Laity

Annual Conference Presentation

For all of you who have not yet presented your “Report on Annual Conference 2012," there are some PowerPoint slides available that depict what happened at the Conference. They are rather simple and can serve as a starter for those of you who are proficient in PowerPoint or they can be used as is if desired. You can access these slides at www.unitedmethodistlaity.com  

Documents for Laity at Annual Conference

Lay Members Guide to Annual Conference>>

Handbook for Lay Leaders>>

2012 Laity Photo Gallery, by Mitch Underwood>>

Laity on the Move

A Word from Your Conference Lay Leader

Greetings on behalf of the board of laity, and welcome to the laity Web page.

Some of you might be wondering what the role of the conference lay leader really is. Knowing this will surely help you access the assistance that is available to you. The  conference  lay leader:

  • chairs  the board of laity.
  • presides over conference laity sessions
  • helps to foster an awareness among laity of their role in the church.
  • finds ways to to recognize all lay ministries.
  • gathers concerns of laypersons and advocates for these concerns .
  • seeks to provide training and support for local church lay leaders.
  • works in conjunction with the district superintendents, pastors, and lay members of the Annual Conference to support lay  participation in planning and decision making on the district and local church levels, and
  • serves on boards and committees, such as the committee of Episcopacy, Conference Sessions,  and Conference Committee on Lay Speaking and Conference Committee on Nominations.

The board of laity stands ready to serve you and to work with laity and clergy alike. These web pages will provide you with information and resources that will help you in your ministry. Please be in touch with me and let me know whether you find these pages useful, or how we can improve them.

Most of all, remember that we are spiritual leaders.  We have been called by God to serve. We should nurture our relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship and fellowship. I remind you to take time to listen to God’s voice. Do not get bogged down with overloading yourself with information without hearing what God has to say to you. 

God bless you.
Renata Smith
renata10553@yahoo.com

Read the Report of the Conference Lay Leader, New York Annual Conference of the  United Methodist Church, Friday, June 12, 2009