Celebration of Lay Ministries Service

Saturday 12th September at 10.30am in York Minster

people in a service at york minster

A Celebration of Lay Ministries Service will be held on Saturday 12th September at 10.30am in York Minster to recognise and affirm the ministries of lay people in the Diocese of York.

The service will be livestreamed on YouTube – watch it here.

Watch the livestream

This service will celebrate the breadth of lay ministries across the diocese. It will include the authorisation of Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs) and the admission and licensing of Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers), as well as a recognition of those who are taking on other forms of lay ministry. There will also be an acknowledgement of the LLMs who have given long service. Archbishop Stephen will be preaching at the service.

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 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 new Licensed Lay Ministers, and LLMs transferring into the diocese from elsewhere. Long Service Awards will be presented to LLMs whose ministry has continued for many years. Licensed Lay Ministers 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.
  • A celebration of people who have been commissioned in other forms of lay ministry: Mustard Seed Community Ministers and those who have completed Catalyst Children and Youth Ministry training.

Lynn Comer, Warden of Lay Ministry for the Diocese of York, said, “It is such a joy to be able to celebrate the breadth of lay ministry we have in our diocese. Each of our lay ministers bring to this calling a wealth of unique gifts and talents, and it’s wonderful to see how they are serving God in their communities. I am grateful that we are able to recognise the essential work that they do in the life of the Church, and hope that you will join me in praying for all of our lay ministers.”