Lay Leader/ Lay Member Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Lay Leader/Lay Member Connecting Your Congregation and Your Annual Conference

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Priesthood of Believers Called to Spiritual Leadership “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work,chosen to be a holy people,God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the day and night difference he made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” I Peter 2:9 (The Message)

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Means of Grace Prayer Searching the Scriptures Holy Communion Fasting Christian Conferencing Worship Devotions Works of Piety and Mercy

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Spiritual Disciplines “ O begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises..Whethe r you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days.” John Wesley

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Cultivating Vision and Mission What is God calling your church to be and to do?

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Honor the Vision Stay Focused and Accountable Develop Goals & Action Plans Help your team create suggestions Plan mission and ministry opportunities Evaluate and Measure Keep an eye on how things are going Is this moving us closer to the vision?

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Tithing Our Time Se t a Spiritual Tone Practice Discernment Consensus and Parliamentary Procedure Mutual Invitation Meetings as Christian Conferencing

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Our Primary Task ¶ 243 The Book of Discipline “The local church shall be organized so that it can pursue it’s primary task and mission in the context of its own community – reaching out and receiving with joy all who will respond; encouraging people in their relationship with God and inviting them to commitment to God’s love in Jesus Christ; providing opportunities for them to seek strengthening and growth in spiritual formation and supporting them to live lovingly and justly in the power of the Holy Spirit as faithful disciples.”

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Purple Street Church is not just any church, It ’ s a United Methodist Church …. Courtesy of UMCOM The UMC: A “Connectional” Church

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD …and it’s part of the District… …and it’s part of the District… Courtesy of UMCOM

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD …which is part of the Annual Conference… Courtesy of UMCOM

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD …which is part of the Jurisdiction… Courtesy of UMCOM

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD …which is part of the United Methodist Church, which is really… …a global church, with conferences and members in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines. Courtesy of UMCOM

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Lay Leader/Lay Member Interpreting 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

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Responsibilities- Paragraph Book of Discipline Advocacy Modeling Discipleship Building awareness Recognize and celebrate the ministry of the laity Meet with the pastor Serve on various committees Assist the church council Continue to study Inform the laity of educational opportunities

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD ADVOCACY Representative of the laity in the congregation An extension of the congregation in the community Modeling Discipleship Model of faith and integrity Role model for good habits of personal devotion and discipleship Building Awareness Leadership example -Can serve as co-leader with appointed leader Foster the ministry of the laity

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Recognize and Celebrate the Ministry of the Laity Laity Sunday, Recognize lay speakers Promote service opportunities Recognize ministries in daily life

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Meet with the pastor Regularly Re: State of the congregation Needs for ministry Prayer for each other

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Respectful Communication Guidelines R = take RESPONSIBILITY for what you say and feel, without blaming others. E = EMPATHETIC listening. Try to understand how the other person feels. S = be SENSITIVE to differences in communication styles. P = PONDER on what you hear and feel before you speak. E = EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions. C = keep CONFIDENTIAL what others have to say T = TOLERATE ambiguity. We are not here to debate who is right or wrong. Trust that God will speak to us in a way that each needs to hear. Copyright Eric Law

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Serve on Committees Charge Conference Church Council Finance Committee Lay Leadership Committee Staff Parish Relations/ Pastor Parish Relations Committee

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Assist the Council Ministry Beyond the Walls and Windows

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD District and Conference Lay Leaders Your counterparts on a district or conference level District Lay Leader works with District Superintendent Conference Lay Leader works with the Bishop Each is charged with training the laity of the district/annual conference respectively

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Responsibilities as Lay Member of Annual Conference Participate in all sessions and vote Report to the congregation Interpret actions taken at annual conference Serve on Church Council, SPR/PPR, and Finance Committee

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Annual Conference – Two Meanings Geographic area with assigned bishop. The annual meeting of lay and clergy members of the geographical area (Annual Conference Session)

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Preparing for Annual Conference Study the pre-conference journal and legislation submitted Attend pre-conference district meetings Understand the process used to conduct business Develop a general knowledge of the Book of Discipline Meet with pastor and other lay leaders/lay members to discuss issues

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Participate During Annual Conference Attend laity sessions Participate in all sessions; business, legislation, reports and budget Listen during proceedings Attend all worship experiences Attend plenary and Bible study sessions Explore resource displays

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Journaling: Reflections about; Proceedings Discussions Worship Special ceremonies Music

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Serve after Annual Conference Share information Celebrate the opportunity and accomplishments

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD General Conference Held every four years Meeting of all annual conferences, missionary and central conferences Delegates elected by each annual conference in the preceding year

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Jurisdictional Conference Held after General Conference Delegates elected with General Conference Delegates Election of bishops Other Jurisdictional business

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Improving Your Leadership Servant Leadership- Modeled by Jesus Spiritual Gifts Assessment Study

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Lay Speaking Ministries Not just about preaching! Inform congregation about Lay Speaking Ministries Encourage participation Keep track of courses taken by lay speakers Help lay speakers find ways to use their skills

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Learning & Leading Most Lay Speaking Ministries courses can be used as short term studies for ALL members of the congregation!

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Certified Lay Ministers Serve as pastoral leaders in a local congregation Additional training beyond Lay Speaking Ministries Assigned by District Superintendent Serve with a mutual ministry team More Info:

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Identifying And Preparing Potential Leaders Passing the Baton

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Accountable/Covenant Discipleship

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD New Ways to Work; Shared Ministry No ministry is subservient to another Sent by Christ to live and work together - clergy and laity Guiding congregation through change Covenant for Leadership

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Leading Change Change is part of growth Some change is welcomed Some change is resisted (“We’ve always done it this way”) The Lay Leader and the Pastor guide the congregation through appropriate change

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Appreciative Inquiry – A New Way of Thinking “Finally, Beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD What is Appreciative Inquiry?? A way of seeing and creating A way of forming a community that can perceive, think and create with their best life resources Offers a different reality – a different way of perceiving and living

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD What’s Working? Appreciative Inquiry starts from an assessment of: –what has worked well in the past (peak experiences) –what’s working now –based on this, what might be possible –and the gifts (assets and relationships) we now have or can connect with to help us live into much more optimal working going forward…

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Asset Based Community Development: How We Work with Other Partners Visions of Community Connection “PROGRAM” “PEOPLE” Centered Centered Give answersAsk Questions ID Needs ID Gifts/Motivation Design Service Mobilize Action Make/Serve “consumers” Develop citizens

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD The United Methodist Rule of Life The General Rules First: Do no Harm Second: Do Good Third: Attend upon all the Ordinances of God (Means of Grace) or stay in love with God “To form the Savior in the Soul”

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Take Aways Set up times for regular conversations with your pastor- including prayer covenant Plan to change the format of meetings to Christian conferencing Find ways to encourage members in their Ministry in Daily Life – help them recognize their work as ministry- explore ways to recognize this in the church

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD More Take Aways Consider a recognition service for those serving on committees- including those who are rotating off Find ways to stay connected and informed on the larger church Find ways to be in ministry beyond the walls Establish a pattern of spiritual disciplines and join or form an accountability group – Teach about the General Rules in your congregation

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD “ Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life …” Philippians 2:14-15

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Sandy Jackson Director Connectional Laity Development General Board of Discipleship The United Methodist Church ext fax: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." I Peter 2:9

Sandy Zeigler Jackson - GBOD Copyright “Lay Leader/Lay Member” Copyright © 2008 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box , Nashville TN Website: This presentation may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local church and educational purposes with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on a website not under the auspices of The General Board of Discipleship.