THERE was a special service at Worcester Cathedral to celebrate more than 40 people becoming Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs).
The successful candidates will now work as part of ministry teams in parishes, supporting vicars and licensed lay ministers.
The ALMs work as volunteers in their parishes as pastoral workers, community workers, helping to lead acts of worship, in sharing their faith with others, as children’s and youth workers or as parish administrators.
Each person completes a number of training sessions in their specialist area over the course of a year and there is some training all ALMs undertaken.
Bishop John Inge said: “The emergence of this ministry is one of the most exciting things that has happened during my nearly ten years as Bishop of Worcester.
“As a result of the authorisation of over 300 ALMs over several years, there are now more people offering authorised ministry in the Diocese than ever before.
“That is a cause for great celebration.”
Rev Doug Chaplin, Mission Development Officer in the Diocese, was the preacher at the service and encouraged all present to think of themselves as ‘God’s gift’.
The ALMs come from a range of parishes across Worcestershire and Dudley.
They have been trained to work collaboratively in ministry teams and are authorised in their own parishes.
