Lay Leader/ Lay Member 2013-2016

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation

Connecting Your Congregation and Your Annual Conference

Called to a Ministry of Faithfulness and Vitality

Leadership in Vital Ministry The Church’s Vision Assessing Your Efforts The Mission of the UMC

Our Primary Task

¶ 243 The Book of Discipline

Called to Spiritual Leadership

By virtue of our baptismMinistry vs. “ a job”

The United Methodist Book of Discipline

The Role of Lay Leader

Lay Leader/Lay Member

Interpreting actions and programs of the annual conference and the general church

Communicating the vision and needs of the local church to the annual conference and general church

Lay Leader Responsibilities- Paragraph 251- 2012 Book of Discipline

Advocacy Modeling

Discipleship Building

awareness Recognize and

celebrate the ministry of the laity

Meet with the pastor

Serve on various committees

Assist the church council

Continue to study Inform the laity of

educational opportunities

Representing the Laity

Modeling Discipleship

Wesleyan Class Meetings

The Holy Club

FOSTER THE MINISTRY OF THE LAITY

Building Awareness

Recognize and Celebrate the Ministry of the Laity

Laity Sunday – Third Sunday in

October

Laity Sun poster

Recognize and Celebrate the Ministry of the Laity

Recognize lay speakers

Promote service opportunities

Recognize and Celebrate the Ministry of the Laity

Recognize ministries in daily life

Meet with the pastor Regularly

Re: State of the congregation

Needs for ministry Prayer for each other

New Ways to Work;Shared Ministry

No ministry is subservient to another

Sent by Christ to live and work together - clergy and laity

Guiding congregation through changeCovenant for Leadership

Guidelines For Dialogue with your Pastor

Listen

Be courageous

Don’t be defensive

Be honest and kind

Serve on Committees

Charge ConferenceChurch CouncilFinance CommitteeLay Leadership CommitteeStaff Parish Relations/ Pastor Parish Relations Committee

Continuous study

Assist the Council

Ministry Beyond the Walls and Windows

District and Conference Lay Leaders Your counterparts and leaders on a district or conference level

Reflection

Purple Street Church is not just any church,Purple Street Church is not just any church,

ItIt’’s a United Methodist Churchs a United Methodist Church……..

Courtesy of UMCOM

The UMC: A “Connectional” Church

…and it’s part of the

District…

…and it’s part of the

District…

Courtesy of UMCOM

……which is part which is part of the Annual of the Annual Conference…Conference…

Courtesy of UMCOM

……which is part which is part of the of the

Jurisdiction…Jurisdiction…

Courtesy of UMCOM

……which is part of the which is part of the United Methodist Church,United Methodist Church,

which is really…which is really…

……a global church, with conferences and members a global church, with conferences and members in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines.in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines.

Courtesy of UMCOM

Responsibilities as Lay Member of Annual Conference

Participate in all sessions and vote

Report to the congregationInterpret actions taken at annual conferenceServe on Church Council, SPR/PPR, and Finance Committee

ANNUAL CONFERENCE – TWO MEANINGS

Geographic area with assigned bishop.

The annual meeting of lay and clergy members of the geographical area

(Annual Conference Session)

Preparing for Annual Conference

StudyAttend district meetingsUnderstand the processThe Book of DisciplineDiscuss issues

Participate During Annual Conference

Attend laity sessions Participate in all other sessions Listen Worship Attend Bible study Explore

Journaling:

Reflections about; Proceedings Discussions Worship Special ceremonies Music

Serve after Annual Conference

Share informationCelebrate the opportunity and

accomplishments

General Conference

2016 Portland Oregon- May 10-20

Jurisdictional Conference

Held after General Conference

Delegates elected with General Conference Delegates

Election of bishopsOther Jurisdictional business

Reflection

Improving Your Leadership

Servant LeadershipSpiritual DisciplinesAccountability Spiritual GiftsLay Servant MinistriesChristian conferencingCommunication SkillsLeading ChangeEvaluating Your Leadership

Servant Leadership

Mt. 20:25-28 The United Methodist Book of Discipline

Part IV. Sections III. - V.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Prayer Searching the Scriptures Holy Communion Fasting Christian Conferencing Worship Devotions Works of Piety and Mercy

Means of Grace

“O begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises..Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days.”

John Wesley

Spiritual Disciplines

The United Methodist Rule of Life

The General RulesFirst: Do no HarmSecond: Do GoodThird: Attend upon all the Ordinances of God

(Means of Grace)

“To form the Savior in the Soul”

Accountable/Covenant Discipleship

Spiritual Gifts

“Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given.”

Ephesians 4:7

Lay Servant Ministries

Inform congregation about Lay Servant Ministries

Encourage participationKeep track of courses

taken by lay servantsHelp lay speakers find

ways to use their skills

Learning & Leading

Most Lay Servant Ministries courses can be used as short term studies for ALL members of

the congregation!

Certified Lay Ministers

Additional training beyond Lay Servant Ministries

Assigned by District Superintendent Serve with a mutual ministry team Certified by District Comm. on Ordained

Ministry

More Info: www.gbod.org/laity/clm

clm@gbod.org

Christian Conferencing/Leading Meetings

Tithing Your Time

Discernment

“to see to the heart of the matter with spiritual eyes”

Consensus

Creates cooperative dynamic

Mutual Invitation

“Do unto others……”

Inclusivity

Communication Skills

Listening

Leading Change

Necessary for growth

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY – A NEW WAY OF THINKING

Philippians 4:8

What is Appreciative Inquiry??

A way of seeing and creating

Offers a different reality Forsakes the “deficit model”

Conflict and Mediation

From PROBLEMS To POSSIBILITIES

Identifying And Preparing Potential Leaders

Passing the Baton

Evaluating Your Leadership

Reflection

Take Aways

Set up times for regular conversations with your pastor- including prayer covenant

Plan to change the format of meetings to Christian conferencing

Find ways to encourage members in their Ministry in Daily Life – help them recognize their work as ministry- explore ways to recognize this in the church

More Take Aways

Consider a recognition service for those serving on

committees- including those who are rotating off

Find ways to stay connected and informed on the larger church

Find ways to be in ministry beyond the walls

Establish a pattern of spiritual disciplines and join or form an accountability group – Teach about the General Rules in your congregation

“Do everything without complaining or arguing,

so that you may become

blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…”

Philippians 2:14-15

Copyright

“Lay Leader/Lay Member” Copyright © 2013 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Website: http://www.GBOD.org. This presentation may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local church and educational purposes with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on a website not under the auspices of The General Board of Discipleship.