Transcript Lay Leadership

CALLED
TO BE
A LAY
LEADER
…Next Steps
The Congregational Ministry =
Ministry of the Laity +
Skills and Experience of
Professional Clergy
What must laity believe?
We are all called to be ministers
which means:
• Being involved in local church, district,
and conference activities
• Exercising spiritual disciplines
• Being invitational
• Moving from maintenance to mission
• Celebrating our connectionalism
BOD Para. 128: Ministry as Gift and Task
“Baptism is followed by nurture and
the consequent awareness by the
baptized of the claim to ministry in
Christ placed upon their lives by
the church.”
The Ministry of the Laity
• Active advocates of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
• To carry out the Great
Commission
• To be missional
What must clergy believe?
Laity are PARTNERS
in ministry. Part of
the clergy’s call is to
better energize, equip
and empower laity to be
in ministry for Christ.
Lay Responsibility for Fruitfulness
“…WHEREAS, too many of our laity no
longer claim that core responsibility of every
Christian to find those who are lost and lead
them into a church home,
Therefore be it now resolved that we, the
laity, accept collegial responsibility with
the clergy for the growth and vitality of
The United Methodist Church.”
Being Involved…
What is a lay leader?
…a lay leader who shall
function as the primary lay
representative of the laity in
that local church…
(Paragraph 251, The 2008
Book of Discipline)
The Book of Discipline…
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Fosters awareness of the role of the
laity – Advocates for the laity
Meets regularly with the pastor(s)
Interprets the actions and programs of
the annual conference and general
Church
Participates in study and training
opportunities – Models discipleship
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Advises church council on needs
Informs laity of training opportunities
Supports the ministries of the church
Trains to become a certified lay
speaker (recommended)
and…
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Helps with spiritual
gifts discovery and
leadership
development
The Local Church Lay Leader is
a member of:
Charge Conference
 Church Council
 Committee on Finance
 Committee on Nominations and
Leadership Development
 Staff/Parish Relations

Recommended Serve as Lay
Member of
Annual
Conference
Lay Servant/Speaking Ministries
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Local Church Lay Speaker
 Certified Lay Speaker
Annual Conference Lay Leader
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Annual Conference
Lay Leader
Associate Annual
Conference Lay
Leader
Conference Board of Laity
To create a culture of call by
energizing and equipping laity so that
they might effectively partner with
each other and their pastors to live out
God’s call to make disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the
ENERGIZING
(Holistic Stewardship)
• Creating a stronger culture of call
for all laity
• Focusing on prayers, presence, gifts,
service, and witness (holistic
stewardship model)
• Developing supportive relationships
between District Lay Leaders and
Local Church Lay Leaders
EQUIPPING
(Leadership Excellence)
• Training for District and Local
Church Lay Leaders
• Lay Servant/Speaking Ministries
• Resource development
• Resourcing Nominations and
Leadership Development
Committees
EMPOWERING
(Shared Ministry)
• Focus on lay-clergy partnership
• Advocacy for role of the laity
• Assessment of needs in order to better
support the work of the church
• Encourage presence and involvement of
laity in District ministry and at each
local church Charge Conference
Exercising Spiritual Disciplines
Movement From…
“What does my church want
me to do?”
“How can I grow in my faith?”
Spiritual Leadership – Part 1
As followers of Jesus, we
are called to grow
spiritually through the
practice of Christian
habits.
“holiness of heart and life”
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Worship
Prayer
Reading the Scriptures
Lord’s Supper
Fasting
Holy Conferencing
Works of Piety
Works of Mercy
Spiritual Leadership – Part 2
To help others grow to a
mature faith in God that
moves them to action on
behalf of others
Being Invitational
As a spiritual
(and servant) leader in
your congregation and minister of
Jesus Christ, you are called to work
in support of your congregation’s
primary task to make disciples.
“The future of the UMC lies
primarily with the laity.”
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What would it mean for United
Methodism to return to being essentially a
lay movement?
What would be needed in terms of vision,
tools, training, and action?
Lay Leaders are in the ministry
of…
 Leading others to Christ and
 Equipping others to be in
ministry for Christ
From Maintenance to Mission
As Lay Leader, you help determine
the vision for your church, so I invite
you to think about these questions:
If leaders were ready to forget
former ways and do a new thing,
what would be allowed to
happen?
If we helped all members of our
congregation to identify their
gifts, to understand what God is
calling them to do, and to equip
and support them for ministry,
what would be possible?
Celebrating our Connection
Basic Facts
• 11,227,127
# of
members • Including 55,346
worldwide Clergy
# of local
churches
•41,589
In the United States
# of Annual
Conferences
•63 (122 globally)
•Ours?
# of
Jurisdictions
•5
•Ours?
In Central Texas
# of local
churches
• 312 churches
divided into 5
districts
# of
members
•166, 180
You are the KEY TO COMMUNICATION
• Information Flow
• Leadership Training
• Laity Matters
Laity
Sunday
3rd Sunday of
October
Laity Sunday 2009-2012
Disciples Transforming the World:
2011 – Through Gifts
2012 – Through Service
Resource materials from:
www.gbod.org/laity and The Interpreter
Magazine
Calendar
First Quarter
• Local/Regional Leadership Training
Second Quarter
• Annual Conference – June (educate
before and report after)
Third Quarter
• Celebration of Church’s Ministry/
Charge Conference – Fall
(State of the Church report)
Fourth Quarter
• Clergy Appreciation Sunday – 2nd
Sunday in October
• Laity Sunday – 3rd Sunday in October
• Local/Regional Leadership Training
Denominational
Resources
Books of
Discipline and
Resolutions
Book of
Worship
2009-2012
Guidelines
The Interpreter
www.umc.org
Conference
Resources
The CTC
Website
Annual
Conference
CTC Magazine
(coming soon)
www.ctcumc.org
Guidelines for
Leading Your
Congregation
2009-2012
www.gbod.org/laity/
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
at Wesley Seminary
Lovett Weems, Exec. Director
“Leading Ideas” Newsletter
www.churchleadership.com
www.alban.org
Produces The Alban Weekly
on-line and print resources
“Leadership is helping
God’s people take the
next faithful step.”
Scott Cormode
WHAT WILL
BE YOUR
NEXT STEP?
Central Texas Conference of The UMC
Center for Leadership
464 Bailey Avenue
Fort Worth Texas 76107
817-877-5222
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]