1 of 21

South Central Jurisdiction� “What’s My Job?”

Lay Leader

and

Lay Member to Annual Conference

2 of 21

Lay Leader Presenters

Kathy Jewell - NMAC Lay Leader

SCJ Lay Leader

Melissa Simpson - Lay Leader, Pinnacle UMC

(Little Rock, AR)

3 of 21

PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP

Inform

Provide Resources

Build Relationships

4 of 21

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.

5 of 21

Leadership Scripture

Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

6 of 21

MISSION OF THE CHURCH

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches and extension ministries of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making occurs.

2020/2024 BOD 120

7 of 21

Bishop’s Statement

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

8 of 21

Discipleship Plan

Proclaim the gospel, seek, � welcome, gather
Lead persons to commit their lives to God
Nurture persons in Christian living
Send persons into the world

9 of 21

Ministry Area

WHAT you do

WHY you do what you do

HOW you do what you do

Celebrate what you do well

10 of 21

Characteristics of Leadership

Define a Servant Leader
What makes servant leaders different from other leaders?
How are these characteristics expressed in your congregation?
How would our ministry change if we took these characteristics seriously?

11 of 21

A Lay Leader in the local church.

Representative and role model of Christian faith
Spiritual Gifts can include compassion, discernment, faith, helping, leadership, and servanthood (or any of the others!)
Listens well and communicates with all people
Helps align ministry to the mission of the church
Connects the congregation with the community

Melissa

Spiritual gifts: If you see these gifts and think that isn’t you, remember that we are all complex people. None of my primary spiritual, gifts are listed here. But many of my secondary ones are.

In my paid job, I often give presentations in which I discuss 3 of the ways organizations fail. Two of those apply here: lack of communication and lack of curiosity! Communication does involve sharing information, whether that is in a report to your congregation on Sunday morning or through the bulletin or church newsletter. But it is also listening. That may occur when you receive feedback from the congregation or when you have one-on-one conversations with guests or anyone else. However, we communication, we must also listen with curiosity: engage with people, focus on what they are saying (or not saying), ask follow-up questions, withhold judgment.

Aligning ministry: Be the point person in discussions with the Leadership Board/Church Council

Connunctino with community: Figure out who your community is (not always easy—can be defined geographically, ethnically, economically, etc.). And always have your eyes and ears open for opportunities (Our business connections, PRIDE and MLK events, community clean-uip\s, etc.)

12 of 21

A Lay Leader…

Supports the vision and mission of the congregation
Works with the pastor to build discipleship, discuss state of the home church
Supports opportunities for lay ministry of the home church
Continues to study and train to strengthen own ministry
Informs laity of opportunities at Annual Conference
Voting member of Charge Conference, church council, SPRC, finance, and nominations committees

13 of 21

Lay Leader starts by…….

Reviewing information on Discipleship Ministries website
Meeting with pastor regularly to define/engage role in church
Establishing intentional mission and ministry
Celebrating the ministry of lay persons
Learning about and sharing information on actions taken by General Conference
Support leadership development through Lay Servant and Safer Sanctuaries classes

14 of 21

Lay Member of Annual Conference…

Attends Annual Conference as a voting member, must register and attend
Interprets the actions of Annual Conference back to the congregation
Must be a member of congregation for four years prior to election
Interested in parliamentary procedure and church structure
Spiritual Gifts can be: Servanthood, teaching, compassion, faith, discernment, apostleship, leadership, and wisdom

15 of 21

Lay Member to Annual Conference is…….

Knowledgeable about structure and ministries of UMC
Attends all sessions of annual conference
Engages in spiritual practices to discern God’s will and direction
Links the mission and vision of the local congregation with the mission and vision of the annual conference
Serves on church council, finance and SPRC committees
Accountable to the charge conference-elected through nominations committee at charge/church conference

16 of 21

Lay Member to AC starts by...

Reviewing Lay Member information on Discipleship Ministries website - umcdiscipleship.org
Meeting with pastor about how your leadership is used in the church
Talking with others who have attended annual conference
Knowing the concerns of your congregation
Reading the preconference reports

17 of 21

Key Takeaways

Laity are crucial to the disciple-making mission of the UMC
Lay Leaders are connectors of their congregations with clergy, with each other, and with the community
Lay Delegates are connectors of their congregations with the larger work of their Annual Conference

18 of 21

Where do you go from here??

19 of 21

Resource Material

Job Descriptions and Leadership Training in the United Methodist Church: A Leader Development Guide - 2017-2020

Discipleship Ministries

www.umcdiscipleship.org

20 of 21

Resource Material

Guidelines: Lay Leader/Lay Member - Connect your Congregation and your Annual Conference

Cokesbury

www.cokesbury.com

21 of 21

Kathy Jewell – 🦄kpjewell7676@gmail.com

Melissa Simpson – ⛰️layservant@pinnacleviewumc.org