Licensed Readers and Readers with PtO
Readers are licensed to a parish, benefice or deanery within the diocese.
At the age of 70, Readers transfer from a licence to a Permission to Officiate (PtO).
Reader licences and PtOs are administered by the Ministry Team. For information about licence and PtO requirements, renewals and transfers or other enquiries please contact Cath Hughes.
Please see below for information about:
Licensed Readers
Length of Reader Licences
- Reader licences are issued for 5 years until the age of 70, or until the next diocesan renewal date.
- All diocesan Reader licences are renewed at the quinquennial renewal on 01 May in the 1st and 6th years of each decade.
- As Readers are required to have valid DBS clearance and safeguarding training, their licence will only remain valid if these are kept up to date. See further details below.
Requirements for a Reader Licence
The requirements for holding a Bishop's Reader licence are:
- Support of the incumbent and PCC in each parish to which the Reader is licensed.
- Reader Review and role descriptor. Details of this can be found below.
- Valid DBS clearance: Enhanced clearance for adult and child workforce, including adult and child barred lists checks. DBS certificates are valid for 3 years. Information about DBS checks can be found here.
- Valid safeguarding training: Church of England Leadership level. Safeguarding training is valid for 3 years. Details of diocesan safeguarding training can be found here.
- Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD): the equivalent of 1 day per year. Details of training courses can be found here and will be sent to Readers by email and advertised in The Bulletin.
Renewing a Reader Licence
When a licence is due to be renewed the necessary paperwork will be sent to the Reader.
For a licence to be renewed the Reader must send:
- The completed Reader licence renewal form.
- The original copy of their licence.
- A role descriptor, dated within the last 12 months and signed by the Reader and their incumbent. Details of this can be found below.
to Cath Hughes, Vocations and Training Co-ordinator, St Mary's House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD.
Readers with PtO
Length of Reader PtOs
The length of PtO granted depends on the age of the Reader:
- Age 70 - 3 year PtO
- Age 71 to 75 - 2 year PtO
- Age 76 and over - 1 year PtO.
At the end of this period, the Reader will be invited to apply for a new PtO.
Requirements for a Reader PtO
The requirements for having a Bishop's Reader PtO are:
- Support of the incumbent and PCC in each parish to which the Reader is granted Permission to Officiate.
- Valid DBS clearance: Enhanced clearance for adult and child workforce, including adult and child barred lists checks. DBS certificates are valid for 3 years. Information about DBS checks can be found here.
- Valid safeguarding training: Church of England PtO Pathway. Safeguarding Training is valid for 3 years. Details of diocesan safeguarding training can be found here.
It is also recommended as good practice that Readers with PtO continue to:
- undergo Reader Reviews and agree a role descriptor with their incumbent;
- develop their ministry and take advantage of training opportunities.
These recommended practices are administered locally and not required as part of the PtO application, renewal or transfer process.
Applying for a Reader PtO
When a PtO is due to expire or a Reader is due to transfer from a licence to a PtO the necessary paperwork will be sent to the Reader.
To apply for a PtO the Reader must send:
- the completed Reader PtO application form.
If transferring from a licence to a PtO for the first time a Reader must also send:
- the original copy of their licence.
to Cath Hughes, Vocations and Training Co-ordinator, St Mary's House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD.
Transferring a Licence or PtO
Transferring from outside the Diocese of Lichfield
- If you are a Reader who has moved or is moving from another diocese, we'd love to welcome you to our diocese and you can apply to transfer your licence or PtO once you have settled into your new parish(es) for a period of 6 months.
Transferring within the Diocese of Lichfield
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If you already hold a Reader licence or PtO in the diocese but wish to transfer to a different parish or benefice within the diocese, you can apply to do this once you have settled into your new parish(es) for a period of 6 months.
Applying to transfer a Reader Licence or PtO
To apply to transfer your licence or PtO you will need to:
- meet the requirements for a licence or PtO as outlined above.
- agree a role descriptor with your new incumbent. Details of this can be found below.
- have valid DBS clearance
- have valid safeguarding training
- complete the Reader Licence transfer form or Reader PtO transfer form
- send your transfer form, role descriptor and most recent Reader licence and/or PtO to: Cath Hughes, Vocations and Training Co-ordinator, St Mary's House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD. Email: Cath Hughes.
Reader Reviews
Incumbents are asked to carry out a review of each licensed Reader's ministry. The purpose of the review is to focus on the ministry the Reader offers and to explore what this means for them in the coming months and years.
Licensed Readers
Licensed Readers are required to have a full review with their incumbent once every five years and to review their role descriptor annually.
The full review includes:
- getting feedback from other people about their ministry via the 180 degree questionnaire. The questionnaires are passed to 4-6 people who have experience of their ministry and are completed anonymously and returned to the incumbent before the review.
- completing the review form and sending it to the incumbent before the review.
- having a review with their incumbent, during which a role descriptor/working agreement is agreed. A role descriptor template and a guide to drawing up a written role descriptor are available to use if needed.
A signed copy of the most recent role descriptor will be requested as part of the licence renewal or transfer process.
Readers with PtO
Readers with PtO are advised to have an annual review with their incumbent and to agree their role descriptor but this is not required as part of the PtO application or transfer process.
A role descriptor template for Reader PtOs and a guide to drawing up a written role descriptor are available to use if needed.