Renewing your licence
Reader licences from the Bishop last for five years. So, in your fifth year, you need to prepare for your renewal by:
- checking you have an up to date diocesan DBS.
- ensuring that you have done Leadership (previous known as C2) Safeguarding training in the last 3 years.
- revising your Reader Ministry Specification Agreement so that it accurately reflects your ministry. Please adapt the Reader Ministry Specification Agreement template.
- undertaking a more detailed review of your Reader ministry with your incumbent (or Area dean in a vacancy). This can replace the new year review but let your Archdeaconry Warden know and still do the Stats form. A Summary needs to be sent with your renewal.
- asking the PCC for a resolution confirming your renewal.
These documents should be sent to the Warden of Readers with your current licence before it expires. More details are available on page 20 of the Reader Handbook. The Warden of Readers will send you a reminder at the start of the year. We are standardising licence dates and so your new licence will go to the start of October
Note: the diocese no longer issues new Permission to Officiate licences (PTO). Your licence gets renewed until such time as you, or your incumbent, feels that it is time to become a Reader Emeritus.
Annual Reader Review
Readers have a licenced ministry delegated to them by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The responsibilities of such a licence include completing an annual self-evaluation review with their incumbent. In addition, an annual statistical return gives the diocese and the National Church an overview of the ministries being carried out. The Warden of Readers provides the form in early December. As well, there is opportunity to reflect on support needed and development goals for the next year. It also ensures that the Reader and their incumbent have a chance to reflect on the state of their collaborative working relationship. Following the incumbent’s meeting, the review is shared with the Archdeaconry Warden of Readers to ensure proper support is given.
You can download the review of Bath and Wells Reader returns for 2022 below.
Forms
Statistical return form
Complete your 2022 statistical return form here.
Your statistical return form can be submitted online or emailed to Sophie Moore using the Excel or PDF version below.
Self-evaluation form
The self-evaluation form for 2022 can be downloaded here
Who to contact
Sophie Moore, Resources and Programme Support