Lay Academy of Church Excellence

Revised LACE Curriculum Conforming to new

Basic Course Lay Speaking Ministries2009 -12

ObjectivesRevise Curriculum to conform to new Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course

Book

Teach each district the basic LACEcurriculum

Teach each district the flexibility of LACE

Negative GrowthIn last decade UMC lost members

UMC will cease to exist at current rate of loss

Eight of ten students who attend church during their teenage years will leave church by the time they are 16.

Unchristian by Kinnaman and Lyons at page 142

What people under age 30 think about Christian Church

Hypocritical

Too focused on getting converts

Anti-homosexual

What People think about Christian Church—cont.

•Sheltered

•Too political

•Judgmental

Unchristian by Kinnaman & Lyons, 2009

Our Existence is Threatened•We must seek and apply new ways to reverse the way people see us

•We can no longer afford to conduct business as usual in the church

•But, we must not comprise the central message of Jesus Christ

These Conditions Require us to be:

•Deliberate

•Creative

•Risk takers

Paradigm of ChristAs Christians, we should pursue both goals:

•Purity &

•Proximity— living in a way that honors God, but doing so in a way that can influence outsiders.

Unchristian by Kinnaman & Lyons, page 133 (2009)

Mission StatementThe mission of LACE is to provide an integratedprogram to educate, energize, and empower lay people in each United Methodist local church to become faithful disciples and effectiveleaders who create vital congregations for thetransformation of the world. LACE accomplishes this mission by assisting faithful disciples to identify, develop, and enhance their spiritual gifts leading them into leadership roles indiversified fields of ministry.

Revised Curriculum•General Conference actions changed lay speaking and new curriculum was developed

•Old handbook—11 lessons

•New handbook—5 lessons

•New organization

Revised Curriculum—Cont.•Both books require 10 hours of instruction

•And ministry presentation

Revised Curriculum—Cont.•Total of twenty-five (25) hours of instruction

•First 10 hours specific to Lay Speaking

•Remaining 15 specific to developing leaders in the church

•Each day of classes has 5 hours

Revised Curriculum—Cont.New Lay Speaking book includes:

1. Ministry of the Baptized2. Leading3. Caring4. Communicating5. Into the World

Revised Curriculum—Cont.

•First 10 hours devoted to Lay Speaking

•Participant may obtain only Lay Speaking credential

•Participant may continue studies and pursue leadership in the church classes

Revised Curriculum—Cont.Remaining 15 hours include:

1. Leadership2. Leadership3. Our Methodist Heritage4. Conflict Management in the Church5. Baptism & Communion in the UMC

Revised Curriculum—Cont.6. Church Organization7. Duties of Church Officers8. Conducting Administrative Council/Board meetings9. Stewardship10.Kentucky Conference Resources

Revised Curriculum-Cont.

11. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations12. Myers-Briggs Personality Spirituality

inventory13. Worship Modalities14. Wrap-up, DS Comments, and Holy Communion

Revised Curriculum—Cont.Board of Lay Ministry desires that:

• Recommended subjects are taught, but

district has flexibility to change text as long as it covers the

subject

• Logistical Support such as lunch, times,

duration of classes, can be altered

to meet needs of district

• Classes can be emphasized to meet needs

of district

Revised Curriculum—Cont.•Flexibility—Order of Presentation

•Flexibility—Selected texts

•Flexibility—Feeding the Students

•Flexibility—Paying for books

Revised Curriculum—Cont.•Ministry presentations (15 min. for Lay speaking) can be accomplished anytime after first 10 hours of instruction.

•Be flexible in creating times for students to do ministry presentations.

Logistical Support for LACE•Twenty-five hours of instruction

•District has discretion in configuration

•Suggested—Five days of five one-hour sessions.

Logistical Support for LACE—Cont.

• Classes taught in five different churches

throughout district.

• Textbooks1. Books not provided by Conference2. Only one copy per district available for

instructors3. Ask students to purchase at least two books

Logistical Support for LACE—Cont.

•Host church provides lunch

• Ask participants to provide love offering

• Instructors selected by District Lay Speaking

Ministry team or LS Coordinator/Lay Leader/DS

• Instructors—district ministers, laity, and outside instructors consistent with funds

Logistical Support for LACE—Cont.

• LSM district coordinator certifies completed requirements for Lay Speaking Course

• Graduates use new skills to strengthen local church

•District may substitute any one session for selected subject needed in district

Logistical Support for LACE—Cont.

• Attendance Policy: Attend 4 of 5 days to receive LACE certificate

•Meet all requirements of Lay Speaking to receive certificate of completion

•Must attend first and last day

Logistical Support for LACE—Cont.

• LACE graduates receive recognition on floor at Kentucky Annual Conference

• Evaluations given to students to help plan improvements