4.1. Registrations of Parochial Lay Readers, after approval has been obtained from the Parish Vestry, on completion of a training process acceptable to the Incumbent and covenanting, are to be sent by the Incumbent to the Warden of Lay Readers. The Registration form to be used is to be found as Appendix A.
4.2. Applications for licencing as Diocesan Lay Reader are made to the Bishop through the Warden of Lay Readers on the recommendation of the candidate's Deanery Archdeacon and the candidate's Incumbent, after completion of either the A.Th. Diploma, or upon completion of the following courses from the A.Th. study program, or their equivalent:
a. Old Testament
b. New Testament
c. Basic Christian Doctrine
d. Anglicanism
e. Liturgy
f. Early Church History
In addition, the approval of the Deanery Council must be obtained. If the candidate has not been a Parochial Lay Reader previously, then satisfactory evidence of competence in Liturgy and preaching is required, either by submission of a Videotape, or by examination by a Diocesan examiner. The Application form to be used is to be found as Appendix B.
In addition, the Diocesan Lay Reader should covenant with his/her incumbent in order to clarify his/her functions within the parish where he/she normally attends.
4.3 Covenants for Parochial Lay Readers are made by the Incumbent upon his induction, as new candidates present themselves, and are renewed annually.
4.4 Notifications of transfers to an Inactive list may be directed to the Warden by either the Incumbent or the Lay Reader.
4.5 During the vacancy of a Parish, covenants will remain in force until the appointment of a new incumbent.
4.6 Lay Pastors in charge of parishes function as Incumbents of the parish insofar as the regulations within this manual are concerned. When a Lay Reader is in charge of a parish, supervision and applications for his/her licensing will be via the deanery’s Archdeacon.
4.7 Upon the consecration of a new Bishop all Diocesan Lay Reader licences will be automatically ended. New licences will be granted by the Bishop without need for new applications.