BOARD OF AND LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES Holly Neal, , George Brown, Associate Lay Leader, and Jackie Elliott, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries

The Board of Laity of the Tennessee Conference is coming to an end. There are many great lay ministries and missions to celebrate in our past. Just like a new parent, we dare to hope for what will take place in the birth of our new conference, the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. We know that greater things will happen in this mission field which stretches from Crossville to Memphis to Paducah.

Methodism has had a long history celebrating and recognizing the ministry of the laity. In the early days, the laity served and maintained congregations between circuit rider visits.

In 2020, laypersons are in daily ministry (mission fields) at work, in the home, in their neighborhoods, and community along with ripples of caring extending into all the world.

When you hear of ministries you can be assured that laity are involved. The laity are adaptive as this year has proven. Adaptive as tornados ripped through Middle Tennessee in March and the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

We are experiencing ministry in whole new ways as we faithfully participate in ministries by our prayers, our presence (online worship or worship in our homes), our gifts (giving electronically or by mailing in our tithes), our service (new and creative ways to do ministry), and our witness (the world will know we are Christians by our love).

Part of the way the laity fulfill their membership vows is through Lay Servant Ministries. The office of lay speaker in The (originally known as exhorter) has existed in the Church almost from the beginning of .

Lay Servant Ministries offers the latest resources designed to equip laity for their roles in ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course is the foundational course for Lay Servant Ministries. This course can also be used as part of a discipleship plan for other laity in the church to acquaint them with their gifts, calling, and responsibilities as followers of Christ.

After completing the BASIC Course, laity are then encouraged to continue growing as disciples of Jesus with advance courses. For more information about Lay Servant Ministries and upcoming classes go to www.tnumc.org and click Spiritual Leadership and then Board of Laity. On the sidebar, click Lay Servant Training.

We are asking all the laity to join us as we continue to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We do this by leaning into the call to be more Christ-like in our walks, missions, and sharing the joyous gospel.