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The Lay Organization
Each
one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very
words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with
the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be
praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and
the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 4:10-11
The
Lay Organization and the Women's Missionary Society are the
two connectional organizations in the AME Church. The
Lay Organization exists at a local level and a district level.
The local Lay Organization is formed for the purposes of:
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Instilling
in its membership a love and appreciation for the history,
tradition and principles of African Methodism
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Advocating
respect and loyalty to constituted authority
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Encouraging
the support of the total program of the local church
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Fostering
systematic and regular study which will provide greater
knowledge and participation in the church
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Organizing
and training the lay members concerning the goals and
objectives of the Connectional Lay Organization
What is the purpose
of the Lay Organization?
The
purpose of the local lay organization is to get the membership
of the local church involved in spiritual and political areas
of the AME Church. The Purpose is also to learn about
the rules, regulations and dities of the members, officers
and the pastor of each local church.
What does the Connectional
Lay Organization consist of?
The
Connectional Lay Organization shall be composed of the Episcopal
District Lay Organizations, Conference Lay Organizations,
District Lay Organizations of the Annual Conference and Organization
of a Station or Circuit.
The
District Lay Organization of the Annual Conference is optional
and shall only be organized where the Conference Lay Organization
determines it to be necessary for the efficient conduct of
its business.
The
7th Annual Sixth Episcopal District Lay Convention and Recognition
Banquet was held at the Augusta Convention Center, September
15, 2006. Our own Rev.
Karma Johnson received a Turner Seminary Book Scholarship.
Click
here to see related photos.
Why
have a Lay Organization at the church level?
The
reason for organizing at the local church level is to provide
the proper instructions for each new nad old members of the
local church as it reltes to duties, responsibilities and
loyalty to the AME Church as outlined in the AME Discipline.
Who
is a layperson anyway?
All
persons who have joined the AME denomination and have not
been ordained an Elder (Preacher) is a layperson. It
is each person's responsibility to become an active member
of the Lay Organization.
How
do I benefit from joining the Lay Organization?
The
benefits received from being an active member of the Lay organization
include knowledge about the:
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Rules,
laws and procedures of the AME Church as outlined in
the AME Discipline.
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Lay
Organization on the Local, District, Conference and
the Connectional levels.
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Constitution
and by-laws which govern the political leadership in
the local, district, conference and connectional levels
of the church.
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Function
of each level of the Lay Organization
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Lay Organization Officers
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(l-r) Kim Thomas, Edna
Martin, and Dorothy Williams
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Lay Organization Objectives:
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Instill
in the membership of the church a love
for, and an appreciation of, the history,
traditions, principles and development
of African Methodism by encouraging,
motivating, and educating all Lay Persons.
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Keep
forever alive the sacred memory of Richard
Allen, our illustrious founder.
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Advocate
respect and loyalty at all times to
constituted authority and leadership.
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Encourage
the laity to support the total program
of the church in the local congregation,
in the community, and throughout the
Connection.
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Foster
a systematic and regular study of The
Doctrine and Discipline of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and
of Parliamentary Procedure, to the end
that greater knowledge and information
may be disseminated among the laity,
and with the further purpose of encouraging
lay members to participate more largely
in the general functioning and supervision
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Foster,
influence and support all constructive
and progressive legislation for the
church that promotes the teachings of
Jesus Christ.
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Encourage
development, recognition, and utilization
of the most appropriate operational
practices and modern technology in conducting
the activities of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
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Promote
the spread of personal evangelism through
activities designed to prepare lay members
for appropriately conveying God's Word.
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Provide
training in Christian stewardship, which
causes lay members to recognize that
the connotation of stewardship addresses
more than giving money.
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Increase
the circulation of church papers.
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Provide
for the orderly and systematic training
of lay persons, especially officers,
in order that they might more effectively
perform their service assignments.
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Promote
activities which will result in harmonious
fellowship for lay persons throughout
the Connection.
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Help
in the support of AME eduational institutions.
- Give
financial assistance to the Connectional
Lay Economic Development Corporation (CLEDC)
in support of Connectional Programs
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