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Laity Glossary

January 31, 2018 / By UNY Communications

An informal poll by the Upper New York Communications Ministry Area reveals the following 11 items as the least known Lay Ministry terms. Can you correctly identify the meaning?

1. Lay servant

A. An active, supportive member of a United Methodist congregation who is eager to be in ministry through the church. He/she is well-informed on scripture, doctrine, heritage, organization and life of the United Methodist Church and is committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care giving ministries and spoken communication. This person is willing to initiate ministry in partnership with clergy and other lay servants and willing to improve his/her skills for service.

B. A lazy worker

C. A worker who must make sure all the Bibles lay flat in a church

D. The person in charge of making leis for the annual Hawaiian worship service

2. Lay member

A. The chicken in the coop responsible for producing eggs

B. A member of a sports team that sits on the sidelines and watches

C. An amateur

D. The voting lay delegate to an Annual Conference session. Each Annual Conference session is required to consist of an equal number of lay members and ministerial members. They may speak and vote on all items coming before the AC session, with the exception of those relating to ministerial membership, relationships, ordination, and election of clergy delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conference sessions.

3. Laity

A. A person who like to lie down all the time

B. From the Latin word meaning “lady”

C. A term used to describe members of a congregation or parish

D. A person who is frequently late to Sunday worship

4. Certified lay minister

A. An individual who goes through a certification process to learn how to properly lie down

B. A certified lay servant, certified lay missioner, (or equivalent as defined by his or her Conference), who is called and equipped to conduct public worship, care for the congregation, assist in program leadership, develop new and existing faith communities, preach the Word, lead small groups, or establish community outreach ministries as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergyperson.

C. An individual certified to greet people with leis

D. The Sunday school teacher tasked with getting all the kids to lie down for a nap

5. Laity Sunday

A. A special Sunday established by the General Conference to be observed on the third Sunday in October. Laity Sunday focuses on the celebration of the ministry of all lay Christians. In many local churches, Laity Sunday is observed by having lay persons lead all parts of the worship service.

B. A special Sunday honoring all the people who show up to Sunday worship late, in which everyone shows up at least five minutes late

C. A special Sunday in which all congregants lie down during Sunday worship

D. A special Sunday honoring all the ladies in The Church

 6. Conference Lay Leader

A. A conference’s primary representative of and role model for Christian discipleship and faith lived out in The Church and in daily life for the people of a congregation. The Conference Lay Leader works with other Conference leaders to fulfill the mission and vision of the Conference and leads the laity in ministry. Susan Hardy is the current UNY Conference Lay Leader.

B. Dr. Scott Johnson

C. An annual event where leaders across the world gather to lie down for some rest after all their hard work

D. The individual who leads everyone in the laying on of hands

7. Board of Laity

A. A group that tells congregants when to lie down

B. A group comprised of representatives from boards and agencies that encompass the life of the laity across the Upper New York Conference. Members work to support, equip, and resource the laity across the Conference.

C. The last board to go up during construction of a church

D. A panel of experts who can tell if someone is lying

 8. District Lay Leader

A. A commune where all lay leaders go to live when they retire

B. The person who Katniss Everdeen despised in “The Hunger Games” series

C. The neighborhood where all of the lay leaders live

D. The principal layperson in a district who represents and leads the laity in ministry

9. Lay Servant Ministry (Lay Ministry)

A. Non-clergy ministry that includes visitation, leading a study, singing in the choir, serving at a lunch program, teaching Sunday school, sending out church or personal prayers, volunteering to clean, going on a mission project, or leading or preach at a worship service.

B. The state department in charge of allocating funds

C. A servant who lays tiles down on the floors of churches

D. When clergy serve lay members an elegant, five-course dinner

10. Laity session

A. Another word for nap time

B. A gathering of laity at Annual Conference session. Usually, there is an address by the Conference lay leader as well as a collection for the Helping Hands Fund, which raises funds to be used by the Upper New York Cabinet to assist congregants in need of financial support.

C. When women get together and gossip

D. Another word for a meeting with a therapist

11. Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders

A. Studied at seminary, this class helps determine the link between each Conference and their lay leaders

B. A group of clergy that tells the laity what to do

C. A group that initiates strategies and policies to strengthen the presence and voice of laity in The United Methodist Church, to enable a mutual ministry among lay people and clergy alike as set out in The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, to exchange information concerning the lay ministry of The United Methodist Church, and to take any and all action deemed desirable by the Association to promote and support lay ministry.

D. Once you go through laity training, this group determines your fate

Laity Glossary Answer Key

1.  Lay servant: A

2.  Lay member: D

3.  Laity: C

4.  Certified lay minister: B

5.  Laity Sunday: A

6.  Conference lay leader: A

7.  Board of Laity: B

8.  District lay leader: D

9.   Lay Servant Ministry (Lay Ministry): A

10. Laity session: B

11. Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders: C