2026 Autumn

The theme of this issue is ‘The Gospels’, and I hope you enjoy the various perspectives presented. From Stephen Laird providing us with five theories to the origins of materials in the synoptics, to John Lawson on the Gospel of John and how its theme of abundance might help us in our ministry, there’s plenty of food for thought. We have tried to balance the theological and with the practical, and as well as presenting the Gospels in Messy Church, we have a piece from Angeline White on the joys of Intergenerational Worship. At a time when so many are struggling, Louise Firth’s piece on the theme of ‘Luke and Money’ and the suggestions of topics for preaching is timely.

This is my first issue as Editor of Transforming Ministry, and I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome I have been given. We have big plans and ambitions for Transforming Ministry, but first we must ask your opinion; hence the survey link at the bottom of this page. If you have five minutes spare, please do use it to tell us what you would like to see both in the magazine and on our website – we have the ‘shop site’ for Transforming Ministry, and also a news and resource centre on layministry.org.uk.

From the survey results so far, some feedback is as follows – you would like Readers/LLMs to share good ideas from their Diocese, Deanery or Parish. In addition, we’d like to hear your stories, whether urban or rural, small church or large. We are also interested in publishing stories from Readers/LLMs from their workplace. How do you live out your faith in the everyday rush of a busy job?

There are some significant changes coming to lay ministry in the next 12 months. As Carrie Myers explains on page 36, the new National Register will include Readers /LLMs. As Carrie says, “this will provide a straightforward, secure, and reliable way of showing who is authorised to minister in a nationally-recognised role within our Church today.” In the next issue we will be publishing more details, but we invite you to send in your questions about this National Register, for instance, “What information will be held on the Register and will the Register be public, partly public, or available only to bishops, dioceses and church officers?”

Finally, we’d love to hear a few lines from you on the rather lighter subject of “If you could have a coffee with someone, who would it be?”

Until next time.

Tom Otley is a Reader in the Diocese of St Albans