19 lay speakers are consecrated

District Superintendent Barbara Ruth consecrated 19 people as either first-time local lay speakers or first-time certified lay speakers May 7 at First UMC, Beeville.
Consecrated as local lay speakers were Gayle Keramian, Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi; Anne McConnell, Kay Plummer and Kathy Rios, Grace UMC, Corpus Christi; Joe Moreno, South Bluff UMC, Corpus Christi; Marche Kennedy and Billy Ray Sayles, St. Paul UMC, Corpus Christi; Steven Utley and Susan Utley, Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi; James Doty, First UMC, Portland; Ted Williams, First UMC, Rockport; Robert Haertig, Faith United Church, Woodsboro.
Consecrated as certified lay speakers were Tom Dolezal, First UMC, Beeville; Billy Kennedy, St. Paul UMC, Corpus Christi; Sarah Carter, Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi; Glynes Strause, First UMC, George West; Robert Holder, Ingleside UMC; Tim Flood and Glenda McKinney, First UMC, Portland; Betty Mann, First UMC, Yorktown.
A lay speaker is a member of a local congregation who is ready to serve the church; who is well informed on and committed to scriptures and doctrine, heritage, organization and life of The United Methodist Church; and who has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries.
Lay speakers must submit an annual report to their church or charge conferences to remain on the district lay speaker list. If you are interested in becoming a lay speaker, please contact your pastor or Stephanie Creech, Corpus Christi District lay speaking director, at (361) 777-2000.