Duties of the Conference Lay Leader
Just what are the duties of the Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Leader is a
question I am often asked.
2008 April addition
 In addition to March meetings for Conference Nominations, Executive Leadership
Team, Board of Stewards, Annual Conference Session Planning, Petition committee
and Delegation meeting, I also presented programs on General Conference issues
for United Methodist Women in Ft. Collins and Stratton. April 1st I headed
for my first visit to Honolulu where I attended the Western Jurisdiction United
Methodist Women Quadrennial meeting. In the midst of challenging speeches the
election of Women’s Division directors occurred. We celebrate the election
of Kumja Lim a Rocky Mountain Conference member as a director. From Rocky Mountain
Conference we are also pleased that Vicki Bever will serve as treasurer of
United Methodist Western Jurisdiction Leadership Team and Mesia Fisilau was
elected as a member to Committee on Nominations.
Now I find my attention is on continued preparation for General Conference
with our delegation gathering April 12. It is also my privilege to share in
a Sunday School forum at Boulder First United Methodist Church on the upcoming
General Conference. April 19 will be a BOS meeting in preparation for Annual
Conference.
Yes, Rocky Mountain Annual Conference is also fast approaching June 18-21.
The theme is “Church for the Rest of Us” which is an extension
of the Diana Butler Bass book” Christianity for the Rest of Us.” Ms.
Bass will be the featured speaker this year so I urge you to attend sessions
she is leading. You are also welcome to the Laity Session scheduled for Friday,
June 20, 1:30 -4:30 p.m. in the Rocky Mountain Events Center at the Marriott
Tech Center where Annual Conference will meet. Jim Griffith, a much sought
speaker will speak to us on how laity are instrumental in “ turn around
churches.”
The Laity Luncheon has been expanded to an all conference Awards Banquet.
We will honor the Quiet Disciples and Outstanding Lay Speakers appropriately..the
Stover Street Stompers from Ft. Collins will provide rousing entertainment.
Reservations are required.
For detailed information concerning 2008 Rocky Mountain Annual Conference
of United Methodist Church please go to rmcumc.org
It is my privilege to be the Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Leader and request
your prayers and comments as we work together.
Blessings, Judy Hill
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.
Judy Hill
RMC conference lay leader
2007December 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
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 alwayas 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
Following meetings: contact those who didn’t attend, proof minutes,
sign vouchers, send letters as asked by Board;
DAILY PREPARATION FOR THE METHODIST WAY
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