The Diocese of Winchester's activity figures show that over a eight year period to 1998 showed that there was a 14% increase in the frequency that the average Reader preaches. and that the average Reader preaches just over once per month

There was however little support in the e-mail discussion for the idea that the Readers are a different type of preacher from the clergy. The consensus of the correspondents in the e-mail discussion was that there were good and bad preachers in the ranks of both the Readers and the clergy because the quality of preaching is dependent on the gifting of the individual not their appointment within the church. It is interesting however to raise the question of whether those Readers who have not got the gifts needed to preach or wish to minister as lectors should remain as Readers?

There was considerable confusion and disagreement in the e-mail discussion about the use of the term Lay Theologian. The origin of this term is unclear, though it was clearly in use by the time Kraemer published his work on the laity in 1958. For Kraemer the lay theologian was not bound by either the expectations of the clergy or the prevailing theological methodology and opinion. He cites Calvin and C. S. Lewis as outstanding examples.