Licensed Lay Ministry Training
L to R: Daphne Calvert (Registrar), Tony Harper, Andrew Deller, Frances Leadon, Ruth Terrell, Bishop David Thomson, Shirley Holder, Helen Randall, Mary Sutton, John Marshall, John Dickinson. All LLMs who joined the Diocese in 2009.
Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) or Readers are lay people in the Church of England, from all walks of life, who are called by God, theologically trained and licensed by the Church to preach, teach, lead worship and assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work. Some also exercise their ministry in their workplace or in a chaplaincy context such as a hospital or prison.
As lay people, trained in biblical and theological studies, Licensed Lay Ministers have their own particular contribution to make as part of the calling of the whole people of God to share in the mission of God in the world
Licensed Lay Ministry is a nationally accredited ministry with licensing being carried out by the Bishop. For more general information about LLMs look on the national Readers’ website.
In the Ely Diocese the Ministry Team provide both the initial training programme for those wishing to become LLMs and continuing training for those already licensed.
In 2008 a report called Reader Upbeat was presented to General Synod. The report explores the challenges and opportunities facing Reader ministry (Licensed Lay Ministry) and offers recommendations to the Church at local, diocesan and national level. You can read the main recommendations and action points of the report here and the response from the Ely Diocese here.
- Download 'From Selection to Licensing' document
- Download 'Reader Upbeat Recommendations and Action Points' document
- Download 'Response to Reader Upbeat!' document