LSM BROCHURE BLOG 2: The New Role of “Lay Speaker”

(Previously, “Changing the Name and Renewing the Vision”)

This blog is the second in a series to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for 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

The New Role of “Lay Speaker” in the 2012 Book of Discipline

The renewed vision of Lay Servant Ministries emphasizes the part teams of Lay Servants play in working in partnership with pastors and laity in making vital, fruitful, transforming congregations.  Even then, pulpit supply remains an important ministry in many conferences.  In one such conference there are as many as 85 churches (ten percent) whose ministers are laity or local licensed pastors who moved directly from the laity role.  The resident Bishop emphasizes that most are second or third career people who will only remain in the pulpit five to seven years.  It may take as many as 150 laity in the pipeline to keep quality lay ministers in those pulpits.

Certified Lay Servants can also be called to fill their historical function of pulpit supply in their own or neighboring churches when the pastor is at conference or on vacation.  Because both of these tasks (occasional supply and being assigned to a church) require honing of skills as well as gifts and graces, the 2012 Book of Disciple recognized the need of providing additional training and selection criteria for those aspiring to pulpit supply.  In doing so they created the new role of “Lay Speaker” whose name honors the past while the stated requirements recognize the need for gifted and well-equipped laity to perform pulpit supply.

Candidates aspiring to the new role of Lay Speaker (Note that I am avoiding using the “C” word, i.e. “Certified.”  We have way too many of those already.  The process will instead “recognize” those who meet the criteria.), must complete “Lay Speaker Required Courses” consisting of classes in six categories: Worship, Prayer, Discovering Spiritual Gifts, Preaching, United Methodist Heritage, United Methodist Polity, and/or any other courses that may be determined by the conference committee.

Certified Lay Servants must also apply for the new role.  While there is no published application form, I recommend that candidates transmit their last three Lay Servant Annual Reports, along with any preaching evaluations from classes or supply opportunities through their pastor and Admin Council or Charge Conference to the district committee on lay servant ministries.  I’d also recommend that district committees set aside some time during Advanced Courses to interview candidates that have applied.

Because it is the intent of the Lay Speaker role to improve the quality and qualifications of those recognized, it is not intended that people be grandfathered from any previous status.  However, it would be reasonable for district committees to look backwards three years for coursed completed by the candidate in that time frame.  All but the preaching courses are available at www.beadisciple.com so completing the course work in reasonable time frame is manageable. 

In summary, Certified Lay Servants can be called to provide pulpit supply.  Those aspiring to preach have the opportunity to upgrade their skills, be recommended by their church, go before the district committee and be recognized in the new role of “Lay Speaker.”

(Next: Missional Results of Lay Servant Ministries: Transformational Congregations)