 |
|
Recruitment and Development of Lay Preachers
Strategy Developed by the Lay Preaching Support Committee Assembly 2002 adopted a new strategy for the development of lay preaching ( Resolution 35 ). The strategy is urgently needed in the face of a situation where the church needs to develop some 800 new lay preachers by the year 2010 in order to maintain the worship of the church. The strategy calls for the encouragement, training and support of those with appropriate talents. Resolution 35 Lay Preaching Strategy
Proposal 1 Introduction 1.1 There can be no doubt that many people are finding great benefit from the Training for Learning and Serving courses, and that these are standing the Church in good stead for the future. However, the report on TLS given to Mission Council in the autumn of 2000 raised some important questions. Not least, is TLS delivering the number of new lay preachers the Church requires? 1.2 As no one seemed to know the answer to that question and a number of those present had a feeling that the United Reformed Church is about to fall into a black hole, Ministries asked the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee to commission an urgent survey into lay preacher numbers and future needs. An analysis of the results shows that there is a shortfall but that it varies from synod to synod and district to district. The figures indicate the need to recruit, train and have in active ministry about 850 new lay preachers by the end of the decade. This is a formidable challenge to our churches, and Ministries asked the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee to prepare a strategy to be brought to General Assembly in 2002. 1.3 The success of any strategy will depend on the ability of every district and synod to identify, train and support new lay preachers from within their local churches. The Church needs to develop a culture in which churches, ministers and lay preachers work closely together. Lay preachers are a valuable resource and it is important that ministers and churches recognise their value. Equally lay preachers should demonstrate that their ministry is important by not over-committing themselves in the life of their own church, and the churches should support them in this. In this way full encouragement will be given to the ministry of Word and worship exercised by lay people, and the hope that the considerable number of lay preachers needed will be raised up from within our local churches may be realised. 2 Strategy 2.1 Alongside the ministry of Word and Sacraments, the Church recognises the importance of the lay ministry of Word and worship, where some are called to be lay preachers, some to be worship leaders and some to be members of worship teams. It is important to recognise the current resources in the district for leading worship and for equipping others. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee therefore recommends that each district appoint a group to identify the needs of their district in order to support and maintain this ministry. 2.2 These resources will include Nationally Accredited and District Recognised lay preachers, as well as others with gifts and training in leading worship, and ministers of Word and Sacraments. It is essential to explore new ways of developing people's gifts by encouraging existing worship groups to include young people and to use the groups as 'seed beds' for growing worship leaders. 2.3 In response to the needs identified the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee strongly recommends that districts:- 2.3.1 Encourage local churches to challenge people of all ages to recognise and respond to the call to be involved in the ministry of Word and worship. 2.3.2 Encourage the setting up of worship teams in individual churches, groups of churches or the district as a whole, including young people wherever possible.
2.3.3 Identify training programmes appropriate to different people at different stages of experience and development, which could be delivered by district or in co-operation with synod training officers or ecumenical partners. 2.3.4 Support and encourage all those involved in this ministry by putting a support system in place and, where possible, encouraging churches to release those in training from other church tasks. 2.3.5 Identify and encourage the ongoing development of gifts as worship leaders or lay preachers through regular training opportunities. 2.3.6 Accept responsibility for testing and affirming the calling of those coming forward for the lay ministry of Word and worship. 3 Method 3.1 The strategy could be implemented through such things as:-
3.2 The pattern of worship teams in a district would vary depending on a number of different factors such as number and size of churches, geography, availability of people able to train and lead teams but sharing between congregations would be seen as an important element to avoid a sense of isolation. In some situations sharing across district and synod boundaries should also be considered as many lay preachers already cross these boundaries in the course of their ministry. 3.3 A number of training programmes already exist at various levels and the Training Committee and Studies Panel are considering these with a view to validating them with an indication of the level both at the start and on completion. These programmes include such things as 'Starting to lead worship', 'Step-up', the Wimbledon district programme and others. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee is not suggesting that districts or synods should all devise their own programmes. In certain areas ecumenical schemes may be appropriate. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will continue to work with the Training Committee in developing training opportunities for lay preachers. (Information about courses may be obtained from Training or Ministries at Church House) 3.4 Various forms of support might be used, e.g. mentoring - pairing an 'apprentice' with an experienced leader of worship, feedback sessions after leading worship, group support. Districts and synods will need to recognise that support will also involve ongoing in-service training and the consequent financial implications. The Lay Preaching Support Committee recognises with pleasure that some districts already provide their lay preachers with financial support and would encourage other districts and synods to adopt this practice. 3.5 Appropriate training is the route to obtaining District Recognition and/or National Accreditation as a lay preacher. In some synods the training officer could assist with this. People will be ready at different times for different types of training and recognition depending on circumstances. Ways of affirming and developing gifts also need to be found. 3.6.1 The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will develop guidelines to help districts test and affirm the calling to lay preaching. 3.6.2 In order to achieve these aims the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee envisage the district will need a co-ordinator to liaise between churches, worship teams, lay preachers, the lay preaching commissioner, synod training/ development officer, and the TLS regional organiser. This could be the existing commissioner. 3.6.3 The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will continue to work in every way it can to encourage and support lay preachers, districts and synods and will produce as quickly as possible information about running Enquirers/Taster Days or Roadshows. 4 Conclusion 4.1 These proposals are all offered in the belief that God continues to call people to worship and praise. It will be an ongoing challenge and needs to be undergirded by prayer.
|
|
