Lay Speaking Mission Ministries

Since the Church entered the 21st century, emphasis has been put on a clergy/laity partnership in ministry. Lay Speaking is about training the laity to be a vital and exciting part of the ministry of Jesus Christ...

What Is the Ministry of the Laity?

Laity is from the Greek word “Laos” and means “The People of God." Each and every one of you represent the laity, each and every one of you are the laity - “The People of God.”

Ø The local church is a “community of true believers under the lordship of Christ.” It is a “redemptive fellowship.” It exists for “the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.” Simply put, as found in Matthew, you, we, are entrusted with the gospel to be the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”

Ø Christian Ministry is the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by a community of Christians that demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship. All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servant-hood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.

Ø The ministry of the laity is frontline ministry because laypersons have direct access to the community and access to settings that clergy do not normally have. We are the church made visible in the world. We cannot delegate this responsibility, nor can we evade it. Ministry is both a gift and a task that requires unstinting service. We are all called to accept, celebrate and use the gifts of ministry: All God’s People in All Places, And in All Times, Are Called to Love And to Serve. Always remember that you may very well be the only bible someone reads…

Ø When Methodism began local church communities were led by the laity. Clergy, far and few between, road long circuits to inspire with their word and administer the sacraments. In between, the churches were led by leaders of strong conviction but who did not want to, or had not the time to become ordained. The church grew because of these dedicated lay persons.

Ø Lay Speaking is about Leading, Caring, and Communicating. A Methodist Lay Speaker is a member of a local church who is ready and desirous to serve the Church and who is well informed on and committed to the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization and life of The United Methodist Church and who has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communications, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries.

Ø Lay Speaking Ministries offers training opportunities for laity who would like to use their witness, leadership, and service to inspire others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship.

Ø You all have great power. Lay Speaking is about helping to harness and direct that power. We simply help to bridge gaps...

Ø Friends - Today, we live in a world with intense human suffering. It is all around us, everywhere we look and everywhere we go. It is real. May we all spring forward being Deeply Committed Followers Of Jesus Christ and making a difference, a great difference…

In the words of St. Francis: May we -

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words...”

Mim - Lay Speaker>Montgomery United Methodist Church >Greater New Jersey Conference 2010

Getting Started...