Local Church Leadership Guidelines

Local Lay Leader: The Book of Discipline, para. 251, states that each local church/charge will elect a lay leader who is the primary lay representative of the laity. Principal responsibilities include fostering an awareness of the role of the laity, meeting regularly with the pastor, assessing the opportunities for ministries within the church and serving on the church council and various committees (finance, lay leadership, staff-parish).

District Lay Leader: The Book of Discipline, para. 660, requires that each district elect a District Lay Leader who fosters an awareness of the role of the laity both within congregations and through ministries in the home, workplace, community and world. The district lay leader meets regularly with the district superintendent to discuss the state of the district, the Church and the needs for ministry. The district lay leader is a member of the conference board of laity.

Conference Lay Leader: The Book of Discipline, para. 607, requires that each conference elect a conference lay leader to represent the laity of the conference and foster an awareness of the role of the laity in the home, workplace, community and world. He/she will meet regularly with the bishop to discuss the state of the annual conference, the Church and the needs for ministry both locally and globally. The conference lay leader chairs the conference board of Laity.

Lay Member of Annual Conference: Each congregation elects at least one lay member of annual conference. Equal numbers of clergy and laity are members of annual conference, so each congregation elects a number of lay members equal to the number of clergy for that congregation. Additional at-large equalization lay members are selected by the board of laity to reach the required number of laity, since retired clergy also attend annual conference. An effective lay member attends annual conference sessions and reports the actions taken to the congregation.