Grow and nurture the
parish community
Authorized Lay Ministers (ALMs) in the Manchester Diocese are laypeople identified by their parish as having a particular gifting or calling to lay leadership. They work collaboratively with the incumbent minister and wider ministry teams to grow and nurture the parish community.
ALMs are nominated for training in line with their parish's Mission Action Plan and diocesan selection criteria, and their authorization lasts for three years, after which it can be reviewed and renewed.
Training includes an 8-session Core Leadership Module followed by a 12-session ministry elective course, with options for weekday evenings, hybrid intensive, and online attendance.
What is an ALM?
General Information What is an Authorised Lay Minister? Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs) are lay people active in church life, who have been identified by their parish as having a particular gifting, vocation or calling to lay leadership, i.e. those called to work collaboratively alongside their incumbent and wider ministry teams with a distinct focus on growing, nurturing and serving the wider parish community. ALMs are nominated by their incumbent and PCC for training in line with their parish Mission Action Plan (MAP) and diocesan selection criteria. Once trained they are authorised by the Bishop of Manchester to carry out a mutually agreed ministry role back within their local parish context. An ALM’s authorisation lasts for 3 years after which time it can be reviewed, updated and renewed.
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How are ALMs selected? Authorised Lay Ministry is based on a collaborative model of ministry and is therefore not about any one person’s desire to serve or minister. ALMs are authorised to work collaboratively as part of the wider ministry team, in a specific local context and with a mutually agreed ministerial role description. As such, any nominations for ALM must meet the diocesan selection criteria, align with the parish Mission Action Plan (MAP) and represent the expressed desire of the wider parish community as the incumbent, individual and PCC discern and respond to God’s call together.
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What’s the difference between an ALM and a Licensed Lay Minister, e.g. Reader? The Office of Reader is a lay ministry in the Church of England nationally accredited, episcopally licensed and governed by Canon Law. Readers have undergone more substantial theological training and are licensed by the Bishop to preach, teach and conduct funerals as key elements of their ministry. In this sense, Readers are more deployable and can work across parish boundaries with a higher degree of autonomy.
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ALMs are different in that they are ‘authorised’ by the Bishop for an agreed collaborative ministry role within a specific parish context. An ALM’s training is much shorter, has less theological depth and is generally more practical in its focus. In recognition of this, ALMs cannot work across parish boundaries without explicit permission and must have a higher level of supervision and support. ALMs must also apply to be re-authorised every 3 years.
Further Information
Where can we find more information?
Further information and course details are available on the diocesan website
Who can we contact? You are welcome to contact Beverley Angier your Local Ministry Officer to discuss any matters related to the ALM programme.
St Johns House, 155-163 The Rock, Bury, BL9 0ND Mobile: 07423 711 298 Email: beverleyangier@manchester.anglican.org
Our ALMs
Mandi Davies - Worship. Parish Administration.
Susan Orrell - Pastoral Outreach and Listening
Gail Branch - Pastoral Outreach and Listening
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ALM Selection Criteria
A copy of the current ALM selection criteria can be found below.
The intention of the criteria is that it will sit alongside the wider processes of prayer and discernment in helping you to make sure that ALM is the right pathway for all involved. ·
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The applicant is a well-known, respected, and active member of the church community. ·
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The applicant exudes a deep love for God and for those they are being called to serve and minister to. ·
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The applicant has a solid and well-established foundation of prior Christian learning and exhibits a passion and enthusiasm for mission and discipleship. ·
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Key members of the parish community have identified that the applicant has a gifting, vocation and calling to lay leadership. ·
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There is a mutual understanding from all involved that ALM is built upon a collaborative model of ministry and that the applicant will be required to work alongside their incumbent and the wider parish ministry teams, i.e. ALM is not a solo or ‘sit alone’ ministry. ·
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The applicant has an identifiable ministry role that aligns with the diocesan vision statement, mission goals (growing, nurturing and serving) and the parishes’ Mission Action Plan (MAP). ·
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All involved (including the wider parish) have a good understanding of the nature of ALM, how it functions and also how it differs from other forms of ministry e.g. Licensed Lay Ministry etc. ·
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All involved (including the wider parish) will take a proactive interest in the applicant’s selection and training and will work together to actively support, develop and respond to the applicant’s ministry. ·
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The current parish context is stable enough to be able to sufficiently support and oversee the applicant during their selection, training and ministry role back within the parish. ·
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There are no obvious or foreseeable concerns related to the applicant’s ability to be able to engage fully with their training and subsequent ministry role back within the parish. ·
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There are no known reasons or concerns that the applicant would not meet all current diocesan safeguarding requirements and perform their duty appropriately.
Training an ALM
When sponsoring an ALM it is important to know what their training involves, what is expected of them and what they will be covering. Further details can be found in the ALM Course Prospectus but in principle, an ALM’s training course is broken down into three parts that run from January to September:
Part 1:
Induction, Core Module and Safeguarding Between January and Easter, candidates are inducted and undertake an eight-session Core Leadership Module. During the Core Leadership Module ALMs will cover the following topics:
• The local and national context of lay ministry
• An introduction Christian leadership
• Church for a different world
• Being disciples and making disciples
• Sharing faith and inspiring mission
• Leading through times of change
• Collaborative ministry
• Sustaining and growing
Following this, ALMs will be asked to complete their online safeguarding training and will also be invited to attend the annual ALM Summer Conference.
Part 2: Ministry Electives From Easter to June, candidates will complete their chosen 12-session ministry elective.
Current courses available include:
*Mission and Evangelism
* Ecology and Creation
* Children and Families
* Pastoral Outreach and Listening
* Community Outreach and Social Action
* Youth Work
* Worship and Liturgy
* Prayer and Spirituality
* Parish Admin, Finance and Governance