20th September 2009

67 Lay Ministers were authorised by the Bishop of Huntingdon, Dr David Thomson, at a service in Ely Cathedral on Sunday 20 September. Hundreds of people from local churches came to support the candidates.

The service also included a commissioning of the local ministry teams with whom the newly authorised ministers will share their ministry under the leadership of their Vicar or Rector.

The new Lay Ministers have just completed a year's training programme designed to help them build the skills needed for specialised service in the Christian ministry within parishes across Cambridgeshire and West Norfolk.

Authorised Lay Ministers can serve in a variety of capacities as: administrators; children’s ministers; evangelists; music ministers; pastoral assistants; pioneer ministers; social awareness ministers; worship leaders and youth ministers within parishes.

At the same service 59 Lay Ministers, authorised in 2006, were re-commissioned to continue working in their local parishes.

“This third ALM training year in the Diocese has been a great success – and very enjoyable too,” said the Revd Christine Worsley, Ministerial and Adult Learning Officer. “The commissioning marks the end of the course but it is also a new beginning, as those commissioned seek to respond with others to God’s call to service within their local communities.”

For details and more information:

Bishops’ Press Officer:
Canon Owen Spencer-Thomas
52 Windsor Road
Cambridge
CB4 3JN

Phone: 01223 358448
Mobile: 07801 492151
E-mail: Owen.Spencer-Thomas@ely.anglican.org

20th September 2009
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