Jackie G. JenkinsSouth Carolina Conference

Director of Lay Servant Ministries

A More Excellent WayThe Serving, Giving & Living

Exhorters & Class Exhorters & Class

LeadersLeaders

The early Methodist movement relied The early Methodist movement relied

heavily on leaders within the laity to:heavily on leaders within the laity to:

- lead prayer- lead prayer

- address people on the subject of religion- address people on the subject of religion

- give encouragement and admonition- give encouragement and admonition

John Wesley eventually came to John Wesley eventually came to

also utilize laity for:also utilize laity for:

- lay preaching- lay preaching

- teaching - teaching

- a variety of other leadership roles- a variety of other leadership roles

Thomas Maxfield

Exhorter to Lay Preacher

TODAY - laity still play a critical role in TODAY - laity still play a critical role in the life of The United Methodist Church, the life of The United Methodist Church,

serving and working along side our clergy serving and working along side our clergy in many different ministry areas in many different ministry areas

OUR PASTORS CANOUR PASTORS CAN’’T DO IT ALLT DO IT ALL

Key Dates and TermsKey Dates and Terms

1746 - Exhorter – Appointed to serve the circuit 1746 - Exhorter – Appointed to serve the circuit in the absence of the pastorin the absence of the pastor

1934 - Lay Speaker1934 - Lay Speaker

1992 - Local Church & Certified1992 - Local Church & Certified

2006 - Over 3,000 Lay Speakers Serve 2006 - Over 3,000 Lay Speakers Serve

2013 – UMC Transitions From 2013 – UMC Transitions From ““Lay Speaking Lay Speaking MinistriesMinistries”” To To ““Lay Servant MinistriesLay Servant Ministries””

So why the change?So why the change?

What are the goals of What are the goals of the new program?the new program?

Key GoalsKey Goals

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

The emphasis of the former The emphasis of the former Lay Speaking Ministries Lay Speaking Ministries program was on Lay Speaking.program was on Lay Speaking.

Many people who had no Many people who had no interest in preaching or public interest in preaching or public speaking did not participate in speaking did not participate in the training.the training.

Result = a relatively small Result = a relatively small percentage of laity percentage of laity participated.participated.

Key IssueKey Issue

Lay Servant Ministries Lay Servant Ministries Broader FocusBroader Focus

Leadership Leadership DevelopmentDevelopment

Spiritual EnrichmentSpiritual Enrichment

Skills DevelopmentSkills Development

Servant LeadershipServant Leadership

Broader Course Broader Course OfferingOffering

• Discovering Discovering Spiritual GiftsSpiritual Gifts

• UM Heritage & UM Heritage & PolityPolity

• Leading WorshipLeading Worship

• Leading PrayerLeading Prayer

• PreachingPreaching

• Lay Pastoral CareLay Pastoral Care

• DiscipleshipDiscipleship

• EvangelismEvangelism

• StewardshipStewardship

• Senior Adult Senior Adult MinistriesMinistries

• TeachingTeaching

• Biblical Story TellingBiblical Story Telling

Course TopicsCourse Topics

Key GoalsKey Goals

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

To provide a more rigorous and To provide a more rigorous and thorough training/selection process thorough training/selection process for those who wish to pursue Lay for those who wish to pursue Lay Speaking certification. Speaking certification.

Certified Lay Speaker

in former Lay Speaking Ministries

Basic Course

One Advanced Course in Lay Speaking

Lay Speakerin current Lay Servant Ministries

Course Requirements Course Requirements Comparison For Lay SpeakersComparison For Lay Speakers

Basic Course

Five Advanced Courses - one in each of the following areas:

•Preaching•Leading Worship•Leading Prayer•Discovering Spiritual Gifts•UM Heritage & Polity

Why use the Why use the word word ““servant?servant?

””

It best describes what Jesus told It best describes what Jesus told his disciples in John 13 after he his disciples in John 13 after he himself performed the duties of himself performed the duties of the lowliest servant.the lowliest servant.

Winter Lay Speaking School

(in the Walterboro District) • Held at St. George UMC (Feb 26 & 27)• 15 courses were conducted• 127 laity attended• “Men’s Ministry” course taught for the first

time• Next one will be at Carteret UMC (Aug 27 &

28)

Winter Lay Speaking School

(of the Walterboro District)

Winter Lay Speaking School

(of the Walterboro District)

Thanks To

Southern Mutual Insurance

How do Lay Servants How do Lay Servants serve the church?serve the church?

• Lay LeadersLay Leaders

• Committee MembersCommittee Members

• Church CouncilChurch Council

• TrusteesTrustees

• Sunday School Sunday School TeachersTeachers

• UshersUshers

• EvangelismEvangelism

• GreetersGreeters

• Local MissionsLocal Missions

• MusiciansMusicians

• Lay PreachingLay Preaching

• Prayer LeadersPrayer Leaders

• Lay Pastoral CareLay Pastoral Care

• Youth LeadersYouth Leaders

Example Positions/Ministry AreasExample Positions/Ministry Areas

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

Some of our Lay Servants in Action

A More Excellent WayThe Serving, Giving & Living