DUTIES OF CONFERENCE LAY LEADER

From The Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Leader: Judy Hill

Just what are the duties of the Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Leader is a question I am often asked. The 2004 Book of Discipline failed to include the current legislation so that is printed in the Errata and is now included on this web page.( see below) 

2008 February addition:

 Already we are well into 2008 with hope and possibilities facing the laity of the Rocky Mountain Conference. My thoughts this morning are around preparing. The bags are packed, post office notified, care giver set up for dog and cat, washing machine water turned off, outside buildings locked, etc...yes I am leaving for a two week vacation and the necessary preparations are done. As conference lay leader before each meeting I attend, time is needed to prepare by reading material, reviewing minutes and in the case of the Board of Lay ministry, setting and agenda and meeting arrangements. Each day goes better as I prepare by reading the Upper Room Disciplines for that spiritual grounding that provides the hope for the day and future days.

 In January I met with the Executive Leadership Team, the District Lay Leaders and Board of Lay Ministry. In addition I attended our monthly delegation meeting preparing for General and Jurisdictional Conferences. The Western Jurisdiction Episcopacy committee met in  Sacramento which is also preparing for elections and area assignments for our Episcopal leaders- Bishops.

 As February is a time I set aside for shall we say some renewal time, I will miss some conference meetings but have other Board of Lay Ministry members filling in where appropriate. I will stay in contact by email as needed. The time away will give me more energy to be ready and to be prepared as I fulfil the duties as conference lay leader.   

 Looking ahead to the 2008 Annual Conference the session planning and preparations are well underway. The Board of Lay Ministry is working to make this a good event. I will give a rundown of some of the changes coming and summary of plans in March..

 As the spiritual thought for this day is around blessing and God’s blessings, in this time of Lent may each us receive those blessings and pass them on to those around us.

 Election Process

By conference rule the election of the Conference Lay Leader will take place at the Laity Session of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference the same year as General Conference. The application form will be published on the Conference web site and the Board of Lay Ministry web site. You can also request by mail to the Board of Lay Ministry  6110 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village, CO 80111-4803 or email to hillej@plains.net or phone 970-358-4389.

 Completed applications will be included in the Pre conference mailing for Annual Conference so they are due March 10, 2008. Time will be allowed for those who have completed the Board of Lay Ministry approved application form to address the laity session and the vote will then take place. No nominations will be accepted from the floor.

 The conference lay leader term is four years with re-election possible for another four- year term for a total not to exceed 8 years.

 The description of Conference Lay Leader position can be found in the 2008 Errata to the Book of Discipline which is published on the Rocky Mountain Conference web site and the Board of Lay Ministry http://rmcbolm.org/   Conference rules are in the 2007 Journal II, page 483.

 A candidate shall be a member of a local United Methodist Church for 2 years and active in the Rocky Mountain Conference for the previous four years.

 For additional information please contact your District Lay Leader or Conference Board of Lay Ministry. This directory is published at http://rmcbolm.org/ and 2007 Journal I.   

 Rocky Mountain Board of Lay Ministry

Election task force, Faye Veal and Bob Brandt

 December 2007 Addition:

One of my November activities found me in Hugo, Colorado, for a subdistrict leadership team meeting. It is always good to be with leaders of the Plains sub district.

 The biggest event was the Extended Cabinets meeting in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. In the Rocky Mountain Conference we are known as ELT(executive leadership team) the membership of which is the appointive cabinet ( District superintendents/Bishop), Director of Mission and Ministry, Treasurer, Director of Young Peoples Ministry, and the Conference Lay Leader.

This event was called by the Council of Bishops and was the first since following the merger of Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren which makes the first in almost 40 years. This was for U.S. and Central conference leaders.

 For four days we explored the theme “ Living the United Methodist Way.” We heard many inspiring messages, worshiped and were in small discussion groups. The mission of the church to “make Disciples for the transformation of the world” was the center of our time. Bishop Rueben Job’s book “Three Simple Rules” with a reminder to “Do no harm, Do good, and Stay in love with God” was often quoted. Bishop Schnase, Missouri, also spoke on his book “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations .” Both books would make good gifts and worth our reading.

 One of the presenters at the convocation was Gil Rendle. Our ELT was fortunate to extend our time with Gil as a facilitator 2 ½ days helping us identify what we have been doing right and where we need to go as we fill our positions in the conference. As conference lay leader I was fortunate to be included in this historic event.

 To complete my travels for the year I spent four days in Nashville. As a conference lay leader from a rural area, I was invited by the General Board of Global Ministry to represent conference lay leaders on the Town and Country Advisory Team for the current Quadrennium. With this meeting location we heard from representatives from Board of Higher Education, Commission on Religion and Race, Publishing House, and General Board of Discipleship. More on this group as we approach General Conference.

 To wrap up 2007 I am invited to the Christmas activities with the conference staff, and I will attend the ELT meeting December 18 at the conference office.  I have completed the 2009 Budget request for the Board of Lay Ministry, Lay Speaking Directors, and Conference Lay Leader. I mailed copies of  “The Upper Room Disciplines” to the Board of Lay Ministry and Lay Speaking Directors and will now begin to really experience Advent.

Open our eyes and ears to the needs of those around us and open our hearts to respond to their needs. Let us not be covered by all the “stuff” that we miss the coming of our Christ. Soften our hearts that we may look beyond the trappings to see God Incarnate in our midst.

As we travel through Advent may we listen to hear the songs of angels. May we have a sparkling Advent journey.

 Judy Hill, RMC Lay Leader

October 2007 Addition:

 As conference lay leader I try to be an active member of my local church, my sub-district and of course the conference. For a quick summary of some of my September activities.....In my local church/ charge I filled the pulpit the first two Sundays for our pastor who was absent for the funeral of his father. I also was the coordinator for our Back to Church fall event and also a “ Join our Team” fifth Sunday gathering.

 September meetings in Denver where I represented the laity included: Board of Stewards, District Lay Leaders, Board of Lay Ministry, Executive Leadership Team( extended cabinet), Conference Nominations, Conference Global Ministries and Lay Speaking Directors. It is always good to witness and connect our mission to make disciples as I am a part of these groups.

 Continuing this fall I will attend October meetings of the Episcopacy Committee, Connectional Table and Board of Stewards, Executive Leadership Team, Annual Conference Session Planning Committee, General/ Jurisdictional Delegation meeting and will travel to Casper, Wyoming, for the Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference United Methodist Women.

 Laity Sunday is scheduled for October 21. If this doesn’t work on your church calendar, please request to be included on another Sunday. You can search the GBOD website for materials. 

 As laity let us work together in this harvest season to celebrate our work for God and continue our daily spiritual discipline to grow as servants for Jesus.

Peace and blessings,

Judy Hill

Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Leader 

The Conference Lay Leader--1. The conference lay leader is the elected leader of

conference laity and will have responsibility for fostering awareness of the role of the

laity both within the congregation and through their ministries in the home, workplace,

community, and world in achieving the mission of the Church and for enabling and

supporting lay participation in the planning and decision-making processes of the annual

conference, district, and local church in cooperation with the bishop, district

superintendents, and pastors.

2. The conference lay leader shall relate to the organized lay groups in the conference

such as United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Youth, and

Scouting Ministries, encourage and support their work, and help them coordinate their

activities. The conference lay leader shall also have the general responsibility in: (1)

developing the advocacy role for laity in the life of the Church; (2) increasing the

participation of laity in the sessions and structure of the annual conference; and (3)

encouraging laypersons in the general ministry of the Church.

3. The conference lay leader shall be the chairperson of the conference board of laity, or

its equivalent structure, and shall be a member of the annual conference, the conference

council on ministries or equivalent structure, the executive committee, if any, of the

conference council on ministries, the conference committee on nominations, the

conference committee on episcopacy, and the committee planning annual conference

sessions; and may be designated by virtue of office to membership on any conference

agency by the annual conference.

4. The conference lay leader shall be responsible for presenting a report to the annual

conference.

5. The conference lay leader may serve on the conference board of ordained ministry and

will participate in the Service of Ordination at annual conference.

6. The conference lay leader shall meet with the cabinet when matters relating to the

coordination, implementation, or administration of the conference program, or other

matters as the cabinet may determine are on the agenda.

7. The conference lay leader 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.

8. The conference lay leader shall ensure that the annual conference has a conference

director of lay speaking ministries filled in the manner determined by the annual

conference and the conference lay leader shall participate in Lay Speaking Ministries.

9. The conference lay leader shall be elected for a term of not less than four years by the

annual conference as the annual conference may determine. The method of nomination

and term of office shall be determined by the annual conference. Associate lay leader(s),

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to work with the conference lay leader, may be elected by the annual conference as it

may determine. The conference lay leader and associate lay leader(s) will receive

reasonable reimbursement for approved dues and expenses necessary for their ministry.

10. The conference lay leader shall be a member of the Association of Annual

Conference Lay Leaders.

11. This legislation shall take effect immediately upon adjournment of the 2004 General

Conference.

Page 465, ¶ 710.5: reference to ¶ 907.1b should be ¶ 906.1a.

Page 519, ¶ 1104.7: reference to ¶ 1115 should be ¶ 1116.

Page 522, ¶ 1108.1: reference to ¶ 818.a should be ¶ 818.1.

Page 651, ¶ 1903.17: (see ¶ 818) should read (see ¶ 814).

Page 654, ¶ 2002: end the sentence by adding the following, "monitoring the practices of

the entire church so as to further ensure racial inclusiveness."

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