Other types of ministry
Other authorised lay ministries
The Church of England recognises Authorised Lay Ministers, and some dioceses have a variety of pastoral workers and the like. Manchester Diocese does have Authorised Lay Ministers, who might be paid or volunteer, and also has a number of Church Army Officers working in and across parishes.
Other lay ministries include:
Eucharistic Assistants: The license is given by the bishop for people to assist in administering the bread and wine at Holy Communion and to assist in taking extended Communion to the housebound and elderly. The PCC and incumbent agree who they would want to put forward.
Reading of lessons and leading of prayers: No specific license is needed for either of these ministries. PCC and incumbent should agree the names of those who would assist in these areas and appropriate training and support should be offered.
Church Warden and other PCC Officers: The posts of Warden, Treasurer and Council Secretary are vitally important for the smooth and positive running of a local church. They are as much a ministry as being “upfront” in church. The Church Wardens are the Lay Officers in the parish and have several legal duties, and particularly when a parish is in vacancy. They are the Bishop’s Officers, even though they are elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Treasurer and Secretary are also elected positions and play important roles in ensuring good management of church resources so that the people of God can be mission-focused.
The Church Army
The Church Army, the Church of England’s sort-of equivalent to the Salvation Army, trains evangelists and church workers as well as those working beyond the church as Christians. Their single focus is “to remain on the frontline of effective pioneering Christian outreach”. For more information visit www.churcharmy.org.uk.
Mission Work
There are many mission agencies, some Anglican agencies, such as CMS, USPG, SAMS, and some newer ones, many of which are non-denominational. Some offer short-term ‘plunge’ experiences for young people, some recruit workers for longer ‘careers’. Some require the person to find most or all of their funding, others can help pay those who go as agency staff. There are also many which – though ‘foreign’ in their original emphasis, now recognise that the UK is in need of mission and which bring mission staff from overseas to work here. They also have (need of) regional workers and fundraisers, etc.
To get further information the following websites may prove useful: There are of course many other Mission Agencies, as well as a huge number of charities which can offer placements, or are seeking workers in different places.
CMS – Church Mission Society – www.cms-uk.org
USPG – United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel – www.uspg.org.uk SAMS – South American Mission Society www.samsgb.org
OMF – Overseas Missionary Fellowship www.omf.org
Crosslinks – www.crosslinks.org
YWAM – Youth with a Mission – www.ywam.org
Short-term work
There are also many opportunities for short-term work, both local and overseas. For those who have the time, regardless of age, there are opportunities for learning and for service. Your minister and the Vocations Advisers can help point you to the right contacts. VSO www.vso.org.uk is but one agency looking to offer people (of all ages) experience and work in other parts of the world. The Eden Hope – part of ‘The Message’ is also looking for Christian volunteers to live and work in Manchester communities – www.message.org.uk. VSO is not a Christian-based charity, The Message is, but both offer Christians a chance to serve God in needy parts of his world.
