Each of us is called through our baptism to serve God, to live a godly life, and to proclaim in our lives the Good News of God in Christ. Part of that calling is to deepen our understanding of our faith, through prayer and the reading of the scriptures, through study and reflection.

The Holy Spirit gives gifts to every baptised person to equip us to respond to God’s call. For each of us, that call will be different: to service where we are, or to service in a quite different place; to a life of prayer in our own homes, or to the religious life; to proclaim our faith through teaching our children, or to public ministry; to ordained ministry, or to lay ministry. All these and many more are valid ministries, given by God, building up the life and mission of the church, the ecclesia, the community of those who are called.

This Handbook is intended for those who believe they may be called to Reader ministry. The office of Reader in the Church of England is open to lay men and women. A Reader, once admitted by the Bishop, is permitted to lead some services, to preach, teach, undertake pastoral work and assist the clergy. Readers are lay people called to be in the front line of ministry, of mission, and of theological reflection, and they need to be equipped to fulfil that vocation. Potential Readers go through a selection procedure and then follow a training course before they are admitted and licensed. These procedures are described in this Handbook.

The number of people coming forward for Reader ministry is growing in the Diocese in Europe. We are very privileged to have this committed and enthusiastic group of men and women who give of their time to serve the Church of God as a Reader. We pray that all who are exploring a vocation to this ministry will find their faith strengthened and renewed.