Cookeville District: Basic and Advanced Lay Speaking Ministry Courses Offered March 30 & 31, 2007, Algood United Methodist Church

BASIC COURSE in English – This basic course includes a study of what it means to be God’s called people. It provides learning opportunities in three areas of service for United Methodist Lay Speakers: leading in their church, ministries of caring and communicating (listening & speaking). Required text is “Basic Course 2005-2006” by Jack Gilbert & Nan Zoller

Teachers: Dr. Harold Martin, Dist. Superintendent,
Ms. Teena King, Certified Lay Speaker, Mrs. Holly Neal,
Cookeville Director of Lay Speaking Ministries

ADVANCED COURSES

From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering the Effective Sermon -
Pastor James Johnson – Associate Minister Crossville 1st UMC –
Required text is “From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering the Effective Sermon” by Tony Franks and David Carroll. This course is designed for Lay Speakers from a variety backgrounds and public speaking experience. The objectives of this course are: to provide a course for lay speakers who want to hone their preaching skills; to provide an opportunity for each speaker to present a short sermon; and to provide both written evaluation and oral feedback for the presentations.

Next Church Now Creating New Faith Communities –
Pastor Keith Long – Pastor Chestnut Mound-Elmwood-Mt. Zion Using the experience of the New Testament church at Ephesus as a guide, this course will challenge you with new and existing churches to rekindle a passion for ministry in the midst of a rapidly changing world.

LOCATION
Algood UMC, 135 West Main St, Algood TN 38506

DATES
Friday & Saturday , March 30 & 31, 2007
(Deadline for Registration is Feb. 28)

COST
Registration Fees: Basic $40, Advanced $40. Includes textbooks & materials, Saturday lunch, refreshments daily and certificate.

Cancellation Policy: No refund of fees after March 15 (& return of materials).

Scholarships available for those who need assistance with fee. To request scholarship, call Holly Neal, toll-free 1-866-244--5155 or 931-788-6337.

SCHEDULE
FRIDAY NIGHT, March 30, 2007
5:30-6:00 -- Gathering
6:00-8:15 -- Session 1

SATURDAY, March 31, 2007
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. -- Registration/Refreshments
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. -- Session 2
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 -- Break
10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. -- Session 3
12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. -- Lunch
12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. -- Session 4
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. -- Break
3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. -- Session 5
4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. -- Break
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. -- Closing Worship & Sending Forth

Note: Participants will complete one course, either the Basic Course or the Advanced Course. The Basic Course is a prerequisite to the Advanced Courses. Certified Lay Speakers are required to take an Advanced Course every three years.


YOU are READY to BECOME a LAY SPEAKER IF
· You are willing to share your faith with those around you.
· You are willing to go wherever and whenever God calls.
· You will commit your time and energy to the service of your congregation, community, neighbor, etc.

Lay Speakers are active, supportive members of the United Methodist Church that are committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care-giving ministries, listening, written & spoken communications, and are willing to use their gifts and talents and improve their skills for service involved in leadership roles within their church and community.

What it means to be a CERTIFIED LAY SPEAKER
To be a Certified Lay Speaker, you need the recommendation of your Pastor and Church Council or Charge Conference, and must complete both the Basic Course and one Advanced Course in Lay Speaking. To continue as a Certified Lay Speaker, you must complete one Advanced Course every three years. Certified Lay Speakers not only continue to serve within their local UMC but also serve in their district and conference in various ministries as they feel God's calling. You must be a member of a United Methodist Church. Your Pastor's signature is required on the registration form.

What it means to be a LOCAL CHURCH LAY SPEAKER
To be recognized as a Local Church Lay Speaker, you must be recommended by your Pastor and Church Council or Charge Conference, and must complete the Basic Course for Lay Speaking. To continue as a Local Church Lay Speaker, you must complete a refresher course every three years. Local Church Lay Speakers serve primarily in and through their local church. You must be a member of a United Methodist Church. Your Pastor's signature is required on the registration form.

If you are interested in becoming a lay delegate to General Conference--from Conference Lay Leader Joe Williams

TO THE TENNESSEE CONFERENCE LAITY

The next General Conference of the United Methodist Church will meet from April 23 through May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas. It meets every four years and will be attended by about 1,000 delegates from the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia to decide issues of church law and polity. The number of delegates are split equally between laity and clergy. It is interesting to note that two United Methodist presidents – George W. Bush of the United States, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia – have been invited to address the 2008 General Conference.

Those who are interested in declaring as candidates for election as delegates to the 2008 General Conference should be aware of the Tennessee Conference Standing Rules 9-12, a copy of which is attached for your information. You will note that Standing Rule 11.A. is in bold type.

It describes what a declarant must do if he/she would like a statement of their candidacy to be published and included in the pre-conference mailing to all members of the 2007 Annual Conference. Please note that there is a deadline when this information must be submitted.
The election will be held during the 2007 meeting of the Tennessee Annual Conference, June 10-13, 2007, at Brentwood UMC.

You may be interested yourself, or you may have others make inquiries of you about the process. In either case, the attachment is very helpful information. In the event any of you would like additional information or to discuss what it means to be a delegate to General Conference, please do not hesitate to call on me.

The following is taken from pages 173-174 of the
2006 JOURNAL of the Tennessee Annual Conference:

CHAPTER VI

A. STANDING RULES

Election of Delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference
SR9 Clergy and lay delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences shall be elected as
provided in the Constitution of The United Methodist Church. (¶¶38-39 of the Book of
Discipline [2004]).

SR10 Ballots
A. Printed ballots will be provided by the Office of the Conference Secretary.
B. 50% plus one valid ballots cast shall be necessary to elect.
C. Ballots with more or less than the number to be elected shall be rejected as invalid.

SR11 Candidacy for election as General or Jurisdictional Conference delegates may be declared by clergy and laity
A. Eligible lay and clergy may declare candidacy by sending to the Office of Connectional Ministries, no later than 10 weeks prior to the opening day of Annual Conference, for inclusion in Volume One of the Journal a statement concerning (1) their activities at the local church, district, annual, jurisdictional, and general conference levels; (2) their assessment of the principal needs of the General Church and how they should be met, and (3) any other information felt pertinent to introducing themselves to other members of the Tennessee Conference who may not be familiar with their views on issues confronting the Church. The statement is limited to one 8 ½ X 11" page with 1" margins on top, bottom, and sides with
type no smaller than 10 point, and shall be submitted via email or diskette.
B. Persons do not have to declare candidacy to be eligible for election to General or
Jurisdictional Conference.

SR12 Reserve delegates
After the Jurisdictional Conference delegates are elected, on the next ballot reserve delegates
shall be elected (the number of General Conference delegates) in order of the highest
number of votes received, without regard to majority.

Murfreesboro District Third Annual Lay Speaker and Lay Leader Banquet, Friday, February 2, 2007

The Murfreesboro District is honoring all Murfreesboro District Lay Speakers and Lay Leaders at a special banquet on Friday evening, February 2, 2007. Murfreesboro First UMC will host the banquet at 6:30 p.m.

Our special guest will be Lee Domann, an ordained minister in the Kansas East Conference. Lee's ministry is to share the good news of God's love, and to affirm the worth of each person as one of God's Children. With roots from Celtic, county, folk, and gospel traditions his combination of music, humor, and storytelling make meaningful dramatic presentations. Lee's music has been recorded by such artists as: Kathy Mattea, Mark Lowry, and Riders in the Sky.

Registrations must be received by January 29, 2007 at the Murfreesboro District Office, 316 West Lytle St., Suite 202, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. You can also register by calling the District Office at 615-8935886. The cost of the meal will be $10.00. Please invite your spouses, children, pastors, and other special friends to this celebration.

Directions to Murfreesboro First UMC: Take I-24 to Murfreesboro and get off at exit 78-B. Head toward Murfreesboro until you pass the Holiday Inn on your right. At the next light turn left onto North Thompson Lane (McDonald's is on the corner). Go approximately 5 miles and the church will be on your right, 265 West Thompson Lane (615-893-1322).