Warden's Report
A.G.M. 18th March 2006

Unusually, Readers have been in the news recently.  At least, they have received quite extensive coverage in the pages of The Church Times, and even managed a brief mention in some of the heavier dailies.  The occasion, of course, was the debate in General Synod on a Private Member’s Motion brought by Nigel Holmes, a Reader from Carlisle Diocese.  Some of you will, no doubt, have seen the coverage in the Reader magazine, with its promise of a more detailed report of the debate in the next issue.  In the meantime it is possible to read Mr Holmes’ Background Paper on the Readers Website.

I have to say that both the Background Paper and the reports of the debate make rather depressing reading.  The picture that emerges is one of Reader ministry in terminal decline and Readers all over the country feeling demoralised and sidelined.  Those of us who attended the Central Readers’ Council A.G.M. last year will have received some warning of what was to come when we spoke to people from other Dioceses.  You will remember that I referred to some of the concerns which were expressed at our last A.G.M.

One of the issues raised at Synod was Reader numbers.  Nationally, during the last four years there has been a fall of 18% in Readers in training.  In 1982 there were 1,714 Readers in training; in 2004 the number had fallen to 1,081.  Part of the problem was seen as the proliferation of other ministries, especially those of N.S.M. and O.L.M.  People were asking whether, with the growth of these new forms of ordained ministry, there was still a place for Readers.  The picture was further complicated in some Dioceses by the existence of “worship leaders”, “pastoral assistants” or “Eucharistic ministers”, who were often seen to be doing much the same job as Readers, but with minimal training, especially for preaching. 

Another frequent complaint was that Readers were underused.  There were some horror stories about Readers only being allowed to preach when the Incumbent was on holiday, while very many Readers were saying that they rarely, if ever, led worship - that is, as opposed to preaching at a service presided over by their vicar.  Mr Holmes notes that, in a recent survey, only 57% of Readers said that they led a service once a month or more.  Part of the problem, of course, was the changes which have occurred in recent decades in the pattern of worship.  In many parishes Eucharistic services are now the norm, if not the only form of worship. 
As I read the Background Paper and the reports of the Synod debate I found it difficult to reconcile with much of my own experience here in Liverpool.  Certainly, in terms of Reader numbers and in new applicants coming forward for training, Liverpool Diocese “bucks the trend”.  This afternoon Bishop James will be licensing twenty new Readers, which must surely be one of the largest numbers we have ever had.  Only one Diocese has more Readers in training than Liverpool; that is St Albans, which is a considerably larger Diocese.  We also have amongst the largest numbers of active Readers, if one takes into account differences of size between the Dioceses. 

There is, of course, an element of confusion and uncertainty about how Reader ministry relates to other ministries.  Some people who, in the past might have trained to be Readers, now offer themselves as O.L.M.s, while we have a steady stream of Readers who subsequently seek ordination.  But our healthy number of recruits suggest that this is not a major problem.  Perhaps a certain amount of “creative messiness” is no bad thing, and the Holy Spirit is constantly leading the Church into new ways of doing things and new forms of vocations.  We should welcome this.

As for Readers feeling sidelined, well, there is certainly some truth in this.  From time to time I am made aware of Readers who feel that their gifts are not being properly used in their parishes, and there are also, of course, those inevitable situations where relationships between the Reader and Incumbent break down.  One of my jobs in such circumstances is to try to mediate between the parties.  Sometimes I am successful, sometimes, sadly, I am not.  One of the ways such situations might be avoided is in the completing and observance by both sides of a Working Agreement.  And at this point may I remind you that you do not have to wait until our next general relicensing in 2009 to complete a new Working Agreement.  If your circumstances change, if you wish to spend more, or less, time doing the work of a Reader, don’t forget that you can do a new Working Agreement at any time.

So, where does this all leave Reader ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool?  Perhaps I am being unduly naïve, but my impression is that the Liverpool Readers are, on the whole, in good spirit.  They are working out their vocations in all sorts of vital, positive and, at times, sacrificial ways.  Despite the inevitable problems, Reader ministry is alive and well in Liverpool.

You will have received with your mailing a letter from Dr Jeremy Duff about the recent developments in the Lifelong Learning team.  Of particular interest to us is the appointment of Revd John Reed as Principal Officer for Continuing Professional Development.  His job will be to provide for the training needs of both clergy and Readers who have been in the job for more than three years.  We are working towards the situation in which Reader ministry will be a learning ministry from the moment we begin our training until the time when we hang up our blue scarves for good.  In the past some Readers may have thought that, once they had been licensed, they knew all they needed to know.  That attitude is unacceptable in today’s Church.  So, let me draw your attention especially to two learning opportunities this year: the Summer School at Edge Hill in June, entitled “Finding the Old Way Forward”, and the Training Day at Hope University on 19th November.  This will be on liturgy.  And remember, all these events are FREE!

So finally, let me thank you all for your support and kindness throughout the last year, and for all that you do, week in week out, to build the Kingdom of God where you are.  It is no exaggeration to say that, without you, the Church could not continue to be anything like as effective as it is now. 

Nick Daunt