Called to be a Lay Leader

1. Calledto bea LayLeader …Next Steps

2. The Congregational Ministry = Ministry of the Laity + Skills and Experience of Professional Clergy

3. 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

4. BODPara. 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.”

5. The Ministry of the Laity • Active advocates of the • Gospel of Jesus Christ • To carry out the Great • Commission • To be missional

6. 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.

7. 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.”

8. Being Involved…

9. 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)

10. The Book of Discipline… • 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

11. Advises church council on needs • Informs laity of training opportunities • Supports the ministries ofthe church • Trains to become a certified lay speaker (recommended) and…

12. Helps with spiritual gifts discovery and leadership development

13. 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

14. Recommended - Serve as Lay Member of Annual Conference

15. Lay Servant/Speaking Ministries • Local Church Lay Speaker • Certified Lay Speaker

16. Annual Conference Lay Leader • Annual Conference Lay Leader • Associate Annual Conference Lay Leader

17. 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

21. Exercising Spiritual Disciplines

22. Movement From… “What does my church want me to do?” “How can I grow in my faith?”

23. Spiritual Leadership – Part 1 As followers of Jesus, we are called to grow spiritually through the practice of Christian habits.

24. “holiness of heart and life” • Worship • Prayer • Reading the Scriptures • Lord’s Supper • Fasting • Holy Conferencing • Works of Piety • Works of Mercy

25. Spiritual Leadership – Part 2 To help others grow to a mature faith in God that moves them to action on behalf of others

26. Being Invitational

27. 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.

28. 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? “The future of the UMC lies primarily with the laity.”

29. Lay Leaders are in the ministry of… • Leading others to Christ and • Equipping others to be in ministry for Christ

30. From Maintenance to Mission

31. As Lay Leader, you help determine the vision for your church, so I invite you to think about these questions:

32. 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?

33. Celebrating our Connection

34. Basic Facts

35. In the United States

36. In Central Texas

37. You are the KEY TO COMMUNICATION • Information Flow •  Leadership Training • Laity Matters

38. Laity Sunday 3rd Sunday of October

39. 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

40. Calendar • First Quarter • Local/Regional Leadership Training • Second Quarter • Annual Conference – June (educate • before and report after)

41. 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

43. Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2009-2012

44. www.gbod.org/laity/

45. Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Seminary Lovett Weems, Exec. Director “Leading Ideas” Newsletter www.churchleadership.com

46. www.alban.org Produces The Alban Weekly on-line and print resources

47. “Leadership is helping God’s people take the next faithful step.”Scott Cormode

48. What will be your next step?

49. Central Texas Conference of The UMC Center for Leadership 464 Bailey Avenue Fort Worth Texas 76107 817-877-5222 Smciver635@aol.com KimSimpson1@tx.rr.com Georgia@ctcumc.org