Thirteen new lay ministers will be licensed during a Service on Saturday 12th September at 10.30am in York Minster.
This service will celebrate the breadth of lay ministries across the diocese. It will include the authorisation of Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs), the admission and licensing of Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and Licensed Lay Workers, 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.
The service will include 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.
Tracy Carr says, “Mothering Sunday 2018 was the first time I set foot in my local church. I was made very welcome and just felt like I belonged, I couldn’t explain what was happening to me. The overwhelming feeling of love and the urge to do more grew stronger, and I was asked if I would like to be licensed as a Reader. I did not think I would be suitable, but I have really surprised myself regarding my capabilities. I may have found my faith late in life, but what a journey!”
Adrian Wallace says, “When I was 20 my Minister asked me to preach at a student service. I found preparing and preaching that first sermon terrifying, but hugely rewarding. Nearly 30 years later my Rector asked if I would preach at a Service of the Word, which led me into becoming a Recognised Parish Assistant in 2018. When I retired from full time employment taking this further by becoming an LLM (Reader) seemed like the natural thing to do.”
David Norman says, “Having grown up in a different church context, it was discovering Evensong and the Book of Common Prayer as a university student that drew me into the Church of England. I was confirmed in my final year of university, and about that time I started to sense some sort of calling to ministry. I felt especially drawn to the preaching and teaching aspects of LLM (Reader) ministry, as well as the leading of Morning and Evening Prayer. I am very excited to be licensed for this public ministry, but above all I am thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to assist in the proclamation of the Good News.”
Archbishop Stephen will be preaching and presiding at the service.
Those being admitted and licensed as Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) are:
Cleveland Archdeaconry
- Paul Pepper, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Thirsk
East Riding Archdeaconry
- Josiah Beynon, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Emmanuel Bridlington and Barmston with Fraisthorpe
- Bruce Clark, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Hertford
- Bill Fearnehough, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Scarborough, St Mary w Christ Church and Holy Apostles
- Carolyn Kirk, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Beverley St Mary
- Carol Ann Slade, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Emmanuel Bridlington and Barmston with Fraisthorpe
- Jane Todd, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Beverley St John and St Martin with Routh All Saints
- Adrian Wallace, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Cherry Burton
York Archdeaconry
- Tracy Carr, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Riccall, Barlby and Hemingbrough (held in plurality with Bubwith and Skipwith)
- Julie Geary, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Haddlesey w Hambleton and Birkin and the Benefice of Carlton and Drax
- David Norman, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of York All Saints, Pavement w St Crux and St Michael Spurriergate (held in plurality with York St Olave w St Giles, York St Helen Stonegate w St Martin Coney Street & York St Denys)
- Mary Okeudo-Cogan, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Escrick and Stillingfleet w Naburn (held in plurality with Derwent Ings)
- Nicola Simpson, to be admitted as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) and licensed to the Benefice of Haxby and Wigginton
Those being licensed on transfer are:
- Angela Coggins, to be licensed to the Benefice of Emmanuel Bridlington and Barmston with Fraisthorpe (East Riding Archdeaconry)
- Rosemary Glave, to be licensed to the Benefice of Sherburn-in-Elmet w Saxton (York Archdeaconry)
