There is a however a risk that the development of various forms of non-stipendary ministry may steal the limelight and frustrated Readers could like many lay leaders who neither seek or are accepted for the ordained ministry will, like many lay leaders in the eighteenth century, move out of the Church of England into other denominations.

Whether Readers like it or not the regulations have already moved to a focus on preaching and do not provide strong support for Readers being central to liturgical ministry at Holy Communion. If Readers are ordained to overcome the shortage of clergy then the ministry of Reader will cease to be the vehicle for authorised lay ministry under a bishop's licence.

There are only two macro routes to resolve the resource issue for Holy Communion The first is ordination and there might well be Readers who feel that this is an appropriate ministry. The second is Lay Presidency which would be a pre-requisite for the extension of Reader ministry into this area.

There is also the question of whether there is a need to establish the ministry of reader in the Church of England as a focus for all authorised pastoral, liturgical and preaching ministries in the Church of England.