Brian’s journey to becoming an ALM
Brian is a much-loved member of the St Peter’s Church family, and will often be found getting things ready for Sunday worship. He recently trained to become an Authorised Lay Minister in the Diocese of Manchester, a way of being equipped and commissioned by Bishop David to serve the church and local community. We caught up with Brian to find out a bit more about it.
Brian, how was it that you came to train as an ALM?
I’ve been serving in church for decades, and then a couple of years ago Harvie and Janet (the clergy team here at the time) told me that I was their vision. I was a bit taken aback, and wondered what they meant, but was encouraged when they said that they could see me as a key part of what God wanted to do here. We kept chatting, and they put me forward for ALM training, with a focus on ‘Pastoral Outreach and Listening’.
What was the training like? Any particular highlights?
It was all online because of Covid, but I enjoyed the general training modules in leadership and safeguarding, along with all the other candidates. One time, me and Bishop David both got the time wrong and turned up early for a zoom session, so I had a good chance to chat with him! Then we did our specialist module, which for me was about pastoral care, how to really listen to others, and looking out for those on the fringes of church or not part of the church community, and being a bridge for them. There was some great teaching on the book of Ezekiel too, which I’ve enjoyed going back to and thinking about since.
Coming to the end of the training then, what was the Commissioning service like?
It was the first time I’d had chance to meet some of the other candidates, and people who had become friends as we’d trained together. That was amazing in itself, but then on top of that to be in the Cathedral and to feel the backing of the Bishops, clergy who had supported me, and the whole church was just incredible!
What are some of the things that you hope to do now as an ALM based at St Peter’s?
I was a window cleaner for years and years, and so I’ve seen just how lonely some people are in our local community. The conversations I would have on the back step would often go on and on, and you’d get to see people’s real lives, not just what’s presented to others on the front path. In my retirement, I’d like to reach out to people like that, particularly older men, to get them together, connected with others, and aware of what St Peter’s is doing and that they’re invited. And also to keep a connection with those who are housebound and might struggle to get out. There were some great ideas from other churches in the Diocese that I picked up through my training, which I’d love to try here too.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking about whether to step into ministry more, as you’ve done?
Follow the nudge of the Holy Spirit. I wasn’t sure whether it was for me, but I knew that the Holy Spirit had nudged me and wanted me to do it, and that kept me going. So ask God what he’s got for you, speak to others, and don’t be afraid to give it a go - I loved it!
We’re excited to see all that God does through Brian in this role here. We believe that God has things for you to be involved in, maybe as an ALM (find out more about that in Manchester here), or in other ways. If you’d like to chat that through further, get in touch with Simon our Vicar, he’d love to speak to you and pray with you about it.
Email: hello@stpetersbury,church