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1.1 This handbook has been prepared to provide the necessary guidelines and direction to Lay Readers outlining the basic standards of academic instruction, conduct, and dress associated with executing their duties.
1.2 This Handbook and the Office of the Warden are considered supportive resources for the Parish Incumbent in the training, development, and deployment of Lay Readers under their supervision and direction.
1.3 The use of this program and its success in building up and affirming laity in their various ministries requires the support and continued interest of the Parish Incumbent.
1.4 We seek to provide a loose framework that is realistic, practical, and conducive to promoting expressions of lay ministry within the Church.
1.5 We see the value of allowing men and women responding to a call to ministry to develop an expression of lay ministry that helps build the Body of Christ within the context in which they find themselves.
2.1 Any regular confirmed communicant in the Diocese of the Diocese of the Mid-Eastern States who is financially supported by the Parish and has reached their 16th birthday may be eligible to become a Lay Reader.
2.2 Those seeking to covenant in the Diocese as Lay Readers are expected to be reasonably proficient at reading in public.
2.3 Candidates should be skilled and informed members of the local Christian community.
2.4 Candidates should respond to the Lord’s call to serve on the Parish ministry team and be prepared to assist the Incumbent in assigned duties.
2.5 A standardized Form of Registration is provided in Appendix A.
2.6 All covenants must be over the Incumbent’s signature with their agreement as an affirmation of ministry in the life of the Church for the applicant.
2.7 The general Vestry of the Parish must support all Parochial Lay Reader applications.
2.8 The Deanery Council must support all Diocesan Lay Reader applications.
Each Candidate should have one or more areas of special interest (c.f. 3.5 below) besides Liturgical interests.
The Candidate’s interests should not be solely liturgical, and where this is a concern, the Candidate should indicate at least one other area of interest.
The communion of Lay Readers in the Diocese endeavors to be a ministry of the Spirit, providing a context in which each one may attain the unity inherent in our faith and our knowledge of the Son of God.
Because resource materials change constantly in all modern areas of Christian interest, the Candidate is advised to consult their Incumbent and the Warden of Lay Readers regarding recent relevant materials.
Suggested areas of proficiency and interest:
1. Liturgical
Candidates should indicate to their Incumbent:
a. An ability to read Lessons and service parts.
b. A knowledge of the Book of Common Prayer, the Book of Alternative Services, and other liturgical texts as authorized occasionally by the Bishop.
2. Pastoral
Candidates should indicate to their Incumbent:
a. how their talents may be used in the Parish under the Incumbent’s supervision.
b. a knowledge of basic counseling techniques.
3. Administration
Participation in Advisory Boards, Boards of Management, member visitation, and similar Parish activities.
4. Education
Candidates should indicate to their Incumbent:
3. Specific Goals:
a. An active participation in the Parish educational program at the child, youth, or adult levels in a leadership role;
b. a knowledge of the principles of the educational program as developed in the Parish.
c. an awareness of general church school curricula, especially those in current use.
5. Social Action
Candidates should indicate to their Incumbent:
a. participation at the Parish level in task groups or associations for social action in their communities.
b. be active in movements outside the Parish, such as AA, Health associations, etc.
C. understand the evangelical role of the Church in the world.
d. be knowledgeable of Governmental plans for social assistance and social agencies generally.
1. Christian Community
To foster an open, sharing group, giving support to one the other
in Christ.
2. Continuing Education
3. Spiritual Growth
4. Team Ministry
3. Objectives
Offering opportunities to grow in ministry skills. To ensure the spiritual nurture of Lay Readers.
To learn to work with the Incumbent and others in the church ministry.
1. Encourage the lay readers to be members of the parish worship planning committee. 2. Open, informative, and sharing meetings on a Deanery level at least annually under the auspices of an elected Deanery leader.
3. Encourage continuing education by holding annual Lay Reader conferences and Deanery initiatives using local resources and those obtained through the Warden. Deanery Lay Readers will elect a Deanery Education Director to organize and coordinate these initiatives.
Applications
4. Applications for licensing as Diocesan Lay Reader are made to the Bishop through the Warden of Lay Readers on the recommendation of the Candidate’s Deanery Archdeacon and the Candidate’s Incumbent after completion of either the A.Th. Diploma or upon completion of the following courses from the A.Th. study program, or their equivalent:
a. Old Testament
b. New Testament
c. Basic Christian Doctrine
d. Ancient African Christianity
e. Liturgy
f. Early Church History.
In addition, the approval of the Deanery Council must be obtained if the Candidate has not previously been a Parochial Lay Reader. In that case, satisfactory evidence of competence in Liturgy and preaching is required, either by submission of a Videotape or by examination by a Diocesan examiner. The application form to be used is to be found in Appendix B.
In addition, the Diocesan Lay Reader should covenant with their Incumbent to clarify their functions within the Parish where they usually attend.
The Incumbent makes covenants for Parochial Lay Readers upon his induction, as new candidates present themselves, and are renewed annually.
Notifications of transfers to an Inactive list may be directed to the Warden by either the Incumbent or the Lay Reader.
During the vacancy of a Parish, covenants will remain in force until the appointment of a new incumbent.
Lay Pastors in charge of parishes function as parish Incumbents insofar as the regulations within this manual are concerned. When a Lay Reader is in charge of a parish, supervision, and applications for their licensing will be via the Deanery’s Archdeacon.
Upon the consecration of a new Bishop, all Diocesan Lay Reader licenses will automatically end. The Bishop will grant new permits without the need for new applications.
4. Classification and Organization
Parochial Lay Readers are covenanted only to function in the Parish. They may assist in other parishes with the express approval of their Incumbent.
Diocesan Lay Readers may function in any Parish within the Diocese upon request of the Bishop. They will generally be under the authority of the Archdeacon of their Deanery, who will be responsible for coordinating their services.
Lay Readers may be placed on the Inactive List
a. Should the Candidate be unable to perform their duties as requested by
the Incumbent
b. Should a change in Incumbents not result in a new covenant?
c. Should the Candidate move to another Parish and the Incumbent not desire their services as a Lay Reader?
d. Should the Candidate move outside the jurisdiction of the Diocese and wish to maintain their qualifications as a former Lay Reader of the Diocese?
Responsibility
6.1 The Lay Reader should be able to read and be prepared to do so at the Incumbent’s direction with whom they are covenanted.
6.2 The Lay Reader should lead in Public Worship of Almighty God and may function as a Eucharistic Assistant in the Parish where they are covenanted at the Incumbent’s discretion.
6.3 Parochial Lay Readers who have received appropriate instruction may preach sermons of their composition.
6.4 Diocesan Lay Readers may be requested by the Bishop or the Archdeacon of their Deanery to take additional positions of Teaching or Leadership in a Parish which is vacant and may lead in Public Worship and preach in other Deanery Parishes at the direction of the Archdeacon.
6.5 The Lay Reader should be open to God the Holy Spirit’s leading in fulfilling those ministry opportunities outlined in Section 3.5 above.
Renewal and Updating Process
7.1 All Parochial Lay Readers who change their addresses or phone numbers should communicate the new information to the Warden so that mailings to them can continue.
7.2 At Diocesan Synods, a listing of all Parochial Lay Readers and information regarding addresses, phone numbers, Email addresses, and other status information will be posted. Incumbents are responsible for reviewing this information, correcting errors, and updating the information.
7.3 Diocesan Lay Reader’s Licenses are renewed biannually at the request of the Deanery Archdeacon. Renewal request forms will be sent to the appropriate Archdeacon by the Warden of Lay Readers for completion.
7.4 Renewal stickers are to be attached to the left-hand side of the Diocesan Lay Reader’s license.
Transfers
Parochial Lay Readers are covenanted in a Parish under the supervision of an Incumbent; therefore, a new covenant must be entered in the event of a change in either the Parish or the Incumbent.
Lay Readers moving into the Diocese of Daystarfrom other Dioceses in the Anglican Communion wishing to function as a Lay Reader in this Diocese should provide the Incumbent with:
a. a photocopy of their most recent license;
b. a letter of recommendation from the priest under whose supervision
they held a license.
c. If the transferring Lay Reader has had training in the past deemed to be the
the equivalent of a Diocesan Lay Reader, then the above documents, together with evidence of the qualifications, should be submitted to the Warden of Lay Readers, who will make a recommendation to the Bishop.
TRAINING PROCESS
Those training as Lay Readers (Parochial or Diocesan) should be active in the training process and used at the Incumbent’s discretion to fulfill Lay Reader’s duties in the Parish under their supervision.
Disciplines for Study by those preparing to become a Parochial Lay Reader include:
Reader’s vocation.
A course of Study covering the above is available from the Warden of Lay Readers. It is suitable for group study but can be used (with minor modification) for individual Study with the assistance of a tutor.
All lay readers in the Diocese are expected and encouraged to participate in Diocesan actively- and Deanery-sponsored events to keep abreast of current concerns and maintain a high standard of training for lay ministry throughout the Diocese.
9.510. Insignia and Vesture
10.1 It is essential that every Lay Reader has their vestment and logo; however, the Lay Reader should not be expected to bear the entire cost of providing their vestments
10.2 The normal vesture for the Choir Offices is the black cassock and white surplice.
10.3 At the Choir Offices, a degree or diploma hood may be worn where the Lay Reader has a University or College degree or certificate.
10.4 Where it is the custom, the Lay Reader shall wear the alb at the Eucharist.
10.5 Those training to become Lay Readers shall wear no insignia but a white alb with a white cincture, such as anyone engaged in a liturgical function may wear, representing as it does a baptismal garment.
10.6 The Parochial Lay Reader may wear a blue scarf about the neck, seven inches in width and approximately sixty inches in length, or a Daystar Lay Reader’s Medal on a blue ribbon.
10.7 The Diocesan Lay Reader shall wear both the Daystar Diocesan Lay Reader’s medal on a blue ribbon and a Blue scarf as above, with the Daystar Diocesan crest affixed on the left side of the scarf, 4 inches from the bottom.
If approved by the Incumbent, 10.8 Parish crests, etc., may be similarly affixed to the bottom Right side of the Blue scarf by Parochial or Diocesan Lay Readers.
10.9 Medals and Diocesan crests may be obtained through the Warden of Lay Readers. (Appendix F.) Lay Reader’s scarves may be obtained from the Anglican Book Centre. (Address may be found in Appendix E.)
The Inactive List
11.1 For various reasons, Lay Readers who cannot be active for some time may find it desirable to maintain a record of their credentials as a Lay Reader. These persons will be placed on the Inactive List.
11.2 Application to be placed on the Inactive List may be made by either the Candidate or their Incumbent.
11.3 Lay Readers may be placed on the Inactive List for any of the following reasons:
Inability to perform their duties as requested by the Incumbent.
Jurisdiction
12.1 The license issued by the Bishop to a Diocesan Lay Reader authorizes the Lay Reader to function within the Diocese at the pleasure and under the supervision of the Bishop, within the Deanery under the supervision of the Archdeacon, and within the Parish under the supervision of the Incumbent.
12.2 The covenant between an incumbent and a Parochial Lay Reader authorizes the Lay Reader to function within the Parish under the supervision of the Incumbent.
12.3 Parochial Lay Readers may serve in parishes other than their own at the request of the Bishop or Incumbent of that Parish and with the express permission of the Incumbent under whose supervision and direction they are covenanted
12.4 Nothing in this Handbook shall be construed as preventing other laity from reading the scriptures during worship.