Lay Speaking Ministries in the United Methodist Church

1
A More Excellent Way The Serving, Giving Living
Jackie G. Jenkins South Carolina Conference
Director of Lay Servant Ministries
2
Exhorters Class Leaders
The early Methodist movement relied heavily on
leaders within the laity to - lead prayer
- address people on the subject of religion
- give encouragement and admonition
3
John Wesley eventually came to also utilize
laity for - lay preaching - teaching - a
variety of other leadership roles
4
Exhorter to Lay Preacher
Thomas Maxfield
5
TODAY - laity still play a critical role in
the life of The United Methodist Church, serving
and working along side our clergy in many
different ministry areas OUR PASTORS CANT DO
IT ALL
6

• Key Dates and Terms
• 1746 - Exhorter Appointed to serve the circuit
  in the absence of the pastor
• 1934 - Lay Speaker
• 1992 - Local Church Certified
• 2006 - Over 3,000 Lay Speakers Serve
• 2013 UMC Transitions From Lay Speaking
  Ministries To Lay Servant Ministries

7

• So why the change?
• What are the goals of the new program?

8

• Key Goals
• To increase overall laity involvement in the UMC
  by broadening the scope of training.

9
Key Issue

• The emphasis of the former Lay Speaking
  Ministries program was on Lay Speaking.
• Many people who had no interest in preaching or
  public speaking did not participate in the
  training.
• Result a relatively small percentage of laity
  participated.

10
Lay Servant Ministries Broader Focus
Leadership Development Spiritual
Enrichment Skills Development Servant Leadership
11
Broader Course Offering
Course Topics

• Discovering Spiritual Gifts
• UM Heritage Polity
• Leading Worship
• Leading Prayer
• Preaching
• Lay Pastoral Care

• Discipleship
• Evangelism
• Stewardship
• Senior Adult Ministries
• Teaching
• Biblical Story Telling

12

• Key Goals
• To increase overall laity involvement in the UMC
  by broadening the scope of training.
• To provide a more rigorous and thorough
  training/selection process for those who wish to
  pursue Lay Speaking certification.

13

• Course Requirements Comparison For Lay Speakers

Certified Lay Speaker in former Lay Speaking
Ministries
Lay Speaker in current Lay Servant Ministries

• Basic Course
• Five Advanced Courses - one in each of the
  following areas
• Preaching
• Leading Worship
• Leading Prayer
• Discovering Spiritual Gifts
• UM Heritage Polity

Basic Course One Advanced Course in
Lay Speaking
14
Why use the word servant?
It best describes what Jesus told his disciples
in John 13 after he himself performed the duties
of the lowliest servant.
15
Winter Lay Speaking School (in the Walterboro
District)

• Held at St. George UMC (Feb 26 27)
• 15 courses were conducted
• 127 laity attended
• Mens Ministry course taught for the first time
• Next one will be at Carteret UMC (Aug 27 28)

16
Winter Lay Speaking School (of the Walterboro
District)
17
Winter Lay Speaking School (of the Walterboro
District)
18
Thanks To Southern Mutual Insurance
19
How do Lay Servants serve the church?
Example Positions/Ministry Areas

• Lay Leaders
• Committee Members
• Church Council
• Trustees
• Sunday School Teachers
• Ushers
• Evangelism

• Greeters
• Local Missions
• Musicians
• Lay Preaching
• Prayer Leaders
• Lay Pastoral Care
• Youth Leaders

20
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
21
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
22
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
23
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
24
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
25
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
26
Some of our Lay Servants in Action
27
A More Excellent Way The Serving, Giving Living