Bishop Lee Rayfield Leadership Training Centre
"God is in this."
That's what we said after our first visit to see the Diocese of Kitgum's brand new theological college for Lay Readers in 2014.
With not a penny of donor funds, the Diocese looked around to see what they had, which was only some old temporary empty school blocks and some teaching volunteers. They overcame the obstacles of not having any dormitories, by bricking up the open upper half of the walls in some of the old class rooms, and the students poured in...over 60 of them! Yes, God is in this. And that's why when we were asked to join the teaching staff of the college, we said, "Yes!" In September 2014, we were officially appointed by the Diocese as college teachers of English language and development studies. Later, Marianne would step down once they welcomed Elias in their family, and Mike would shift the development studies responsibility to trained Community Health Empowerment facilitators, who work alongside Rev. PG Labanya to help CHE be taught. Currently, Mike still helps with administrative duties at the college.
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What are Lay Readers?
In the Church of Uganda (Anglican), ordained reverends can oversee as many as 24 churches, or more! Each congregation needs a leader. This leader is called a Lay Reader. They are also called Catechists.
Lay Readers are lay people who love the Lord and are entrusted with the responsibility of leading the service. They are called "readers" because part of the job of leading the service involves reading from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. However, Lay Readers do not only read, but they also teach and preach, and also do pastoral care in the community.
Emmanuel International has had a long history of involvement in training up Lay Readers in Northern Uganda. For many years, EI missionaries have served on the teaching staff of Janani Luwum Theological College in Gulu at various times. Many of these men and women trained in the past are strong community leaders and reverends today.
The Diocese would like the college to become an accredited institution that will offer Certificate Training for Reverends in future.
In the Church of Uganda (Anglican), ordained reverends can oversee as many as 24 churches, or more! Each congregation needs a leader. This leader is called a Lay Reader. They are also called Catechists.
Lay Readers are lay people who love the Lord and are entrusted with the responsibility of leading the service. They are called "readers" because part of the job of leading the service involves reading from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. However, Lay Readers do not only read, but they also teach and preach, and also do pastoral care in the community.
Emmanuel International has had a long history of involvement in training up Lay Readers in Northern Uganda. For many years, EI missionaries have served on the teaching staff of Janani Luwum Theological College in Gulu at various times. Many of these men and women trained in the past are strong community leaders and reverends today.
The Diocese would like the college to become an accredited institution that will offer Certificate Training for Reverends in future.