At your licensing God in Christ entrusts you with a new share in the holy fire of the Gospel.  We pray for you that by the Holy Spirit, God will continue to equip you with gifts for a new share in guarding and using this fire for his service.

Like all fires this fire needs fuel - not once, or occasionally, but continually. Next will provide you with fuel in the period immediately after your licensing.

Your initial training for Reader ministry was designed to establish in you 'skills of study, perception and reflection which you will continue to develop in the years ahead'.

All newly licensed Readers in the Birmingham diocese will be required to undertake the Next scheme of further training.

Next aims to support you in…

•   Maintaining the fire of your enthusiasm for Christian ministry.
•   Developing your skills as a Reader.
•   Collaborating with your incumbent and leaders in your parish.
•   Serving the parish and diocese effectively.

The Next scheme will…

•   Set out 4 units of training together with guidance in using them.
•   Make you aware of what opportunities and resources are available.
•   Put you increasingly at ease in using these opportunities and resources.
•   Encourage you to maintain your enthusiasm.
•   Strengthen your knowledge and understanding.
•   Stimulate you to go further.
•   Provide continuing fellowship.

You will find details of the scheme on the following pages.

Next has four units :

1.  Team Building for parish ministry.
2.  Ministry in another parish.
3.  Readers' regular training events.
4.  Theological training.

You should plan to cover Units 1 and 2 within 12 months of your licensing.   Units 3 and 4 can be extended into a second year if the event or course you have chosen requires it.

As a Reader you will be an integral part of the pattern of ministry in your parish.   You will minister in collaboration with your incumbent and any others in the parish team.  You will probably meet with them from time to time.

This unit requires you and the rest of the team to share one training evening with other new Readers and their colleagues.  There will be a choice of dates for this.

Readers are also expected to undertake duties in other parishes.   This unit requires you to preach one sermon or lead one service in a parish other than your own.

Each year four training events are offered to all Readers in the diocese.   Two of these are on Saturdays, and one is a morning shared with curates in their post-ordination training.  The fourth is a funeral training day in June.   This unit requires you to attend at lest one of these events;  You are welcome at them all.

Growth in theological thinking and study is vital and valuable for the preaching and teaching ministry of Readers.  There is a wide range of opportunities available.  This unit requires you to choose one which suits your present circumstances.  You may choose from this list :

•   A Growing Gifts Study Day organised by the Board for Ministries.   There is one each year with a choice of dates.
•   A biblical studies course or a theology course in the 'Introduction to Theology' programme.   These are 10-week courses, with different topics each term.
•   Seminar groups with EFM (Education for Ministry).
•   Distance learning in biblical studies or theology via St. John's Extension Studies, Nottingham.  St John's offers a range of workbooks, study weeks and study units.
•   Distance learning through the Church Colleges which offer a range of workbooks for individual or group study.
•   If none of these seems suitable you will be offered guidance in selecting some other publicly offered course in biblical studies or theology as agreed in discussion with The Revd David Warbrick, or an independent plan for biblical or theological study with an approved tutor and agreed by Rev. Liz Howlett.

Next combines:

•   Diocesan requirements for your training.
•   Adaptability to your needs and wishes.
•   Pastoral and educational guidance.

Before you are licenced there will be information and guidance to help you start planning.

p to 18 months.  You are encouraged to cover Units 1 and 2 within the first year after your licensing.  Units 3 and 4 can be extended into a second year if the event or course requires it.

There will be no cost to you for Units 1, 2 and 3.  Travel expenses should be covered by your parish.

Some funds are available for help with the fees for Unit 4, up to a total of £60 for each Reader.

Next need not prevent you from taking other opportunities for reading or study.   It will be helpful for these to be taken into consideration when planning Unit 4.

Advice:

Guidance and information will be available from The Revd David Warbrick in consultation with The Rev. Liz Howlett as Adviser for Lay Adult Education and Training.

Help with planning:

In December you will receive fuller details of the units.   In January there will be a meeting to help you draw up your plan.

Supervision:

The Readers' Association expects that you will have some supervisory help from your incumbent.  In addition David Warbrick is there to support and encourage you.

Access to books:

Some of the books required will be found in public libraries and the diocesan Resources Library.  You may also find it useful to apply for permission to use the Library at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham.

You will be asked to keep records of your work on the 4 units of the scheme and to keep David Warbrick informed of your progress.

At the end of 18 months after Licensing you will meet with your incumbent to review your work in the Next scheme, to identify what you have gained, and to discuss how this might help you to take decisions about your further steps in ministry and continuing training.

The co-ordinator of the scheme is The Revd David Warbrick.  He will meet you in December when you meet the officers of the Readers' Association, and he will arrange to meet you in January soon after your Licensing, to discuss your plans for Next.

For all your enquiries about the scheme please contact David Warbrick in the first instance.

David Warbrick is working closely with The Rev. Liz Howlett.  The scheme is organised via the Board for Ministries on behalf of the Readers' Association.

Your parish will welcome the ministry you offer as a Reader.  So will the Readers' Association and the whole diocese.  We look forward with you to what lies ahead for you and for those with whom and among whom you will serve.

	NEXT:
	This is a small brochure in pdf format.  It contains the above information in a printable format.
	A free adobe acrobat reader can be obtained from www.adobe.com