The purpose of this blog is to provide narrative to the “LSM
Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013. The brochure is intended for use by Lay Servants
who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the
Lay Servant Ministries program. It’s a
great brochure, please use it. Please be
an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.
The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE
(Front Panel)
 |
| Brochure Front Cover |
We have a new name and a renewed vision for laity leadership
in the United Methodist Church. If you
think about it, prior to 1992, lay speakers went off to be trained, then
returned to their congregations waiting for a call to serve, primarily in other
congregations rather than their own.
With the introduction of “Leading, Caring, and Communicating” in 1992,
the program set on a course to equip United Methodists for all facets of lay
ministry. He Book of Discipline emphasized giving primary attention to the local
church. Our name change renews that
vision. “Servants” equipped by the Lay
Servant Ministries program are ideally suited to work with pastors and other
laity to create transforming congregations.
The primary arena for transformation, changing lives in
Jesus Christ, is the local congregation.
By forging partnerships with our clergy and laity we strive to fulfill
our vision and our ministries of leading, caring and communicating, to make our
local congregations vital and fruitful.
That was the vision of 1992 and our vision renewed by our name change
twenty years later. We are ready,
equipped and desirous to serve the local church as servant-partners in all
facets of lay ministry.
(Back Panel)
Moving to the back panel.
Certification requirements remain exactly the same, that is to apply, be
recommended, and take the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course. Next, to become Certified Lay Servants,
candidates are required to take an Advanced Course and be approved by the
District Committee on Lay Servant Ministries.
Local Church Lay Servants and Certified Lay Servants must reapply
annually, and must take a refresher course or advance course, respectively,
every three years to maintain their status.
So as you can see, the requirements remain the same.
Certified Lay Servants shall continue to serve the local
church, and as called upon may serve beyond the local church to include pulpit
supply in the district and conference.
But their primary arena of service remains the local church.
(Next: The New Role of Lay Speaker)
5 comments:
I am fine with the "name change", it more describes the purpose/call of Lay Speakers.
My concern with this "change", as I am sure others share, is this;
Some of us have spent MANY hours and some expense to take Basic and Advanced classes to get Certified and remain Certified over the years, and now we are being told we MUST start over. There will be NO "grandfathering in" of those already "trained" in Lay Speaking (or Lay Servant, if you will).
This needs to be readdressed and some consideration given to us "old heads" who have taken extensive training.
Lee, Yours is a common complaint. Transitions will be handled by each Conference and I recommend looking back 3 years for courses. Since many courses have changed substantially, going back further may not make sense.
I for one have been a lay servant for 25 years, am a Certified Lay Minister, and have served a church for over 6 years and I don't meet the requirements. I have work to do and that is fine. I will take it seriously and will be better for it.
Thank you for serving well.
Rick
I believe we are going to have to revisit the no grandfathering. Unless the course content has changed dramatically there is no logic in asking someone to repeat the course again. We are going to assess the "no grandfathering" when we see who wants to receive the Lay Speaker designation and what courses they have completed and when. Quite frankly, those who have been doing speaking and been doing it well are going to get called upon whether we give the label or not so we should be looking at how to implement this with the fewest road blocks for people.
For an extended perspective on the damage caused by this General Conference legislation, read my commentary on United Methodist Insight. http://um-insight.net/blogs/views-from-a-ridge/forrest-gump-was-right-about-the-umc/
I too at first protested the name change and the extra training required - but when I delved deeper into what was happening , I understood better. Please - for all concerned- just remember that whatever you were doing before , we will continue to perform those services. I understand now that we are truly , Biblically , all Servants of the Lord , when we accept Jesus as our Saviour. With that said , all forms of Lay Servant Ministry falls under the "Servant" mantle. As for the "Advanced Lay Speaker " role , you do not have to take the extra courses unless you are wanting to be temporarily assigned a Church vacancy by the D.S. - just keep your Certified Lay Servant status , by training every three years. If you do want to be a newly classified "Lay Speaker" , then you should readily accept the challenge . I have been a Lay Speaker for many years , and do not feel called to advance to the New Lay Speaker Position , and I can continue to serve just as I have been. I am the Arkansas Conference Director of LSM and the Southeast District of Arkansas Director as well. I take any weekly vacancy that I cannot fill with our Lay Servant list in the District. I have re-assured all of our Lay Servants that they are not being forced to take any more training than they want to , in order to continue as they have in the past , except for those who have taken short term assignments. I know that this is long , but we do need clarification on these issues for all. We have always required three year training schedule , so even if you do not advance to Lay Speaker , you still have to prove past three year certification. I hope this helps some of you. WE also will do our utmost to provide the essential courses that will be needed by those who choose to go forward.
Jim Boyd
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