From the Revd Bruce Bridgewood
Sir, - Professor Orme in his letter
(24
August) extolling the merits of Reader ministry goes too far.
While it is true that Readers are not just there to "fill in", it
remains a fact that they are laymen and -women.
I sometimes think that the C of E
believes in the fourfold ministry of bishops, priests, deacons, and
Readers. It is true, of course, that Readers are licensed by the
bishop to preach, conduct non-eucharistic worship, bury the dead on
occasion, etc.; but the fact remains that they are not in holy
orders, whether they dress up in albs, surplices, and blue tippets,
or not.
It is a fundamental theological
principle that ministers should exercise their own liturgies
wherever possible; so it is nonsense to have a "communion by
extension" with two priests in the congregation.
The whole rationale of communion by
extension is for the Blessed Sacrament to be made available for the
reception of holy communion when no priest is available to
celebrate a mass.
Frankly, I have to say that it would
make better sense theologically if all these Readers, subdeacons,
eucharistic ministers, et al., were done away with, and ordained as
distinctive deacons in the first place.
BRUCE BRIDGEWOOD
81 Warwick Road, London N11 2SP