1. The Serving, Giving & Living
A More Excellent Way
The Serving, Giving & Living
Jackie G. Jenkins
South Carolina Conference
Director of Lay Servant Ministries

2. Exhorters & Class Leaders
The early Methodist movement relied
heavily on leaders within the laity to:
- lead prayer
- address people on the subject of religion
- give encouragement and admonition

3. John Wesley eventually came to also utilize laity for: - lay preaching
- teaching
- a variety of other leadership roles

4. Exhorter to Lay Preacher
Thomas Maxfield

5. OUR PASTORS CAN’T DO IT ALL
TODAY - laity still play a critical role in the life of The United Methodist Church, serving and working along side our clergy in many different ministry areas
OUR PASTORS CAN’T DO IT ALL

6. Key Dates and Terms
Exhorter – Appointed to serve the circuit in the absence of the pastor
Lay Speaker
Local Church & Certified
Over 3,000 Lay Speakers Serve
2013 – UMC Transitions From “Lay Speaking Ministries” To “Lay Servant Ministries”

7. So why the change? What are the goals of the new program?

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

9. Key Issue
The emphasis of the former Lay Speaking Ministries program was on Lay Speaking.
Many people who had no interest in preaching or public speaking did not participate in the training.
Result = a relatively small percentage of laity participated.

10. Lay Servant Ministries Broader Focus
Leadership Development
Spiritual Enrichment
Skills Development
Servant Leadership

11. Broader Course Offering
Course Topics
Discovering Spiritual Gifts
UM Heritage & Polity
Leading Worship
Leading Prayer
Preaching
Lay Pastoral Care
Discipleship
Evangelism
Stewardship
Senior Adult Ministries
Teaching
Biblical Story Telling

12. Key Goals
To increase overall laity involvement in the UMC by broadening the scope of training.
To provide a more rigorous and thorough training/selection process for those who wish to pursue Lay Speaking certification.

13. Course Requirements Comparison For Lay Speakers
Certified Lay Speaker
in former Lay Speaking Ministries
Lay Speaker
in current Lay Servant Ministries
Basic Course
Five Advanced Courses - one in each of the following areas:
Preaching
Leading Worship
Leading Prayer
Discovering Spiritual Gifts
UM Heritage & Polity
Basic Course
One Advanced Course in Lay Speaking

14. Why use the word “servant?”
It best describes what Jesus told his disciples in John 13 after he himself performed the duties of the lowliest servant.

15. 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)

16. Winter Lay Speaking School
(of the Walterboro District)

17. Winter Lay Speaking School
(of the Walterboro District)

18. Southern Mutual Insurance
Thanks To
Southern Mutual Insurance

19. How do Lay Servants serve the church?
Example Positions/Ministry Areas
Lay Leaders
Committee Members
Church Council
Trustees
Sunday School Teachers
Ushers
Evangelism
Greeters
Local Missions
Musicians
Lay Preaching
Prayer Leaders
Lay Pastoral Care
Youth Leaders

20. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

21. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

22. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

23. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

24. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

25. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

26. Some of our Lay Servants in Action

27. The Serving, Giving & Living
A More Excellent Way
The Serving, Giving & Living