Guidelines Lay Leader/Lay Member: Connect Your Congregation and Your Annual Conference

by Cokesbury, Cokesbury (Contribution by)

Overview

The Lay Leader and Lay Member to Annual Conference are key roles in linking the vision and plan of the congregation with the ministry of the Annual conference and in nurturing cooperation and coordination of the pastor and congregation in leadership. These two roles are complementary, yet there are responsibilities unique to each role. The greatest distinction is the connections they forge with and on behalf of the congregation. The lay leader has a primary focus in linking the local church and community. The lay member of annual conference has a primary focus in linking the local church to the connectional United Methodist Church and God's worldwide church.

This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501829734
Publisher:	Cokesbury
Publication date:	11/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	479 KB

Read an Excerpt

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 Lay Leader/Lay Member

Connect Your Congregation and Your Annual Conference

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By Sandy Jackson, Jodi L. Cataldo

Cokesbury

Copyright © 2016 Cokesbury
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5018-2973-4

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CHAPTER 1

Called to Love and Serve

[A]ll Christians are called to minister wherever Christ would have them serve and witness in deeds and words that heal and free. (The Book of Discipline, ¶128)

Thank you for accepting the call to be the lay leader of your congregation or lay member of annual conference from your congregation! God has called you, through your church's charge conference, to serve the church in an important way. The roles of lay leader and lay member of annual conference are separate, but should be complementary.

The Responsibilities of Lay Leader/Lay Member

Responsibilities of both the lay leader and the lay member of annual conference include

• interpreting the 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.

These two roles are complementary, yet there are responsibilities unique to each role. The lay leader has a primary focus of linking the local church and community. The lay member of annual conference has a primary focus of linking the local church to the connectional United Methodist Church and God's worldwide church.

The Book of Discipline defines the roles of lay leader and lay member and — in broad terms — the work of your congregation, the annual conference, and The United Methodist Church. Two sections will be particularly helpful for your leadership. The paragraphs numbered in the 200s relate to the local church; ¶251.1 refers to the lay leader and ¶251.2 refers to the lay member of annual conference. Paragraphs 602.4–7 also contain references to the lay member of annual conference.

The Discipline states that the lay leader is to be elected from the professing membership of a local church (¶ 251.1) The lay member must be a professing member in good standing of The United Methodist Church for at least two years preceding his or her election and an active participant in The United Methodist Church for at least four years before his or her election (¶¶ 251.2, 602.4), though that requirement may be waived for newly organized churches. The lay member(s) of annual conference shall be elected annually or quadrennially as the annual conference directs.

The Discipline recommends that the lay leader be one of the lay members of annual conference. This is because the lay leader is to serve as an interpreter to the congregation of the actions and programs of the annual conference and the general church (¶ 251.1c). If the lay leader is not a lay member of annual conference, the two people (or groups) should confer and work together as they serve. It may be difficult for the lay leader to be the sole lay member from a congregation due to the increased responsibilities of serving in both roles. A large-membership church or a church served by multiple clergy may have several people sharing these responsibilities.

CHAPTER 2

The Role of the Lay Leader

The responsibilities listed in the Discipline for lay leaders apply to congregations of every size and to multiple-point charges. However, these responsibilities are lived out with a great deal of variation among local churches. In larger congregations, associate lay leaders may be elected to assist the lay leader.

Responsibilities of the Lay Leader

The lay leader's responsibilities touch the entire breadth of the congregation's life (¶ 251.1). The lay leader

• functions as the primary representative of the laity in that local church;

• fosters awareness of the role of the laity within the congregation and through their ministries in the home, workplace, community, and world; and finds ways within the community of faith to recognize those ministries;

• meets regularly with the pastor to discuss the state of the church and the needs for ministry;

• serves as a member of the charge conference, church council, the committee on finance, the committee on nominations and leadership development, and the committee on staff/pastor-parish relations;

• continues to be involved in study and training opportunities to develop a growing understanding of the church's reason for existence and the types of ministry that will most effectively fulfill the church's mission;

• assists in advising the church council of community need and opportunities for more effective ministry in the community;

• informs the laity of training opportunities provided by the annual conference;

• attends training opportunities in order to strengthen his or her work;

• is urged to become a certified lay servant.

Represent the Laity

The lay leader serves as primary advocate for and representative of the laity in the congregation. The lay leader should, therefore, be a person of faith and integrity. As an extension of the congregation in the community, the lay leader also needs to be aware of the reputation the church has in the community and work to enhance or improve it. The lay leader is also an advocate for the needs of the community. He or she works to inspire the congregation to care for those beyond the walls of the church.

Model Discipleship

Key to faithful discipleship is how we carry out our mission as leaders in the church. Your leadership role requires that you be a model of discipleship — a grace-filled follower of Jesus Christ who puts faith into action, joyfully joining in God's mission in the world. Through your participation in the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, you will not only engage in your area of ministry but also work to empower others to be in ministry. The vitality of your congregation and the church as a whole depends on the faith, abilities, and actions of all who work together for the glory of God.

One of the most significant ways we develop new leaders is through the core process for carrying out our mission as stated in ¶122 of The Book of Discipline:

We make disciples as we:

• proclaim the gospel, seek, welcome and gather into the body of Christ;

• lead persons to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the spirit and profession of faith in Jesus Christ;

• nurture persons in Christian living through worship, the sacraments, spiritual disciplines, and other means of grace, such as Wesley's Christian conferencing;

• send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being and becoming a compassionate, caring presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel; and

• continue the mission of seeking, welcoming and gathering persons into the community of the body of Christ.

To better remember and understand the core process as written in ¶122, think in terms of H.O.P.E. — Hospitality, Offer Christ, Purpose, and Engagement. Through these discipleship paths of H.O.P.E., new disciples are made and sent out to reach even more people to bring into the body of Christ.

We go into the world in outreach and mission, offering hope through proclamation of the gospel, seeking, welcoming, and gathering as we offer hospitality to those not yet in the body. We offer Christ by providing an opportunity for people to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the Spirit and profession of faith. We nurture people in Christian living to help them find a true sense of purpose in life and what it means to live out their belief through acts of piety and acts of mercy, Christian conferencing, regular participation in the sacrament of Holy Communion, and other means of grace. Through engagement, we send out these grace-filled followers of Jesus Christ who are putting their faith into action, helping to transform the surrounding community, and offering hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ. Thus H.O.P.E. cycles back around.

Ask yourselves and the leadership of your congregation how your church might become a place of hope. Whether your church is small, medium, or large, it is essential to have an intentional discipleship system like H.O.P.E. in place. No matter what system you decide to use, the components of the core process should be established in every local church to accomplish the church's mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. After all, it's all about hope.

Your visibility as the lay leader in the congregation places you in a position to model good habits of personal devotion and discipleship. As you engage in spiritual practices and serve in outreach and mission, you serve as an example and mentor to others.

Foster the Role of the Laity

The work of laity must be continually renewed and expanded if your congregation is to be a vital organism. Our Methodist heritage includes active lay leadership and involvement in spreading scriptural and social holiness throughout the land. It is your responsibility to encourage laity to use their Spiritual gifts, skills, talents, treasure, and time to love and serve God and neighbor.

You can also help to foster the role of the laity through ministry in the home, workplace, community, and the world. Paragraph 220 of the Discipline describes "The Call to Ministry of All the Baptized." This paragraph explains that each member is a servant of Christ in mission in the local and worldwide community. You can help laity become aware of their responsibilities as members by calling their attention to this important paragraph. Help church members discover their spiritual gifts and use their gifts, skills, and talents to strengthen the church and to witness to people in all areas of their lives.

Recognize and Celebrate the Ministry of the Laity

Bringing awareness of the role of the laity to the congregation and community can be accomplished by finding opportunities to recognize and celebrate laity ministries. Here are some suggestions:

• Observe Laity Sunday (usually the third Sunday of October) annually.

• Invite community groups, such as firefighters, teachers, or city workers to worship and recognize their work as ministry.

• Recognize laity who have become local church lay servants or who have been certified as lay servants, lay speakers, or lay ministers. Advocate with pastors and worship leaders for these persons to share their stories or to preach.

• Publicize training events for laity and encourage participation.

• Prepare visual displays that celebrate the ministries of the laity both within and beyond the church facility.

• Regularly promote special opportunities for service and mission projects.

• Recognize the steady ministry of groups and individuals who live out their faith in service through regular volunteer work in schools and the community.

• Provide opportunities for people of all ages to share stories of the ways they have lived as faithful Christians during the past week, including in the workplace. They might share those experiences in worship, small groups, newsletters, the church website, social media, or bulletins.

Meet with the Pastor

The Book of Discipline states that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Each congregation must discern the way to accomplish that mission in its unique setting. And each pastor and lay leader must decide how they will share the work, partnering together, to guide the congregation in accomplishing its mission. You will want to meet regularly with the pastor to discuss the state of the congregation and the needs for ministry both within and beyond the congregation. Cultivating a healthy relationship with the pastor is a vital part of your ministry. You are the bridge between the pastor(s) and congregation. It's essential to keep that relationship healthy and strong.

One way to demonstrate this working relationship is for the lay leader to serve as co-leader with the appointed clergy in meetings, worship, and ministry in the community. Work with your pastor to identify the ways you can witness together to the strength and significance of your working relationship.

Establish a Leadership Covenant

A good way to work together is to establish a covenant between you, as the lay leader, and the pastor regarding how you will work together to carry out your tasks and responsibilities.

Serve on Various Committees

You will be busy! The lay leader is automatically a member of charge conference, church council, finance committee, nominations and leadership development committee, and staff/pastor-parish relations committee. The lay leader represents and advocates for the laity in specific ways in each of these places. You can find out more about them by reading the Guidelines for each of these committees and their responsibilities, but here are some brief descriptions.

The charge conference is the connecting link between the local church and the general church, and it is the ultimate authority for directing the mission and ministry of the local congregation. The charge conference is in session annually at a time set by the district superintendent. The lay leader represents the laity by

• attending the charge conference.

• submitting a report on the state of lay ministry in the congregation.

• interpreting the importance of apportioned funds, explaining the causes supported by each of them and their place in the total program of the church. The lay leader, as one of the best connections between the general church and the local charge conference, should be well versed in how apportioned funds are used. It is important to pass on this knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help the local charge conference understand better its connection to the general church.

The church council is the primary administrative agency for the charge conference, responsible for planning and coordinating the administrative and programmatic life of the congregation. The church council includes pastor(s) and laity who chair committees and task forces. Your role as lay leader at the church council is to

• bring a broad perspective of laity of all ages as you listen to the plans for implementing the mission and vision of the congregation.

• apprise the council of needs and opportunities for more effective ministry in the community.

• help to interpret the plans and decisions of the church council to the laity of the congregation.

Your role in helping the council extends beyond the internal workings of the church, into the community. You assist the council to better attend to the unique ministry and mission needs in your community as you

• look for and take advantage of opportunities to interpret the mission and ministry of the congregation to the community. Where can the ministries of your congregation assist the community? What do you have to offer?

• share ways in which the congregation could provide mission and ministry opportunities to meet the needs of people in the community. Could you partner with a local elementary school, homeless shelter, sports organization? In what ways could you participate in disaster relief or neighborhood watch?

The finance committee prepares an annual budget for the congregation to submit to the church council for review and adoption. The committee is responsible, together with the stewardship committee (if you have one), for developing and implementing a plan for raising funds for the budget adopted by the church council. The committee administers the funds according to the instructions of the church council and guides the work of the church treasurer and financial secretary. Your role in this committee is similar to your role in the church council. You are to

• represent all the laity and the community as the budget is prepared and as funds are administered.

• interpret the finances of the church to the congregation.

The nominations and leadership development committee identifies, develops, deploys, evaluates, and monitors the Christian spiritual leadership of the congregation. This critically important committee should be the hub of leadership selection and training. The responsibilities include more than finding people to fill empty slots. Identifying is more than finding willing people; it includes discovering the gifts needed for various ministries and who possesses those gifts. Developing is about equipping, providing prayer support, and mentoring those who are in leadership positions. Deploying refers to discerning areas of mission and ministry where the gifts of the members will be used most effectively. Evaluating the success of each committee and the nominations and leadership development committee's efforts is essential to improving the work of the congregation. Monitoring is done by taking the pulse of the congregation — what needs to be added to the leadership? What should change or be eliminated? As a representative of the laity on this committee, your role is to

• encourage the Spiritual gifts assessment of potential leaders, which empowers the laity and the committee to discern where use of gifts and passions will enhance an individual's leadership and faith journey;

• encourage the committee to provide leadership training, mentors, and prayer partners for the committees and chairs of committees;

• assist in monitoring congregational needs for leadership and evaluating the success of each ministry or mission area.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 Lay Leader/Lay Member by Sandy Jackson, Jodi L. Cataldo. Copyright © 2016 Cokesbury. Excerpted by permission of Cokesbury.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Blessed to Be a Blessing,
Called to Love and Serve,
The Responsibilities of the Lay Leader/Lay Member,
The Role of the Lay Leader,
Responsibilities of the Lay Leader,
District and Conference Lay Leaders,
The Role of the Lay Member of Annual Conference,
Responsibilities of the Lay Member,
Prepare for Annual Conference,
Participate during Annual Conference,
Serve after Annual Conference,
General Conference,
Improving Your Leadership,
Servant Leadership,
Spiritual Disciplines,
Spiritual Gifts,
Lay Servant Ministries,
Christian Conferencing/Leading Meetings,
Inclusivity,
Communication Skills,
Leading Change,
Evaluate Your Leadership,
A Final Word,
Resources,
Connectional Resources,
General Resources,
Leadership,
Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Disciplines,
Christian Conferencing,
Change/Conflict,
UMC Agencies & Helpful Links,