 Sunday, March 11, 2012 |
Lay SpeakingThe LaGrange District has a very active Lay Speaking program, led by Mrs. Sybrenna Thornton, District Director of Lay Speaking. Below are dates for upcoming Lay Speaking classes and events. Brochures and registration forms for classes will be mailed to all pastors and current lay speakers at least one month prior to the start of the class. Watch the website for more details. Upcoming Lay Speaking Classes and Events: Saturdays, April 14 and 28 - Basic and Advanced classes will be offered at Keeney Memorial UMC in West Point, 9am-4pm. The Advanced class will be, "Lay Speakers Can Lead in Evangelism" and will use the text, "The Faith-Sharing Congregation" by Shirley F. Clement and Roger K. Swanson. Rev. Ralph Thompson will teach this class and Mrs. Laraine Ayers will teach the Basic class. Registration deadline for all classes is Wednesday, April 4. Cost for the Basic and Advanced classes are $40; cost for youth classes is yet to be determined. Brochures and registration information will be mailed to all pastors and current lay speaker in late February. Saturday, April 14 - Refresher Course - The Refresher Course is offered for those Local Church Lay Speakers who need a class to remain active. Local Church Lay Speakers must take a Refresher Course or a Basic Course every three years. The Refresher Course can also be taken by lay speakers who have lost their certificataion within the past two years and wish to come back into the Lay Speaking program. Completing the Refresher Course, and completing the other requirements such as filing an Annual Report Form and being approved at Charge Conference, will allow the participant to be re-certified as a Local Church Lay Speaker. The Refresher Course will meet from 9am -4pm on April 14 only. Registration cost is $20 and includes lunch and materials. Registration deadlline is April 4. The class will be taught by Mrs. Sybrenna Thornton and will use as its text, "Whate Every Leader Needs to Know About Mission and Vision" and "What Every Leader Needs to Know About Spiritual Leadership". Thursdays, August 16, 23, 30, September 6, 13, and 20 - Basic and Advanced courses will be offered, 7-9pm. Location to be announced.
Annual Report Forms - All lay speakers must complete an Annual Report and turn in to their pastor prior to Charge Conference. You must be approved at Charge Conference in order to be considered by the District Board of Laity as a Lay Speaker. Click here to download a copy of the form.
What is a Lay Speaker? According to paragraph 267 of the 2004 Book of Discipline, a lay speaker is a "professing member of a local church or charge who is ready and desirous to serve the Church and who is well informed on and committed to 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 communication, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries. An applicant must be active in the support of the local church or cahrge." Type of Lay Speakers The Local Church Lay Speaker shall work closely with the pastor to serve the local church in which membership is held by witness of the spoken word, vital leadership service, and care-giving ministry. The Certified Lay Speaker shall continue to work closely with the pastor and serve the local church in the witness of the splekn workd, vital leadership service, and care-giving ministry. In addition, the Certified Lay Speaker may serve in the district and conference and in local churches other than the local church in which membership is held. Steps to Becoming a Lay Speaker Local Church Lay Speaker 1) Discuss with your pastor and get his/her approval 2) Complete the Basic Lay Speaking Course 3) Complete the Lay Speakers Annual Report form to be turned in to your pastor prior to Charge Conference. Your Charge Conference must approve your request to become a lay speaker. 4) The District Board of Laity will review all annual reports and approve those who have met all requirements. Certified Lay Speaker 1) Meet all requirements listed above for Local Church Lay Speaker as well as complete an advanced lay speaking class. In order to remain an active lay speaker, you must be renewed annually. A Local Lay Speaker must complete the Basic class, or a Refresher class, once every 3 years in addition to completing the Annual Report and being approved by their Charge Conference. A Certified Lay Speaker must complete an advanced class every 3 years in addition to the reporting requirements and the Charge Conference approval. Lay Speaking Classes in the LaGrange District The Board of Laity typcially offers both the Basic class and an advanced class twice a year. Classes are held at local churches throughout the District. Brochures are mailed to all pastors and current lay speakers about one month prior to the classes. Lay Speakers Annual Report Form Anyone wishing to be approved as a Lay Speaker must complete the Annual Report Form and turn in to their pastor prior to Charge Conference. Blank copies of the report can be accessed on the conference website, www.ngumc.org. Look under "Forms' and "Charge Conference". You may complete the form online through Data Services at http://ngumc.org. In order to access the report here, you must create a personal profile, if you have not already done so. For more information about the Lay Speaking program, contact the District Office(lagrdo@bellsouth.net), Sybrenna Thornton (sybrennaandlonnie@yahoo.com or 706-882-5377) or Harold Tarpley (httarpley@bellsouth.net or 706-663-4404). For information about lay speaking curriculum, go to www.layspeakingministries.org/curriculumpage.html
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