Lay ReadersDiscernment

Process

A HandbookScottish Episcopal

Church

2016-17

Contents Role and public duties 2

Criteria for selection 3

The discernment process 5

Appendices___________________________Appendix 1. Canon 20 of Lay Readers p. 7

Appendix 2. Incumbent Recommendation Form p. 8

Appendix 3. Registration Form p. 12

Appendix 4. Comparative tables p. 19

Appendix 5. Further reading p. 25

Appendix 6. Wardens of Lay Readers and SEI staff p. 27

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This handbook provides candidates for Lay Readership and Wardens of Lay Readers, together with their incumbents and bishops, with an outline of the core responsibilities of Lay Readers and the discernment process for their selection. It aims to promote clarity, good practice and consistency across the province of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Ministry

The Ordinal (1984) of the Scottish Episcopal Church declares:

“The Church is the People of God, the Body of Christ and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. In baptism every disciple is called to make Jesus known as Saviour and Lord and to share his work in renewing the world.”

The fundamental call is to the baptised people of God to proclaim Christ and work for the Kingdom of God. Each Christian is called to represent Christ in the world in their particular way, offering the gifts which God has given them.

Some may be called to public ministry, with specific roles and responsibilities. This is a calling to be a visible focus of Christian life and action, to use particular gifts, and to undertake certain tasks on behalf of the Church.

All those in public ministry are also called, as Christian disciples like anyone else, to deepen their relationship with God through prayer and study; to seek opportunities to grow in faith; to give generously of their time and money for God’s purposes; to share the Good News of God’s Kingdom and to care for those in need and for Creation.

Lay Readers: Role and public duties

Lay Readers are theologically-trained lay people who are called to proclaim the Gospel and lead worship, serving alongside clergy to support and develop the life of a congregation. Their role is governed by Canon Law and they are episcopally-licensed.

Whilst there are certain core responsibilities and expectations of Lay Readers, the shape of their ministry depends on the gifts they bring and the context in which they serve. Lay Readers constitute a diocesan resource, and are deployed according to the needs identified by their bishop. In congregations, they serve as part of the ministry team under the leadership of the Rector. Lay Readers receive no stipend but should be offered agreed expenses of office.

Lay Readers differ from those lay people designated as having ‘recognised ministries’ – Pastoral Assistants, Eucharistic Assistants and Worship Leaders – who are not canonically recognized and who are simply authorized to one charge. They offer a lay hermeneutic of the Gospel to the church and interpreting the church to the world. Preaching, teaching and catechesis thus play a major part in their service. Lay Readers may lead and preach at Morning and Evening Prayer, and at Services of the Word. They may preach and assist at the Eucharist, but not preside; they may administer Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. With the approval of the Incumbent they may conduct funerals. They may not baptise (except, like any lay person, in emergency) or conduct weddings.

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The core responsibilities of a Lay Reader include:

Leading the Ministry of the Word or non-Eucharistic public services

Administering Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament when requested

Conducting funerals

Teaching and preaching on Sundays and during the week, both to adults and young people

Encouraging faith development, for example in study groups

Preparing candidates for baptism

Pastoral work, e.g. visiting and taking the Reserved Sacrament to the sick

Criteria for Selection

Evidence for a vocation to Lay Readership is gathered from the extent to which candidates fulfil the Criteria for Selection. Every candidate will have certain areas of particular gifting, but to fulfil the demanding public ministry of a Lay Reader, there should be evidence that they already fulfil each Criterion to some extent, or have a clear potential to do so.

The Criteria are:

Criterion A Vocation:

Candidates should be able to speak of a personal call to Lay Reader ministry that is recognised and affirmed by others. They should be willing to explore this call and seek the discernment of the wider church. They should show an understanding of what it means to be a Lay Reader. Their sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed.

Criterion B Ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church :

Candidates must be baptised, and normally have been an active member of a SEC congregation for at least two years. Candidates should show an understanding of their own tradition within the SEC, an awareness of its diversity of traditions and practice, and a commitment to learn from and work generously with difference. Candidates should have some understanding of the role of a Lay Reader in the SEC. They should be aware of the opportunities and the challenges the Church faces in contemporary Scotland.

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Criterion C Spirituality:

Candidates should show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline, which involves individual and corporate prayer and worship. They should be committed to a developing pattern of disciplined prayer, Bible study and the regular receiving of Holy Communion. Candidates should also be seeking to grow closer to God through Bible study and reflection, and be developing their ability to relate their prayer and worship to the world of home, work and society. They should be open to exploring different approaches to faith and spirituality.

Criterion D Personality and Character:

Candidates should be mature, stable and resilient, and able to cope with the demands of authorised lay ministry. Candidates should have personal integrity and be self-aware about their gifts, strengths and weaknesses.

Criterion E Relationships:

Candidates should be approachable and show a capacity to form and develop healthy personal, professional and pastoral relationships. They should demonstrate an awareness of the need for, and ability to establish and sustain appropriate boundaries between personal and professional life and within pastoral relationships. They should be able to manage conflict and show an ability to negotiate difficult relationships. Candidates should have good empathetic and listening skills and interact well with a variety of people.

Criterion F Leadership and Collaboration:

Candidates should be able to work effectively in a team, and have the potential to exercise leadership. They should be able to engage respectfully with those who disagree with them and to work with a range of different types of people

Criterion G Faith:

Candidates should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen their understanding and grow in faith. They should demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ and a mature, robust faith which shapes their life and work. Candidates should show an ability to reflect critically on their faith and make connections between faith and contemporary life. They should demonstrate a capacity to communicate their faith engagingly and effectively.

Criterion H Mission and Evangelism:

Candidates should demonstrate a personal commitment to mission that is reflected in thought, prayer and action. Candidates should be able to articulate the good news of the Kingdom appropriately in differing contexts and speak of Jesus Christ in a way that is exciting, accessible, and attractive.

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Criterion I Quality of Mind:

Candidates should have the necessary intellectual capacity and quality of mind to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and ministerial preparation and to cope with the intellectual demands of ministry. They should demonstrate a desire to learn through the integration of academic study and reflection on experience and a commitment to this as an ongoing process of learning and formation. They should be committed to developing the skills of reflective practice, and deepening their understanding of the Christian faith with an open and enquiring mind.

____________________

The Discernment process

The discernment process aims to provide clear and evidence-based grounds for recommending a candidate for formation as a Lay Reader in the Scottish Episcopal Church. (It is not a recommendation for licensing as a Lay Reader, which is made only after the final appraisal conference in formation; the decision to license is made by the Bishop.)

There may be some local variations in practice, but the outcome of this discernment process should be a recommendation consistent with Provincially-agreed criteria and evidence.

Preliminary discussion before entering the formal process

Where a member of the church feels called to Lay Readership, they may seek a preliminary discussion with the diocesan Warden of Lay Readers, to find out more about the role and functions of a Lay Reader and the commitments that will be required to training and formation, if they are accepted as a candidate.

Discernment with the incumbent

(1) The candidate should be a communicant member of a SEC congregation for at least 2 years. They should discuss their sense of call to Lay Reader ministry with their incumbent, who may also obtain the Vestry’s endorsement of the enquirer as a possible candidate.

(2) The incumbent or chaplain completes a Recommendation Form, using the agreed Criteria for Selection. This Recommendation may go to the Diocesan Office (and bishop) before going to the Warden of Lay Readers. (See Appendix 2, pp.8-11)

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Discernment with the Warden of Lay Readers

(3) The candidate meets with the Warden of Lay Readers. Topics for discussion may include:

(i) the stages of the selection process (ii) the background history and church experience of the candidate (iii) the educational background of the candidate and the expectations of the SEC regarding training (iv) the nature of Lay Reader ministry (v) the Criteria for Selection of Lay Readers and how far the candidate fulfils them (vi) any issues relevant to the particular candidate or raised by them

Discernment at the Advisory Interview

(4) Paperwork is gathered:

(a) The initial Recommendation Form from the incumbent (Appendix 2, pp.8-11) about the candidate and the future envisaged role for him or her as a Lay Reader in the congregation, updated by the incumbent if appropriate

(b) Notes from the discernment process with the Warden of Lay Readers (c) A Registration Form (Appendix 3, pp.12-18)

(5) The Advisory Interview is conducted by the Warden of Lay Readers, supported by, for example, another Warden of Lay Readers, an experienced Lay Reader or an experienced priest in the diocese.

(6) The outcome of the Advisory Interview is a recommendation to the bishop as to whether or not the candidate should proceed to formation as a Lay Reader.

Discernment by the Bishop

(7) The Warden of Lay Readers reports to the bishop of the recommendation following the Advisory Interview.

(8) The Bishop may see the candidate at this point if he or she has not already done so.

(9) The Bishop communicates his or her decision to the candidate and Warden of Lay Readers

(10) The Warden of Lay Readers communicates any candidacy for formation to the Principal of SEI, accompanied by the candidate’s Registration Form and Advisory Interview report.

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Appendix 1. Canon 20 Of Lay Readers________________________________________________________________

Note : This Canon applies to those who are at the point of licensing, after discernment and formation as Lay Readers. The Canons and Forms of declaration and licence may be found in the Code of Canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church at http://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/Code-of-Canons-2015.pdf, p.62 (Canon 20) and pp.168-9 (Appendix no. 19).

(Appendix 19 referred to in Canon 20 does not appear in this Handbook)

1. The Bishop of any diocese may appoint men or women Lay Readers to serve in that diocese as that Bishop may deem expedient, always subject to the limitations laid down in Canon 37, Section 3.

2. The Bishop shall require every Lay Reader to sign a declaration in terms of Form B, Appendix No.19, and may thereafter issue a licence in terms of Form C, Appendix No.19, or in such other form as the Bishop may deem right.

3. Every Lay Reader so appointed shall be subject to the regulations bearing on the discharge of duties of Lay Readers prescribed by the Bishop of the diocese, and the licence given may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of the Bishop.

4. No Lay Reader shall be appointed to serve in any part of the diocese in which there is a Rector without the consent of that Rector. A newly appointed Rector may apply to the Bishop within twelve months of taking up the appointment to have the licence terminated.

Resolution under Canon 20

Resolution 1

A Rector who desires to have a Lay Reader appointed, shall, with the permission of and subject to the approval of the Bishop of the diocese, make a nomination in terms of Form A, Appendix No.19, such nomination to be accompanied by the names of two adult communicants ready to testify to the character and fitness of the proposed Lay Reader, should confidential inquiry be made of them by the Bishop.

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Appendix 2: Incumbent Recommendation Form_______________________________________________________________

(1) Candidate details

Candidate’s name ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

E-mail/phone …………………………………………………………………………..

Congregation …………………………………………………………………………..

How long have you been discussing the idea of Reader ministry with the candidate? ……..……

How long has the candidate been a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church? …………….

How long has the candidate been a member of your congregation? …………….

What is their pattern of attendance?

Has the Vestry been consulted yet about this candidacy? …………….

(2) Criteria for Selection

Please comment below under each section on the evidence that the candidate is fulfilling the following Criteria for Selection or has the potential to do so.

A Vocation

Candidates should be able to speak of a personal call to Lay Reader ministry that is recognised and affirmed by others. They should be willing to explore this call and seek the discernment of the wider church. They should show an understanding of what it means to be a Lay Reader. Their sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed.

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B Ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church

Candidates should show an understanding of their own tradition within the SEC, an awareness of its diversity of traditions and practice, and a commitment to learn from and work generously with difference. Candidates should have some understanding of the role of a Lay Reader in the SEC. They should be aware of the opportunities and the challenges the Church faces in contemporary Scotland.

C Spirituality:

Candidates should show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline, which involves individual and corporate prayer and worship. They should be committed to a developing pattern of disciplined prayer, Bible study and the regular receiving of Holy Communion. Candidates should be seeking to grow closer to God through Bible study and reflection, and be developing their ability to relate their prayer and worship to the world of home, work and society. They should be open to exploring different approaches to faith and spirituality.

D Personality and Character:

Candidates should be mature, stable, resilient and reliable, and able to cope with the demands of authorised lay ministry. Candidates should have personal integrity and be self-aware about their gifts, strengths and weaknesses.

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E Relationships:

Candidates should be approachable and show a capacity to form and develop healthy personal, professional and pastoral relationships. They should demonstrate an awareness of the need for, and ability to establish and sustain appropriate boundaries between personal and professional life and within pastoral relationships. They should be able to manage conflict and show an ability to negotiate difficult relationships. Candidates should have good empathetic and listening skills and interact well with a variety of people.

F Leadership and Collaboration:

Candidates should be able to work effectively in a team, and have the potential to exercise leadership. They should be able to engage respectfully with those who disagree with them and to work with a range of different types of people.

G Faith:

Candidates should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen their understanding and grow in faith. They should demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ and a mature, robust faith which shapes their life and work. Candidates should show an ability to reflect critically on their faith and make connections between faith and contemporary life. They should demonstrate a capacity to communicate their faith engagingly and effectively.

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H Mission and Evangelism:

Candidates should demonstrate a personal commitment to mission that is reflected in thought, prayer and action. Candidates should be able to articulate the good news of the Kingdom appropriately in differing contexts and speak of Jesus Christ in a way that is exciting, accessible, and attractive.

I Quality of Mind:

Candidates should have the necessary intellectual capacity and quality of mind to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and ministerial preparation and to cope with the intellectual demands of Lay Reader ministry. They should demonstrate a desire to learn through the integration of academic study and reflection on experience and a commitment to this as an ongoing process of learning and formation. They should be committed to developing the skills of reflective practice, and deepening their understanding of the Christian faith with an open and enquiring mind.

(4) Other information

Please also add any other information you think might be relevant including any comments from the Vestry:

Signed ……………………………………… Date…………………………

Name in capitals ....…………………………………..

(Please send to the Warden of Readers for your diocese)

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Appendix 3: Registration Form________________________________________________________________

LAY READER REGISTRATION FORM

CONFIDENTIAL

This form may be typed or hand written, but please use BLACK INK and make it LEGIBLE as it will be photocopied for the use of Bishops’ Advisers. It is available electronically from http://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/vocation-and-ministry/

If the form is handwritten, please complete Questions (1)(6) in BLOCK CAPITALS.

(1) TITLE:

(2) SURNAME:

(3) FORENAMES :(Please underline the name you prefer to use)

(4) PERMANENT ADDRESS:

(5) PHONE: Day:

Evening:

Mobile:

(6) EMAIL ADDRESS:

(7) DATES: Birth:

Baptism:

(8) CHURCH you usually attend: Diocese:

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Postcode:

(9) EDUCATION: Please give brief details of secondary and further education, eg. Highers, A levels, Diplomas, Degrees, listing the most recent first.

DATESFrom To

PLACE OF EDUCATION EXAM / QUALIFI-CATION

SUBJECT/S PASS/FAILOR GRADE

(10) PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

DATESFrom To

QUALIFICATION AWARDING BODY DATE

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(11) CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONPlease give details of lay training or study of Christian faith that you have undertaken. (Theology degrees should be included at question 9)

DATE (approx.) PROVIDER OF TRAINING/STUDY CONTENT OF TRAINING/STUDY

(12) OCCUPATION SINCE LEAVING FULL-TIME EDUCATION Please list brief details of your occupations, starting with the most recent.

DATESFrom To

NAME, LOCATION AND BUSINESS OF EMPLOYERif applicable

POSITION HELD AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

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(13) CHURCH INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERIENCEGive details of Anglican congregations, and other Christian churches, where you have worshipped regularly, and list any positions of responsibility or leadership held. Please list them in reverse chronological order, starting with your current place of worship.

DATES CHURCH and LOCATION ANY POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY OR LEADERSHIP HELD

(14) LEISURE INTERESTS What are your main leisure interests and hobbies? What attracts you to them?

(15) MAIN INFLUENCES AND EVENTSLooking at your life as a whole, indicate the events which you feel have most affected you, eg. changes relating not only to education and work requirements, but also to home, location, family and personal circumstances. List the events separately, and in chronological order, starting with those earliest in your life. Give a brief indication of how they influenced your life.

YEAR AGE INFLUENCES AND EVENTS

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(16) SELF ASSESSMENT Please briefly describe yourself and your temperament, including your gifts and preferences, strengths and weaknesses.

(17) CHRISTIAN FAITHSummarise the most important elements of your own Christian faith. Why are they important to you? What is at the heart of the good news you want to share with other people?

(18) SENSE OF CALLINGWhat has made you think that God may be calling you to Lay Reader ministry? What effect has your sense of vocation had on you?

(19) PRAYER LIFEDescribe your pattern of individual and corporate prayer. Indicate the sources of your spiritual

support and guidance.

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(20) PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPSTo whom do you relate most closely? From whom do you draw sustenance for the demands of life and who might sustain you in your future ministry?

(21) OTHER INFORMATION Is there anything which has not been covered in the questions above which you would like to

mention?

This information will be shared as necessary with the Bishop, those involved in the discernment process and the staff of the Scottish Episcopal Institute. I agree that you may use my personal information as described above.

Signed............................................................. Date.............................................

The completed form should be returned to your Warden of Lay Readers.

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Appendix 4 Comparative Tables________________________________________________________________

(1) Comparison of core responsibilities

LAY READER INCUMBENT PRIEST

ASSISTANT PRIEST

CHAPLAIN DISTINCTIVEDEACON

Praying for those committed to their care.

Praying for those committed to their care

Praying for those committed to their care

Leading the Ministry of the Word or non-Eucharistic public services.Administering the Reserved Sacrament at services when requested.If authorised, conducting funerals.

Presiding at worship and celebrating the sacraments.Preparation and development of liturgy.

Presiding or assisting at worship and celebrating the sacraments, at the direction of the Incumbent

Providing opportunities for spiritual practice as appropriate

Assisting priests at the Eucharist.Reading the Gospel.Leading intercessions.

Conducting baptisms.

Teaching and preaching on Sundays and during the week .

Encouraging faith development, for example in study groups.Preparing candidates for baptism.

Teaching and preaching on Sundays and during the week.

Nurturing Christian faith

Teaching and preaching on Sundays and during the week.

Nurturing Christian faith

Teaching the Christian faith to those who seek it.

Nurturing Christian faith

Teaching and preaching the Christian faith.Training intercessors.Drawing people to Christian faith.

Preparing candidates for baptism.

Encouraging and equipping God’s people in mission

Leading and equipping God’s people in mission.

Encouraging and equipping God’s people in mission.

Being a Christian presence in the chaplaincy context

Serving the wider Church in its tasks of building up the people of God and encouraging and equipping its mission to the world.

Pastoral work, eg. visiting and distributing the Reserved Sacrament to the sick.

Pastoral care through visiting and sacramental ministry.

Pastoral care through visiting and sacramental ministry.

Sharing time with those in the institution; offering counselling and a listening ear.

Distributing the Reserved Sacrament to the sick.

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LAY READER INCUMBENT PRIEST

ASSISTANT PRIEST

CHAPLAIN DISNTICTIVE DEACON

Establishing relationships with secular groups, schools and civic bodies.

Being an advocate for those in their care who need a voice.

Serving in the community and challenging it in the name of the Kingdom

Chairing the Vestry

Ensuring the administration of the congregation is done.

Serving the diocese and Province, by taking on particular responsibilities e.g. serving on committees, chapters and Synods, or caring for and promoting a particular aspect of the wider Church’s life.

Exercising oversight of other local priests, such as through regular meetings, coordinating mission strategies, chairing the vestries of other charges, leading worship occasionally at their churches and reporting to the bishop.

Undertaking duties associated with a congregation or chapel as requested by the incumbent.

Serving the diocese and Province appropriate, and making all possible connections between the place of chaplaincy and the wider Church.

Serving the bishop in diocesan tasks, such as fostering missional work in congregations.

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(2) Criteria for Selection

LAY READER PRIEST(with criteria for Incumbents in italics)

DISTINCTIVE DEACON

VOCATION

Candidates should be able to speak of a personal call to Lay reader ministry that is recognised and affirmed by others. They should be willing to explore this call and seek the discernment of the wider church.They should show an understanding of what it means to be a Lay Reader.

Candidates should be able to articulate a sense of vocation to ordained ministry and reflect on the effect of this on their life.They should be able to speak of the development of their inner conviction and the extent to which others have confirmed it. They should be able to show an understanding of what it means to be a priest.

Candidates should be able to articulate a sense of vocation to the diaconal ministry, and to have had practical experience of mission.

They should be able to show an understanding of both the missional and prophetic calling of a deacon.

Their sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed.

MINISTRY IN THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Candidates must be baptised. Candidates must be baptised and confirmed.

Candidates should normally have been an active member of a SEC congregation for at least two years. They should show an understanding of their own tradition within the SEC, an awareness of its

diversity of traditions and practice, and a commitment to learn from and work generously with difference.

Candidates should have some understanding of the role of a Lay Reader in the SEC.

They should be aware of the opportunities and the challenges the Church faces in contemporary Scotland.

Candidates should be able to speak of the distinctiveness of ordained ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church and of what it means to exercise public ministry.

They should be able to reflect on changes in contemporary society and the implications of this for ministry and the Church.

Candidates should be able to speak of the distinctiveness of diaconal ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church and have some grasp of the historic understanding of the diaconate. They should be open to the possibilities for diaconal ministry as deployed by the bishop in the local church and beyond.

SPIRITUALITY

Candidates should show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline that includes individual and corporate prayer and worship.

They should be committed to a developing pattern of disciplined prayer, Bible study and the regular receiving of Holy Communion.

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LAY READER PRIEST DISTINCTIVE DEACON

SPIRITUALITY (cont.)Candidates should be seeking to grow closer to God through Bible study and reflection, and be developing their ability to relate their prayer and worship to the world of home, work and society. They should be open to exploring different approaches to faith and spirituality.

Candidates should be able to show how they discern God’s activity in their life, how their spiritual practice may have changed over time and how it is changing them. They should be able to reflect on how engagement with the world and others both affects, and is affected by, their practice of prayer. Their spiritual practice should be able to sustain and energise them in daily life and future ministry.

Candidates should demonstrate commitment to loving service in the Church rooted in a growing love of God in Christ. Candidates should have some awareness of the liturgical role of the deacon.

PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

Candidates should be mature, stable and resilient, and able to cope with the demands of authorised lay ministry.

Candidates should have personal integrity and be self-aware about their gifts, strengths and weaknesses.

Candidates should be sufficiently self-aware, mature and stable to show that they are able to sustain the demanding role of an ordained minister. They should be able to demonstrate how they have faced change and pressure in a balanced and flexible way and how they manage stress.Candidates should be seen to be people of integrity who can generate trust and display honesty. They should be able to speak of how they have coped with difficult life experiences, how they have reflected upon them and incorporated them within their life and understanding.

Candidates should be outgoing, and keenly aware of and responsive to ‘need’ both in individuals and in society as a whole. They should be individuals who are particularly challenged by injustice and oppression. They should be open to others and also able to keep confidences. They should be developing and acting upon important interests and concerns out with the Church.

RELATIONSHIPS

Candidates should be approachable and show a capacity to form and develop healthy personal, professional and pastoral relationships

They should demonstrate an awareness of the need for, and ability to establish and sustain appropriate boundaries between personal and professional life and within pastoral relationships.

They should be able to manage conflict and show an ability to negotiate difficult relationships.

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LAY READER PRIEST(with criteria for Incumbents in italics)

DISTINCTIVE DEACON

RELATIONSHIPS (cont.)

Candidates should have good empathetic and listening skills and interact well with a variety of people.

Candidates should demonstrate good interpersonal skills, the willingness to learn from experience, and a commitment to building inclusive relationships within diversity. They should show the potential to exercise effective pastoral care.

LEADERSHIP

Candidates should be able to work effectively in a team, and have the potential to exercise leadership.

They should be able to engagerespectfully with those who disagree with them and to work with a range of different types of people.

Candidates should demonstrate an ability to offer leadership in the Church community and in the wider community as appropriate. This ability includes the capacity to offer an example of faith and discipleship which is inspiring to others and witnesses to the servanthood of Christ.

They should show a commitment to identifying and nurturing the gifts of others and be able to collaborate effectively. Candidates should be able to identify their own leadership style, and reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of this and of the different ways in which leadership may be exercised within the Church. They should be able to be flexible and adaptable in leadership and demonstrate ability to guide and shape the life of the Church community in its mission to the world.

Incumbents should show potential for creative leadership and for exercising team leadership.

Candidates should appreciate the value of different roles within the whole Body of Christ, and be committed to fostering lay ministry.

They should have some experience of working with groups, and demonstrate an ability to recognise, equip and mobilise the gifts of others.

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LAY READER PRIEST(with criteria for Incumbents in italics)

DISTINCTIVE DEACON

FAITH

Candidates should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen their understanding and grow in faith.

They should demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ and a mature, robust faith which shapes their life and work. Candidates should show an ability to reflect critically on their faith

and make connections between faith and contemporary life. They should demonstrate a capacity to communicate their faith engagingly and effectively.

MISSION AND EVANGELISM

Candidates should demonstrate a personal commitment to mission that is reflected in thought, prayer and action. Candidates should be able to articulate

the good news of the Kingdom appropriately in differing contexts and speak of Jesus Christ in a way that is exciting, accessible, and attractive.

Candidates should show a wide and inclusive understanding of mission and strategic issues and opportunities within contemporary culture. They should enable others to develop their vocations as witnesses of the good news.

Incumbents should show potential as leaders of mission and have the potential to engage in mission-shaped ministry.

Candidates should demonstrate an excitement about the loving and saving purpose of God for the world, and have a firm desire to share this by word and deed. They will have appropriate gifts of communication. They should recognise and have some experience of both the missional aspect and the prophetic element of diaconal ministry.

QUALITY OF MIND

Candidates should have the necessary intellectual capacity and quality of mind to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and ministerial preparation

and to cope with the intellectual demands of ministry. They should demonstrate a desire to learn

through the integration of academic study and reflection on experience and a commitment to this as an ongoing process of learning and formation.

They should be committed to developing the skills of reflective practice, and deepening their understanding of the Christian faith with an open and enquiring mind.

Candidates should show flexibility of mind, openness to change and challenge, and the capacity to facilitate learning and theological reflection within the Church community.

Incumbents should have the potential to be a theological leader in mission.

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Appendix 5 Further reading________________________________________________________________

Susan G. Farnham and others: Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community (Morehouse Publishing, re-edition 2011)

Cathy Rowling and Paula Gooder: Reader Ministry explored (SPCK, 2009)

Gordon Kuhrt: An Introduction to Christian Ministry (CHP, 2000)

Gordon Kuhrt: Bridging the Gap – Reader Ministry Today (CHP, 2002)

Margaret Magdelen, Vocation. Exploring Call and Identity (Grover Booklet S 105, 2008)

Stephen Platten, Vocation: singing the Lord’s song in a strange land (SPCK, 2007)

Helen Thorp. When the Church says ‘No’ (Grove Booklet P 98, 2004)

Charles Read and Philip Tovey: Reader Ministry Today (Grove Booklet W 203, 2010)

Websites:

http://www.cpas.org.uk/advice-and-support/exploring-call: tools to help you discern your call, including online ‘Exploring your SHAPE’ (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience)

http://www.aftersunday.org.uk/main-resources/exploring-vocation: an approach to vocation in general

http://www.readers.cofe.anglican.org/index.php: the Church of England’s site for Readers

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/vocation-and-ministry/: the Scottish Episcopal Church’s vocation and ministry page on the Provincial website

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/publications/liturgies/communion-from-the-reserved-sacrament-1997/ : Scottish Episcopal Liturgy for Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament with guidelines

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/publications/liturgies/ : Liturgies of the Scottish Episcopal Church

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/publications/code-of-canons/ : Code of Canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church

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Appendix 6 Wardens of Lay Readers and SEI staff________________________________________________________________

Wardens of Lay Readers:

Diocese Name Email Tel.noAberdeen Mrs Avril

Hernavrilhern@mac.com 01467 642536

Argyll and the Isles

Mr Donald Shell

donald.shell@googlemail.com 01631 562688

Brechin Dr Peter Smart

smartpeterdr@btinternet.com 01674 840789

Edinburgh Mrs Janet McKinnell

janet.mckinnell@btinternet.com 01368 850604

Glasgow Mr Kevin Boak

kevin@boak.fsworld.co.uk 01436 676852

Moray, Ross and

Caithness

Revd Canon Ian Pallett

pallett3000@btinternet.com 01349 862204

St Andrews, Dunkeld and

Dunblane

Revd Canon Dr. Bob Harley

robert.harley@gmx.co.uk 01575 575515

Scottish Episcopal Institute (SEI): 21 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EE email: institute@scotland.anglican.org phone: 0131 243 1356

SEI Staff:

Principal: Revd Canon Dr. Anne Tomlinson email: principal@scotland.anglican.org

Director of Studies: Revd Dr Mike Hull email: DoS@scotland.anglican.org

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