Although one of the strengths of lay ministry is that ministers are part of their Church congregation, and therefore not always identifiable as a trained minister, sometimes it is helpful for LLMs to be recognisable. LLM hoodies and polo shirts fill this gap for informal occasions where it is helpful for LLMs to be seen as a minister who is trained and trusted to represent the Church. LLMs wear their hoodies in various settings including events such as church fetes, informal services like Messy Church or on the way home from church and several LLMs have found that they have sparked evangelistic conversations.
Kevin, an LLM in the Diocese, has experienced the benefits of wearing a hoodie in Church and said:
“It’s a real honour to wear it and minister to God’s people. I feel it encourages people who perhaps don’t want to speak to a priest but will approach someone who looks like them.”
Karen was able to share her faith with her neighbour because she was wearing a hoodie. She said:
“I left the house wearing my hoodie even though it was warm. My neighbour happened to come out at the same time and asked me why I was wearing it. I said, ‘It’s my uniform’ and I turned around to show him the symbol on the back. He responded that I was wasting my time, that there was nothing ‘up there’ and he pointed upwards. I said, ‘I agree with you! God’s not up there, he’s down here with us every day.’ That conversation only happened because I was wearing my hoodie.”
The hoodie also encourages people to consider Lay Ministry. A few years ago, Steve was told, ‘You would make a wonderful Licenced Lay Minister.' He replied, ‘What do they do? And how do I find one to ask?' He was able to identify someone by their hoodie and has now become an LLM who wears his hoodie proudly with the LLM symbol emblazoned on the back.
After such success in Bristol, the idea has now been taken up at national level by the Central Readers’ Council who have developed a national Church of England Reader / LLM hoodie for those who have been licensed under Canons E4-E6 (‘of a Reader’). Already, LLMs from other dioceses are grateful that they can buy hoodies to recognise their ministry. One LLM said, ‘I am a prison chaplain and never knew what to wear to show that I was a trained minister when I visited the prison. Now I can buy a hoodie, and it will be my uniform.’
The prayer of those taking the step to launch the hoodies nationally is that they will contribute to making Licensed Lay Ministry / Reader Ministry more visible across the church and nation.
LLMs in the Bristol Diocese now have two options for hoodies: the Bristol version and the national Church of England version. For the first six months, the Church of England hoodie will be available for £30. The hoodie can be ordered through the link below.