The Church of England includes on its new website a (rather short) summary, written in June 2010, of lay ministry. The authority to involve the laity derives from Canon Law, section E. Lay worship leaders are covered on page 10 of this document.

We want to hear your views on lay involvement in Anglican worship.

Fewer full-time priests means that Anglican and Episcopalian churches, like those of other denominations, are increasingly seeking help in leading worship from the laity (not just Licensed Lay Ministers/Lay Readers, who follow a well-travelled training path, but also ordinary church-goers who are being drafted in, first to lead intercessions, and then to take non-eucharistic services, often with minimal training beyond their participation in the Church since baptism and confirmation).

We hope you will use this website to air your opinions on this development and its implications, whether as a non-officiating member of the congregation, a lay leader of worship, or a member of the clergy.

We would like to encourage debate and discussion around questions such as:

• Are you willing to join the ranks of those who lead intercessions and/or take services?
• What training is available at present? Is it enough?
• Can we 'train' each other by pooling ideas on websites like this?
• What are the practical steps to be taken before leading a service?
• What are the pitfalls? How can these best be avoided?
• What are the positive results from this development?
• Where will it all end?

The Blog is the place to discover what may be involved and ask questions.

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. ^{Romans 12:4-8}