The Anglican Communion ,Niger Diocese under the spiritual leadership of His Grace,Bishop Ralph Ebirien licensed Her Majesty,Queen Dame Josephine Diete-Spiff JP as Layreader.
Reacting to the honour bestowed on Her Royal Majesty,She said “Join me to pray that this auction will enlarge the Kingdom of God positively and assist me thank God for finding me worthy.”
A licensed lay minister or lay reader is a person authorized by a bishop in the Anglican Communion to lead certain services of worship, to preach, and to carry out pastoral and teaching functions. They are formally trained and admitted to office, but they remain part of the laity, not of the clergy.
Anglican lay Reader are licensed by the bishop to a particular parish or to the diocese at large.
The vast majority of lay Reader are volunteers.
The role, whose prominence varies by region, bears many similarities to both the traditional liturgical role of Reader in the historic catholic rites of the church, and the role of lay preacher found in many non-conformist denominations.
The role can involve Conducting the Daily Office (Mattins, Evensong, Compline) or other non-sacramental services,Reciting the Litany
Publishing banns of marriage,Preaching, teaching, and assisting in pastoral care
Distributing (though not presiding at) Holy Communion.
Participation at other services as requested by their incumbent in some cases the role may include conducting funerals.
In many parishes a lay reader may carry out liturgical functions at the eucharist similar to the role of the liturgical deacon; in parishes of anglo-catholic tradition, a lay reader may vest and act as subdeacon at solemn mass.
Many of these duties can be performed by any reasonably competent lay person who has been properly instructed, but a lay reader is licensed to perform them as part of a wider leadership role, following extensive training.
This training and licensing elevates the reader to a particular ministerial role and function recognised as being distinct from the parish-based lay leadership of local congregational volunteers.
Their theological training enables them to preach, teach, and lead worship, and they are also able to assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.