2024 COURSES NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATION!
Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs) are lay people active in church life, who have been identified by their parish as having a particular gifting, vocation and calling to lay leadership, i.e. those called to work collaboratively alongside their incumbent and wider ministry teams with a distinct focus on growing, nurturing and serving the local parish community.
ALMs are nominated by their incumbent and PCC for training in line with their parish Mission Action Plan (MAP) and diocesan selection criteria. Once trained they are authorised by the Bishop of Manchester to carry out a mutually agreed ministry role back within their local parish context. An ALMs authorisation lasts for three years after which time it can be reviewed, updated and renewed.
ALM training begins each January with an eight session Core Leadership Module followed by a 12 session Ministry Training Elective. There are currently eight electives available. For further information on the training and what each course covers please see the ALM Course Prospectus 2024.
Ministry Training Electives
- Children and Families
- Community Outreach and Social Action
- Ecology and Creation
- Parish Admin, Finance and Governance
- Pastoral Outreach and Listening
- Prayer and Spirituality
- Worship and Liturgy
- Youth Work
Is being an ALM the only way to access lay ministry training?
All of the ministry elective training courses offered on the ALM programme are also open as stand-alone courses to any lay people wanting to develop their call and gifting to Christian ministry and service. For more information on this please see our page on General Lay Courses.
How can I apply?
Applications are now open for the 2024 Authorised Lay Ministry courses. Please find more details below.
Where can I get more information?
For more details about Authorised Lay Ministry please read the documents at the links below or feel free to contact our Local Ministry Officer, Jamie Mackenzie.
Useful documents
ALM Course Prospectus 2024
ALM Leaflet 2024
ALM Handbook for Clergy and PCCs (Plus this short promo video)
ALM FAQs
Application forms
ALM Further Training Application Form 2024
Helpful films
Your ALM Chaplains
ALM Chaplains are there to provide spiritual care and pastoral support for those in the ALM community. For more information and contact details, click here.
