It's the annual AGM and study day for the licensed lay ministers ("Readers") in our diocese, and here they are in full voice in the opening worship. I had the opportunity soon afterwards to say thank you for ten years of adventure together, and celebrate four really promising recent developments in formal lay ministry in Ely:

1. Numbers offering for LLM ministry have risen in recent years from 5 to around 20, with an increase in diversity which will be reflected in a new training group based in Wisbech this year.
2. With this increase in numbers and diversity has also come a growth in specialisms from children's work to pioneering to prison ministry, and the ability to place some of these lay ministers in paid posts as clergy numbers decline.
3. Plans are being drawn up to follow our neighbouring diocese of St Ed's and Ips in launching a new ordination pathway which will allow some LLMs (and others) to have vocations discerned for transfer to ordained ministry with local selection and formation.
4. And finally I was able to announce that I am taking a proposal to Bishop's Council to abolish PTO status for LLMs in the diocese and for them to be either fully licensed or emeritus and fully retired regardless of age, although at 80 there would be a conversation with the Warden about appropriate status, and all active ministry will still need the incumbent's support.

It's good to go out on a high, and I was given a lovely gift too. Thank you!