Certified Lay Speaker & 2011 Conference Report

Leading, Caring, Communicating: these words characterize what lay speakers do in ministry as The United Methodist Church engages the world of the 21st century!

What is a Lay Speaker?

A United Methodist Lay Speaker is a member of a local church or charge who:

  • Is an active supportive member of the UM Church;
  • Is ready and eager to serve the Church;
  • Is well informed on and committed to the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church;
  • Has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communications, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries;
  • Is committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care-giving ministries, and spoken communication; and
  • Is willing to improve his or her skills for service.
    Lay Speaking Ministries offers training opportunities for laity who would like to use their witness, leadership, and service to inspire others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective disciple-ship. This may include the interpretation of the Scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of the church.

If you are interested in Lay Speaking Ministry please talk with Jana or Cindy Gordon who is a cer-tified Lay Speaker. Fall Class on our district are be-ginning soon.

Cindy Gordon giving the Children's Message on Sept. 25th

2011 Annual Conference Report

I bring you greetings from Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I was once again honored and privileged to represent PUMC at the Greater NJ Annual conference this past June.  Attending along with me were Reverend Jana, Susan Victor, and Trey Gillette.  For the first time ever our youth were represented by Caroline Lee. It is my hope that this is just the beginning of our youth’s participation at conference events.

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar declared that the conference would focus on Gifts as a theme for the coming year.  He urged pastors and lay leaders to ask our congregations to access our gifts and how we would use them for the church.  We have had some discussion within our church of doing a gifts inventory within our congregation.

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar also challenged each congregation to read and study the book Bearing Fruit.  This book focuses on the results, outcomes, impact and effects of our ministry with the emphasis on changing lives rather than on merely maintaining and surviving.  In other words it provides practical experience with a biblical mandate to help us fulfill God’s mission for the church.

The guest preacher was Dr. Mike Slaughter.  Dr. Slaughter’s message reminded us that our primary mission is to “make disciples for Jesus Christ”.  It is not about getting people into your church pews but rather finding opportunities to move the people who are already there out into God’ service.  He shared his experience at Ginghamsburg Methodist church where he started with 90 members and has built a congregation of over 5000.  He founded the Darfur Project and since its conception has raised over $5 million dollars from a congregation worshiping in an economically surpressed community.  I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Slaughter and he shared with me an experience he had while in Darfur.  While meeting with the tribal leaders of a local village the leaders expressed their amazement and surprise at the Christian support they were receiving while the local leaders had done nothing to help them. Dr. Slaughter stressed that our mission should also include a more global vision and should reach across all ethnic, religious and racial boundaries.

Launching paper airplanes during the Children's Message on Sunday, Sept. 25th

One example of a global mission is the United Methodist flight ministry “Wings of the Morning”.  This mission provides transport of critically ill and injured persons in isolated areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each congregation of the Greater NJ conference was to bring a check supporting this mission.  The goal was to raise $100,000.  On the 3rd day of the conference the total submitted was $80,000 and special appeal was made to the conference attendees.  Then a most amazing thing happened.  One by one ministers and lay members approached the microphone with additional pledges.  Ministers challenged each other.  The Holy Spirit was truly at work.  An hour and a half later the total sum raised was $198,000.  I am happy to announce that PUMC raised an additional $1100 which has been sent to the conference office.

I once again participated in the conference choir.  The new hymnal supplement Worship and Song was released at conference.  This songbook does not duplicate any of our current books.  It is representative of the breadth of current worship practices, musical genres including older material not appearing in former Methodist collections, as well newly written hymns, gospel songs, world music, music of various ethnic traditions, and music from the Taize and Iona communities.

In closing I appreciate the opportunity to represent PUMC at annual conference and I look forward to serving this congregation as a member of the lay ministry.