Discipline 2004 Errata

Related to the Conference Lay Leader

Last updated April 4, 2007

Page 355: Add a sentence to ¶ 603.9a so it reads:
The conference lay leader is the elected leader of conference laity and is an officer of the annual conference. The lay leader shall be a professing member of a local church in the annual conference. The conference lay leader shall participate in annual conference sessions as a partner in ministry with the bishop.

Page 362: Add a paragraph to follow ¶ 607. This new paragraph incorporates parts of 2000’s ¶ 603.9 that were removed from 2004’s ¶ 603.9:

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), 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.