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HEREFORD DIOCESAN READERS ASSOCIATION

ORGANISATION

President: Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford
Warden: Revd Dr John Daniels (j.daniels@hereford.anglican.org; 01584 871084)
Deanery Sub-Wardens: to find your nearest Sub-Warden please click here.

In its current form in the Church of England, the office of Reader was established in 1866. Since then, the growth in Reader ministry has been a great success story and there are now over 10,000 Readers, of whom there are around 80 active in Hereford Diocese. It is the only lay ministry which is voluntary, nationally accredited, episcopally licensed and governed by Canon. In church, Readers can be distinguished from their ordained colleagues by the distinctive blue Readers' scarf.

Readers exercise what is sometimes called a teaching and preaching ministry within a pastoral context. They lead worship, teach and preach, and are engaged in a great variety of other roles according to their context - for example: pastoral work, leading Bible study groups, baptism, confirmation and marriage preparation, school assemblies, taking funerals...

They are sometimes described as 'lay theologians': their close contact with everyday situations helping them to interpret the Gospel, and to proclaim Christ's teaching both in the Church and well beyond it. Many are involved in planting new congregations and in building bridges between Church on the one hand and workplace or community on the other.

All Readers in the Diocese of Hereford, once licensed, become members of the Readers Association. Readers meet annually, usually in October, to worship together in the company of the Bishop of Hereford and to welcome new Readers. There is a business meeting complete with a speaker on some topical issue. The annual meeting alternates between the City of Hereford and Church Stretton set amongst the South Shropshire Hills.

VOCATIONS

If you believe that God may be calling you to join the ranks of Readers, please in the first instance talk to your Parish Priest, or contact the Diocesan Vocations Advisor, Revd Pam Bickley (01743 792824; revpam@stiperstones.net) or your Deanery Sub-Warden.

Click here to download the leaflet On Becoming a Reader.

The READERS COMMITTEE meets quarterly; Readers receive a quarterly bulletin with a summary of business and news. Readers' events are posted on the Diocesan Web-site Notice Board. Click here for the Committee page.

Link to the Church of England Readers site