Lay Speaking
What is Lay Speaking Ministries?
Lay speaking ministry is a United Methodist system for lay leadership development. The basic and advanced courses are designed to help persons develop their skills in leadership, communication, and care-giving. Participating in this training as it is offered helps you build relationships with other lay leaders. In this way you increase opportunity for yourself and for your congregation to be in ministry with others, your credibility as a leader is enhanced.
According to the Discipline, a lay speaker is a professing member of a local church or charge conference who is "ready and desirous to serve the Church and who is well informed on and committed to the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization and life of The United Methodist Church." A lay speaker "has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries" (para.266).
From Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2008
Lay Speakers Attend Annual Conference at Hofstra
Bishop Jeremiah Park invited all NYAC lay speakers to attend the Saturday morning session of Annual Conference at Hofstra University on Jun 13, 2009 and over 600 of us responded! Our portion of the program included an address by Rev. Dr. Kwasi Kena, Director of Evangelism Ministries, GBOD, who urged us to "Move!" Bishop Park led the clergy in singing "I Need You" which the laity echoed back to the clergy. Bishop Park also challenged us to fill the arena next year with 5,000 people who have joined the church as new memebrs since 2005. Dr. Kena also led two workshops for lay speakers on evangelism. A special service of praise, music and commitment on Friday evening also featured an address by Dr. Kena, music by the Glorification Singers and a covenant service with communion.
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Click here to see photos from the Lay Speakers Event at Annual Conference, June 13, 2009.
Worship Planning Calendars
2009 Worship Planning Calendar. Click here to download>>
2010 Worship Planning Calendar. Click here to download>>
Please click here to download the Lay Speaker Annual Report for 2009.
Please visit the GBOD site for more information on lay speaking.
The Conference Director of Lay Speaking is Peter O'Neill. (631-750-3488) poppao@optonline.net