Annual Conference Happenings Shared by Annual Conference Lay Leaders at Quadrennial Training

Recognizing the Ministry of the Laity

Detroit Annual Conference -- Recognize district programs at annual conference session

Oklahoma Annual Conference -- Present an award for lay-led ministries in each district

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference -- Laity Academy and Laity Banquet at Annual Conference session

Southwest Texas Annual Conference -- Presents Bishop's Exemplar award in each district

Western New York Annual Conference -- Holds listening sessions in local churches

New York Annual Conference -- Denman Award -- improving in laity

Challenges by the 4 Focus Areas

Greater New Jersey annual conference -- Personal Visits -- connecting personal missions

Desert Southwest Annual Conference -- Bishop's Day on the District -- local church lay leaders called apart

Missouri Annual Conference -- 5 Practices of Effective Congregations --equipping local church lay leaders to lead

Louisiana Annual Conference -- All Laity in Mission -- "Now that I'm a lay leader. . ."

Alabama West Florida annual Conference --– Mission event at annual conference session -- "If we are to make disciples, we must first be disciples."

Current Issues

• Extended Cabinet meetings -- going well in some conferences -- not at all in others
• Conference Mergers
• Mentoring Future Leaders
• Meeting Times -- not always convenient for laity
• Participation by all conference lay leaders in the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders
• Clergy/Lay cooperation