gifts and talents we have. As we live Christ’s Story, we give thanks today for all authorised and licensed lay ministers and all they do to share the Good News of Christ and to build God’s kingdom in this diocese.”
Those new to Licensed Lay Ministry (Readers) are:
Cleveland
- Ruth Barnes, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Kirkleatham
- Jaqueline Newton, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Middle Esk Moor
- Dave Stones, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Coatham and Dormanstown
East Riding
- Jo Boulter, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Beverley St Mary
- Terri Chambers, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and granted Permission to Officiate in the Benefice of Great and Little Driffield and the Benefice of Langtoft w Foxholes, Butterwick, Cottam and Thwing
- Andrew Forrester, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Swanland
- Sue Forrester, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Swanland
- Gill Gregory, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Beverley St Mary
York
- Kate Tattershall, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Nether Poppleton w Upper Poppleton
- Jackie Tuvey-Smith, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Fulford
To be re-licensed or granted PTO on resuming ministry:
- Liz Pacey, to be granted Permission to Officiate in the Benefice of Hull, St Michael and All Angels North Hull (East Riding Archdeaconry)
- Mark Robinson, to be licensed to the Benefice of York St Luke (York Archdeaconry)
Two Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) will be licensed or granted PTO in the Diocese of York having transferred from other parts of the country:
- Anne Ingham, to be licensed to the Benefice of Holme and Seaton Ross Group (York Archdeaconry)
- Tricia Humber, to be granted Permission to Officiate in the Benefice of Moor and Dale (Cleveland Archdeaconry)
To be licensed as a Church Army Evangelist:
- Claire Lingard, to be licensed to the Benefice of Redcar (Cleveland Archdeaconry)
Three Readers will receive Long Service Awards:
- 40 years’ service: Francis Davies, Graham Jones
- 25 years’ service: Ian Popely
For more information about exploring a call to ministry through the Foundations in Ministry programme, visit the formation and training page below.
