If you believe that you may be called to Reader ministry, this should be discussed initially with your chaplain. You will need his or her support, together with that of the Chaplaincy Council, at every stage of the process. The chaplain and Chaplaincy Council must nominate you to be licensed as a Reader.

In the situation of the Diocese in Europe, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish your sense of calling from the chaplaincy’s need, which may be immediate and urgent. You might find it helpful to discuss your call with someone outside the context of the chaplaincy. If so, you should ask your chaplain to contact one of the Area Vocations Advisors, who can help you to discern which ministry may be right for you. Some further resources offering information about the Reader Ministry and for exploring vocation and calling are listed in the Further Reading section.

If you believe that your call is to Reader ministry, you will need to fill in the application form for Readers

This asks you to describe your Christian journey and your sense of calling. You will also need to complete the ethnic monitoring form. Your chaplain will need to provide a reference for you and you should name two further referees: preferably a lay member of the congregation, and someone who knows you in a non-church setting (e.g., work, community organisation, etc). The Chaplaincy Council will also need to consider the financial implications and pass and minute the following resolution:

The Chaplaincy Council welcomes and supports the nomination of N as a candidate for Reader ministry. The chaplaincy will support his/her training by (paying for all training modules and paying an annual book grant of £50). The Chaplaincy Council understands that Readers, once admitted and licensed, are entitled to the same CME provisions as licensed priests in the chaplaincy.

Your completed application form should be returned to the Warden of Readers via Ministry Team Administrator. The diocese has a legal responsibility to ensure that anyone exercising public ministry does not pose a threat to children or vulnerable adults. Once the application form has been received, papers will be sent to you that will enable you to comply with these safeguarding regulations. You must fill these in and supply the supporting documentation. Without completed safeguarding procedures, it is impossible for you to be recognised as a Reader in Training.

Once all the papers have been received, the Warden of Readers will arrange for you to have a selection interview with one of the Diocese in Europe’s Reader Selectors. On receipt of a positive recommendation from the selector, you will be admitted to training. At this point you will be contacted by the Director of Reader Ministry about the content and conduct of your training. Please note that the work involved in processing applications for Reader training, such as taking up references and applying for safeguarding clearance, takes a considerable period of time. For that reason, please allow for some time between submitting the application and the date of admission to training.