Service to endorse important lay ministry
A special service is being held on the ‘Conversion of Saint Paul' (Friday 25th January 2008) to re-commission Diocesan Readers. Diocesan Readers, also known as Lay Readers, are lay people, who once nominated by their rectors undertake a course of training, after which they are licensed for a period of five years. A Diocesan Reader's licence permits a reader to preach and take specific services in their own church and also at other churches throughout the diocese. The fifty readers being re-commissioned on the 25th January will be given new licences authorising them to work in the diocese until the end of 2012.
The service will take place in Down Cathedral at 8.00pm. The preacher will be the Revd Mark Harvey, rector of St Mary's, Ballybeen, who is also the Diocesan Director of Ordinands. The Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Right Revd Harold Miller, will lead the service and present each of the readers with their new licence. The service will be an opportunity to highlight the important and valuable role Diocesan Readers have in the Church of Ireland.
The Diocesan Readers have been given additional invitations to invite family, friends and those who support them in their ministry. The clergy in the diocese, including those who have retired, also received invitations.
After the service everyone attending will be invited to have refreshments in the nearby St Patrick's Centre, where it is likely that the fare on offer will have a Scottish flavour - the event is taking place on Burn's Night!