At the January meeting of the National Association of Directors of Connectional Ministries, I had the opportunity to preach at the opening worship service. I shared about the call that God has given to all of us to go and make disciples, despite the daily uncertainty and unknown.  

I emphasized that there is always hope because our hope comes from Jesus, not from the circumstances around us. I relate this with one of the questions that Bishop Dan Schwerin invited us to discuss at the Bishop’s Days on the Districts. He asked us to tell each other where we see hope in our churches. My source of hope today is in the laypeople of our conference. There are faithful laity all over our conference who keep serving, investing their gifts and talents, and going above and beyond to do God’s mission here on earth, no matter what. 

We recently experienced the commitment and faithfulness of our laypeople at the Laity Convocation in February, under the theme “Growing Together in Love: Learning to Have Courageous, Respectful Conversations.” There was a beautiful spirit of camaraderie and fellowship with laypeople from all the districts. 

Our Book of Discipline states in ¶ 127, “The ministry of the laity flows from a commitment to Christ’s outreaching love. Lay members of The United Methodist Church are, by history and calling, active advocates of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every layperson is called to carry out the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20); every layperson is called to be missional.”  

The work of the laity is essential in the life and mission of the church. There are different ways for our lay people to get equipped and trained to continue serving the Lord. Lay servant ministries is one of the most significant lay leadership development programs available within the United Methodist connection. It equips our lay people to become lay servants, lay missioners, lay speakers, and certified lay ministers for varying contexts of ministry. Our Conference Board of Lay Servant Ministries offers good and inspiring classes in spring and fall in all our districts. (See the classes on our calendar.)

Each congregation also has a lay leader as well as lay members of annual conference session. Each church elects the same number of annual conference lay members as they have appointed clergy. (An equal number of lay and clergy make up the voting membership at annual conference session.)  

There is often confusion about these two categories. Lay leaders represent the laypeople in the congregation when working with the pastor for the mission and vision of the congregation. Lay members of annual conference session are voting members and they interpret the annual conference’s to the congregation.  

Our laity are in action! Our laity are important! Our laity are valued!! Whether you serve as a lay servant, lay speaker, lay missioner, certified lay minister, church lay leader, or lay member of annual conference session, please know that your work is appreciated, valued, and essential to fulfilling the mission that God has called us to do in each context and in our Northern Illinois Conference. 

If someone invites me to think again about my source of hope in our church today, my answer will be the same. My hope today is in our laity, who are faithful, perseverant, and committed to the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our laity are in action!!