Lay Academy of Church Excellence LACE Madisonville District

Lay Academy of Church Excellence “LACE” Madisonville District Lay Speaking

Introductions

Devotion

SESSION 1: Ministry of the Baptized

SESSION 1 Goals: Ø Describe the reality of the priesthood of all believers and God’s call on our lives; Ø Discuss spiritual gifts; meaning and purpose; Ø Describe the need for a response to God’s call; Ø Discuss the early Methodist movement and the role of the laity

Priesthood of Believers “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the day and night difference he made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. ” I Peter 2: 9 (The Message)

Called by God To Love and Serve

Small Groups • Discuss your call and response to God – Why do you want to be a lay speaker?

Charismata “You lack no single gift while you wait expectantly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ” I Corinthians 1: 7

The Meaning and Scope of Spiritual Gifts • Gifts are for service • God assigns and empowers • All Christians are included • Limits and variety of gifts known only to God • Use determines health and growth

The Role of Laity in Ministry “Offer them Christ. ”

The Wesleys Samuel, Susanna, John, Charles

The Preacher By 1791“Methodism” had nearly 75, 000 Members & Wesley Had Averaged 4, 000 miles Annually on Horseback, Preached more than 40, 000 sermons!

Exhorters • Leaders of the Class or Band Meetings • Led prayer, addressed people on the subject of religion, gave encouragement and admonition • Described own experience and testified to their present joy • Did not “take a text”

Exhorter to Lay Preacher Thomas Maxfield

Susannah Wesley Sarah Crosby Mary Bosanquet

A Hundred Helpers “ Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. ” John Wesley

Wesley and the Poor “Here is a guinea get your husband released from prison. ” John Wesley

Since the days of John Wesley, we have strived to help; the worker, the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the aging, the impaired, the oppressed and the imprisoned. Courtesy of UMCOM

Covenant Groups “Watching over one another with love”

Closing Prayer Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path. Amen (Ps. 143: 10).

SESSION 2: Leading Growing in Christian Leadership Following the Example of Jesus Christ ‘WWJD”

Prayer for Guidance

SESSION 2 Goals: Ø Describe Servant Leadership; Ø Discuss the important roles in leadership; Ø Describe and discuss what it means to be a spiritual Leader; Ø Demonstrate the principles of Christian Conferencing and describe the aspects of consensus and discernment

Spiritual Leadership

The General Rules “It is therefore expected of all who continue therin that they should continue to evidence their desire for salvation First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind……. .

General Rules Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible to all men: ”

General Rules Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God – Means of Grace Worship Prayer Searching the Scriptures Lord’s Supper Fasting or Abstinence Christian Conferencing (Group Fellowship)

Discernment • Look for God’s guidance • Listen for God’s call • “to see to the heart of the matter with spiritual eyes”

Choose a meeting process • Parliamentary Procedure • Consensus – Creates cooperative dynamic – Work together for best possible decision for the group – Creates competitive dynamic – Ideas owned and defended

Small Groups • Use a consensus model to discuss topics on next slide

Using Consensus • A leader in a church feels that a new ministry should be started in the community. It will require funding and support from the congregation. Should the church support it? • The choir needs new robes! The current ones are shabby and there are not enough of the right sizes. Should the church buy new ones or try to find some that another church has for sale? • A problem has been noted with the conduct of a person in leadership. How should the person be approached about their behavior?

A Leader’s Role

Unity of Ministry • • NO ministry is subservient to another We are sent by Christ to live and work together ¶ 129 Book of Discipline UMC

Perceived Roles Clergy Ephesians 4: 11 -12 “for building up the body of Christ; the gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds (pastors) and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of service”

New Ways to Work • • • Mutual Advocacy Communication Building Trust Understanding Differences Identifying and Preparing New Leaders Celebrate Mission and Ministry

Mutual Advocacy • Standing for each other • Encouraging each other • Supporting each other

Good Communications Checklist ü Stay in the present ü Use “I believe/I feel” statements ü Inquire about other person’s feelings ü Repeat what you hear for accuracy ü Find what you can agree on ü Accept or acknowledge – do not judge ü Suggest in depth conversation ü Provide a platform for sharing

Identifying And Preparing Potential Leaders Passing the Baton

Ministry of Encouragement

Covenant Groups “Watching over one another with love”

Take, O Take Me as I Am Take, O take me as I am Summon out what I may be; Set your seal upon my heart And live in me.

Closing Prayer Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Amen (Ps. 119: 33 -34)

SESSION 3: Caring

Devotions

SESSION 3 Goals: Discuss the biblical basis for caring ministry; Compare and contrast acts of compassion and acts of justice; Discuss several types of caring ministry; Discuss ways to show care for creation.

Works of Mercy Acts of: Compassion Justice

Isaiah 58: 6 -7 “Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? ”

“New” Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your justice: Where there is greed, let me practice generosity; Where there is excess, moderation; Where there is selfishness, compassion… O Master, grant that I may never seek So much to be comfortable as to comfort; To be satisfied as to satisfy; To be fed as to feed; To have as to share. Marilyn Chandler Mc. Entyre Weavings, Sept. /Oct. 2004

If We Are The Body But if we are the body Why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His words teaching? And if we are the body Why aren’t His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? Casting Crowns

Small Groups • Discuss types of caring ministries in your church. • Identify ways individuals or congregations can do more to reach out into the community

Stewardship of Creation

Covenant Groups “Watching over one another with love”

Take, O Take Me as I Am Take, O take me as I am Summon out what I may be; Set your seal upon my heart And live in me.

Closing Prayer For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. Amen (UMH #92).

SESSION 4: Communicating

Devotions

Session 4 Goals: Ø Discuss the importance of communication skill in various settings; Ø List the Respectful Communication Guidelines; Ø Describe the process of mutual invitation; Ø Demonstrate listening skills; Ø Share their faith story with another participant.

Respectful Communications Guidelines R = take Responsibility for what you say and feel, without blaming others. E = Empathetic listening. Try to understand how the other person feels. S = be Sensitive to differences in communication styles. P = Ponder on what you hear and feel before you speak. E = Examine your own assumptions and perceptions. C = keep Confidential what others have to say. T = Tolerate what others have to say. (Copyright Eric Law. Used by permission)

Small Groups • Practice the process of Mutual Invitation – page 63 of the course book

Listening Skills

Sharing Faith Story

Journaling

Closing Prayer Take my life! Lord, put me to doing your work and your will in the world so that the lost and hungry souls may be attracted to your love and mercy and be drawn into the embrace of your love. Amen (Rueben Job and Norman Shaw chuck, A Guide for Those Who Seek God, Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2003)

SESSION 5: Into The World

Devotions

Goals: Session 5 ØDescribe your role in fulfilling the Great Commission; ØDiscuss the importance of continued study and spiritual growth in the life of Christian leaders; Ø Discover the important role of hospitality in the church; Ø Briefly describe Appreciative Inquiry and asset Based Community Development and discuss way these tools can be used to spread the gospel.

Continuous Study and Spiritual Growth A Disciple: Reflects Jesus “Discipleship is not a question of our own doing; it is a matter of making room for God so that he can live in us. ” J. H. Arnold

Study • • • Attend trainings/Workshops Model continuing education Learning & Leading/Lay Speaking Ministries courses

Spiritual Growth and Renewal • Practice the Means of Grace • Walk to Emmaus • Days Apart • • Covenant Discipleship Academy of Spiritual Formation

Spiritual Disciplines “O begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises. . Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days. ”

The General Rule of Discipleship To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (¶ 103 Book of Discipline UMC Pg. 72)

Small Groups • Hospitality: Discuss your experiences per your assignment • What difference does it make – to others and to you?

Problem Solving Appreciative Inquiry Describe Problem Diagnose Causes Designate Fix Develop Plan Discover Capacity Dream the Possible Design the Best Deliver the New Way Basic Assumptions: You are lacking, defective and needy (Human “sin”) If you work harder on your deficits, you will get better already have abundantly more than you know (God’s gifts) If you build on your strengths, you release energy to grow healthy

Asset Based Community Development: How We Work with Other Partners • Assumptions of ABCD (from Green & Moore, ABCD Training Group) – – – Everyone has gifts. One on one relationships are the key. Real leaders have followers. Institutions lead best by serving citizens. Everyone really DOES care. • Apathy is a sign of bad listening. – People, associations, and institutions act on what they care about.

Covenant Groups “Watching over one another with love”

Take, O Take Me as I Am Take, O take me as I am Summon out what I may be; Set your seal upon my heart And live in me.

Closing Worship

Copyright “Basic Course Lay Speaking Ministries” Copyright © 2009 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203 -0003. Website: http: //www. GBOD. org. This presentation may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local church and educational purposes with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission. " It may not be sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on a website not under the auspices of The General Board of Discipleship.