Published on: 01/09/2026
Ministry can be busy. Whether you are lay or ordained, the joys and challenges of working with people can be all-consuming. Everyone in ministry will need to exercise good boundaries and time-management in order to have a sustainable and fruitful ministry and avoid burn-out. But I wonder if lay ministers and self-supporting ordained ministers face a particular challenge of having a dual vocation, and ministering in unique circumstances. Balancing church ministry with paid employment and/or caring responsibilities, and not fitting into a neat(!) box of full time stipendiary ministry.
One thing which can help to lift your eyes from being bogged down in the complexities of lay ministry or self-supporting ministry is to meet with others who are in a similar position.
The writer of Hebrews writes in chapter 10, “24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Within the Diocese of Sheffield we are developing an annual programme of events for lay ministers which provide opportunities for learning and training, and also points of connection with others in the same or similar areas of ministry.
When focal ministers get together, or readers, or commissioned lay ministers, it is always a lovely atmosphere. People new to ministry are able to find their tribe, fellowship can be shared. There is a powerful sense of connection that can be built with those who understand the particular challenges that you face in ministry.
Overall we hope that they are times of encouraging one another. We take time to get to know each other, hear each others’ stories, pray for each other, share ideas and learning and wisdom.
If you’re feeling out on a limb in your ministry, maybe you don’t feel supported or like there are many people who understand exactly what you do/what you want to do; please take a look at our webpages, hopefully there is something coming up which you can get involved with. But you don’t have to wait for us to organise something for you – why not reach out to local churches in your mission area or deanery and meet with some other lay ministers a few times per year to coffee, encouragement and prayer? I pray that you’re able to find times of connection where you can provoke one another to love and good deeds.
In a few weeks we are holding a fellowship evening specifically for Focal Ministers – Weds 16th September, 6-8pm at Church House. If you’re a Focal Minister and you haven’t yet booked to join us, please do. We’re going to share some food together as well as getting to know each other and praying together. See you there!
This week’s Blog post was written by Beth Burras, Lead Lay Ministry Enabler