In contrast to this official position, there are a number of publications emerging from the USA which seek to develop the ministry of lectionary readers. In many ways this is a continuation of the original primary function of Readers. The literature, such as Rosser's, A Word That Will Arouse Them, and Longerton's A Well Trained Tongue: A Workbook For Lectors are more concerned with the methods and purpose of proclaiming the scriptures within the liturgy of the church rather than the nature of the office itself.

The Orthodox Church still ordains people to the minor-orders which it also sees as a training ground for the higher orders. A variety of sources provide orders of service for the "setting apart" or "ordination" of Readers. Examples include Hapgood's (1922) translation of the Service Book Of The Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church which indicates that Readers are "set apart" at the end of The Divine Liturgy to enter the first degree to peruse the divine scriptures daily, that the hearers may receive edification and that the Reader may seek to move through the degrees to the Priesthood, The East Syrian rite which indicates that Readers are provided with a copy of the psalms of David and are ordained by the bishop whose prayers include the request that the Readers be "worthy to be entrusted with the reading of the holy scriptures and divine words before your chosen people in your holy Church"