Board of Laity Activities

Background

It is always important to understand one’s roots, Wesleyan Theology and Doctrine are our UMC roots as such we need to understand them and see if we are still on course.  Bishop Kenneth Carder wrote about the importance of theology and doctrine: Doctrinal understanding and theological reflection, therefore are central activities of the church…if we fail to understand our doctrinal and theological heritage and framework we lose our unique identity as a church.  Without an awareness of the doctrine and faith of our heritage the church becomes a religious institution with amnesia and without vision.

Like all denominations there are particular emphasis and tones which make the United Methodists what we are, some of them are:

1. Methodism is a discipleship movement
2. We are a church of lay and ordained Christians encouraging and enabling each other to whole life discipleship and our structure and leadership must facilitate such discipleship
3. Key theme-being better disciples of Christ and making disciples of Christ who desire to transform the world led by the Holy Spirit
4. Class meetings are very fundamental in disciple making and social fellowshipping
5. Purposeful structures that enable instead of hampering disciple making
6. The role and involvement of laity: Lay persons were and are still seen to be the prime movers as well as the change agents in the life of the church and the society. Laity played a very significant role in Methodism.
7. Balance between faith and works is very vital hence the four focus areas.

Wesley’s church, the Anglican Church, was the state church of England.  The state provided all its needs.  Paid its clergy maintained its buildings and property, appointed its bishops to hold seats in the Parliament.

The leadership of the church spent more time on political rather than church matters and the morale of the church went downhill.  It was a church, which in Wesley’s opinion needed to experience reformation.  He wanted the church to return to the basics of Christianity, that is living out of one’s faith in everyday situations.

The church of that period had the following characteristics:

1. Insensitivity to the needs of the people
2. A hierarchy that was closely identified with those with power and privilege
3. Bishops who were seldom in their Episcopal areas (always in London)
4. Clergy who were poorly paid and who spent more time generating income for their own survival than looking after the spiritual needs of their parishioners.

These characteristics pushed the Wesley’s to transform the church hence the birth of the Methodist Church later.

The Early Days

Archives suggest the earliest plans for a Laity Sunday beginning in 1928. The first recorded observance of Laymen’s Day was in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1929. By 1930 the Evangelical Church had begun celebrating the work of laity at the culmination of each annual men’s retreat. This was only for men!

The September 1928 issue of The Methodist Layman reports… the third Sunday in May Anniversary Day, commemorating the constitution of the Board of Lay Activities by the General Conference, the same to be designated as Laymen’s Day, and strict observance of this day by a lay program in every church, which shall set forth adequately the place of lay activities in the Church and be of inspirational value to the laymen for larger service in the kingdom.

Within two years, the success of the celebration hastened to make Laymen’s Day an annual observance.

Once the factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church merged in 1939, the joint General Board of Lay Activities approved Laymen’s Day and designated February 23, 1941, as the first United Methodist Church observance. The January issue of The Methodist Layman enthusiastically reports the aim of Laymen’s Day as “… to emphasize the place that lay members have in the total life and work of the church.”

Laity Sunday is a time to recognize the work and mission of all laity – not only within the walls of the church but in everyday lives.

Think what this could mean to the church! 40 000 laymen – lawyers, physicians, teachers, bankers, businessmen, mechanics, farmers and others – speaking on The World Mission of the Church! The whole Methodist Church was moved and stirred to action by such a message. There are vast possibilities for good in Laymen’s Day. It is the prayer of the General Board that every Conference, District, Charge and Church Lay Leader and every District Superintendent and Pastor will give wholehearted cooperation to make the day significant in the life of The United Methodist Church.

In October 1942 The Methodist Layman recommends the last Sunday of February “be fixed as Laymen’s Day throughout the Church” and calls for “serious preparation for this day and… for Pastors to give active cooperation.”

Mid-20^th Century to Today

Laymen’s Day is first mentioned in the 1944 Book of Discipline (¶ 1483), where its direction is placed under the auspices of the General Board of Lay Activities. In the 1964 edition of the Book of Discipline, Laymen’s Day is designated as the second Sunday of October. (¶ 1499.3) The 1968 Book of Discipline (¶ 1202) expounds on the day’s larger purpose: …shall be to interpret the role of the laity in the world and to provide laymen with opportunity to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to his mission in the world.

By the 1972 edition of the Book of Discipline, Laymen’s Day was renamed the gender-neutral Laity Sunday (¶ 163) but was often referred to as Laity Day until 1977. Today, Laity Sunday is celebrated the 3^rd Sunday of October. Quadrennial themes are set by the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders and approved by the board of directors of GBOD.

We need the whole Body of Christ as we seek to become more vital church which makes disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016 ¶631 states that the board should:

1. Foster an awareness of the role of laity both within the local congregation and through their ministries in the home, work place, community, and world in achieving the mission of the Church
2. Develop and promote stewardship of time, talent, and possessions within the Annual Conference in cooperation with the Conference Council on Ministries
3. Relate to, support, and assist in coordinating the activities of the following organised laity of the conference:

The Board of Laity is charged to:

1. Foster an awareness of the role of the laity within the local congregations; and to promote and develop programs to cultivate an adequate understanding of the theological and Biblical basis for lay life and work;
2. Develop and promote stewardship of time, talent, and possessions;
3. Provide for the training of lay members of the annual conference;
4. Provide support and direction for the ministry of the Laity on the local, Charge, MA and annual conference levels and to promote the observation of Laity Sunday;
5. Provide organisation, direction, and support for the development of local church lay leaders.

Priorities

1. Support the strategic plan to create vital congregations using the 5 markers of vitality:  new disciples, small groups for learning and faith formation, worship, mission, and generous giving
2. Increase learning opportunities for laity leadership through our educational opportunities such as: The Laity Leadership Academy, Servant Leadership Ministries and CM programs
3. Celebrate and engage laity to share innovative local church ministries through our yearly laity Celebration/Recognition Worship Service
4. Engage laity in “Ministry with the poor” at district levels to create a network of churches and mission centers that address root causes of poverty by educating and coordinating sustainable ministries that change lives:
5. Develop a data bank of essential resources of all agencies, interfaith programs related to working with the poor;
6. Coordinate and support programs that seek recovery and resourcing to move persons to means of self-sufficiency
7. Identify one area of poverty across the conference that we will address together as a way to witness to the region of the Great Commandment!

Mission Area UMC UK Laity Activities B.O.L.A

2016 held at Jurys Inn Milton Keynes

Program of events

2017 held at Harben House Milton Keynes

Program of events

2018 held at Harben House Milton Keynes

Program of events