Laity
WPAUMC Conference Laity
Who are the Laity? We are not ordained clergy. We are not just the Lay Leader, Committe Chairpersons or the Lay speakers in the local church. We are the congregation, those not ordained but equally called to do ministry. We are the strength of the church and we need to take our rightful place in mission and ministry.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (John Bowker 1997) defines Laity as "(Greek, Laos, 'people') Baptized Christians who are not clergy or ordained to specific ministry (i.e. the majority). Since the New Testament envisages a priesthood of all believers, the place of the laity in the mission and life of the Church should be paramount."
The Conference Laity Board is your voice. The Board consists of the Conference Lay Leader, all Associate Lay Leaders, all District Lay Leaders and all the District Directors of Lay Speaking Ministry and the Chairpersons of many other Wetern PA UMC Committees. The board's focus is to help motivate and train our laity to step out in faith and take on the challenge of ministry in our churches and communities.
Check back often to see what opportunities there are across the conference for you to learn more about your role as laity and to explore Gods call in your life. Together we are the church united in the work of the kingdom here on earth.
