Get out of comfort zones, lay leaders told

Leader from Houston
speaks to laity assembly
Jan. 28-29 in Kerrville

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
Southwest Texas United Methodists need to get out of their comfort zones “to meet those strangers in our midst.”
Melvin Dillard, lay leader of the Houston-based Texas Conference, delivered that message to Southwest Texas Conference leaders of laity last month in Kerrville.
Dillard of Houston was guest speaker for the 7th annual Laity Assembly Jan. 28-29 at Mount Wesley Conference Center. He gave his take on “Offering Christ to All,” the Southwest Texas Conference vision statement.
Dillard told some 100 leaders of Southwest Texas Conference congregations about an encounter he had with a woman who was not open to talking with him.
“I didn’t know what she thought, but I know what I thought,” he said. “I didn’t know her attitude, but I knew my attitude, and it was in Christ.”
The two-day gathering, sponsored by the Board of Laity, was a time to “share the latest focus of the annual conference for the leaders of the churches to take back to their congregations,” said Jay Brim, Southwest Texas Conference lay leader. It was also a time to consider the role lay leaders play in local congregations and exchange ideas for leading congregations in offering Christ to all.
In addition to Dillard and Brim, speakers included:
> Bishop Joel N. Martinez, who commissioned local church lay leaders Jan. 28.
> George White, associate conference lay leader and program director for the Victoria District. He discussed the local church lay leader’s job description.
> Patti Zaiontz, San Antonio District director of lay speaking ministries and interim Mount Wesley administrator. She explained the role of lay speakers.
> Douglas Cannon, communications and public witness director. He talked about how local churches could become “Certified Welcoming Congregations.”
“You are a one-person pastor-parish relations committee,” White, a member of Belmont UMC, told the group. “The lay leader has to be out among the congregation, listening, making notes. Then you have to go back to your clergy and share what you hear—good or bad—whether you agree or not.”
White, former Victoria District lay leader, noted it was especially important to build trusting relationships with the pastors to gain their full confidence. There’s an additional benefit to that trust, he said.
“Remember that the clergy need God’s love, too,” White said. “You are in a unique position to reach out and share it with them.”
Zaiontz, a member of St. John’s UMC, San Antonio, told the group she credits lay speaking with enabling her to be what her children call “the H-E-B evangelist.”
“I don’t have a problem stopping and talking to people about the love of God,” Zaiontz said. “But there were too many times before in my life I felt like someone needed to hear about God’s love, but I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.”
Cannon described real-life situations in which visitors couldn’t find entrances to church sanctuaries, and when they did, were ignored or rebuffed by church members. He suggested ways congregations could be prepared to welcome visitors.
In a brainstorming session that concluded the assembly, lay leaders listed possibilities for outreach ministries in their churches and communities:
> A gallery of photos and information about church leaders, displayed prominently where everyone could see it and recognize some of the welcoming faces of the congregation.
> A “business card” to give out with the church’s name, address, contact information and invitation to attend.
> Porch and bus ministries, providing after-school programs for children who otherwise would be “latchkey kids.”
>“Fifth Quarter” parties after football games so youths could celebrate safely.
> Noon meals for high schoolers in the community.
> Partnering in doorstep ministry with someone of another denomination to welcome newcomers to the community.
> Ministerial alliances where pastors of all denominations come together to talk about the needs of the community and to plan ecumenical events.
“You could see the sparks fly as people listened to each other,” said the Rev. Barbara J. Ruth, Corpus Christi District superintendent. “They heard some possibilities they’d never dreamed of that are happening in other churches.”
Brim, a member of Westlake UMC, Austin, said it was important “for all local church leaders to be able to share with each other.”
Ruth, one of five district superintendents who attended the assembly, agreed.
“The laity is in partnership with the clergy in the church,” she said. “We expect clergy members to have continuing education every year of their ministry. We would not ask lay leaders to lead without having training and support.”
The Rev. Robert Hall, Austin District superintendent, concurred.
“The best thing about this assembly is that the lay leaders gain inspiration and encouragement from each other,” he said.