AUGUST 2003

Guidelines for Supporting the Development, Training, Utilization and Affirmation of the Ministry of the Laity
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Introduction

These Guidelines seek to provide a process to strengthen the laity leadership in the mission of the Churches of the Diocese. To accomplish this there shall be created a subcommittee of the Commission On Ministry comprising 10 members, who are not presently members of the Commission On Ministry to serve a 2 year term appointed by the Bishop. These 10 Lay Subcommittee members would offer training to the lay leaders and other lay persons of the Church, to strengthen their leadership in their individual ministries. Said Lay Subcommittee Members (LSM) would train the laity in the following areas:

    a. Evaluation of present ministry
    b. Planning and prioritizing of changes and/or modification including expansion of ministry.
    c. Implementation of such changes.
    d. Evaluate such changes.
    e. Provide additional consultation and resources.
In addition to the 10 LSMs the Lay Subcommittee shall maintain a roster of experts in various areas of ministry. These experts shall provide any lay person with additional services, counseling and/or help should the situation require same.

This subcommittee is not to offer conflict resolution.

Guidelines for Lay Persons
1. At the request of a Priest, Vicar or Priest In Charge a packet shall be sent by the Lay Subcommittee to any interested Lay person. Said packet shall include an Application Form (See Application Form attached hereto) as well as any Introductory material and a letter from the Chairperson of the Lay Subcommittee explaining the procedures. At the same time an introductory letter shall be sent to the Priest, Vicar or Priest In Charge explaining the procedures of the Lay Subcommittee, explaining the Lay Subcommittee’s services available and suggesting a procedure for discernment for the Lay Person.

2. After receiving the packet the lay person and the Priest, Vicar or Priest In Charge shall meet to discuss the filling out the Application and shall discern the following:
    a. The lay person’s specific area of mission or ministry.
    b. The desire to expand, modify or change such ministry.
    c. Any desired spiritual direction needed to effect such change or modification.
After completing the Application the lay person shall send the completed Application to the Lay Subcommittee Chairperson with a copy sent to the Priest, Vicar or Priest In Charge.

3. Upon receipt of the Application the Lay Subcommittee Chairperson or someone designated by him/her shall schedule the Lay Person to attend on of the regularly scheduled Lay Subcommittee monthly meetings.

4. At the regularly scheduled Lay Subcommittee monthly meetings, the Lay Subcommittee Chairperson or someone designated by him/her shall give the Lay Person an Orientation Lecture which shall include:
    a. Evaluation of present ministry
    b. Planning and prioritizing of changes and/or modification including expansion of ministry.
    c. The need for spiritual direction.
    d. Implementation of such changes.
    e. Evaluate such changes.
    f. Provide additional consultation and resources.
The Orientation lecture shall also include guidelines for:
    a. Mission/ministry clarification/expansion
    b. Recruitment, training and retaining participants.
    c. Specific skill development.
After such lecture, the Lay Person shall receive an Evaluation Form (See Evaluation Form attached hereto).

5. The Lay Person shall complete the Evaluation Form and return same to the Chairman of the Lay Subcommittee. The Chairman shall present the Evaluation Form at the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Lay Subcommittee and the LSM shall review same and make any suggestions in regards to training, approach, help or any other methods to establish the goals of the Lay Person. At that time a LSM shall be assigned as a subcommittee liaison to the Lay Person.

6. After the Lay Subcommittee meeting the subcommittee liaison shall contact the Lay Person with the suggestions of the Lay Subcommittee and shall at the same time send the Lay Person a copy of the Lay Subcommittee’s recommendations. Also the subcommittee liaison shall make an appointment for a field visit to the Lay Person’s parish, or at any other convenient place where the subcommittee liaison can meet with any persons involved in the goals of the Lay Person. At said meeting the subcommittee liaison shall act as a representative of the Lay Subcommittee of the Commission On Ministry and shall aid the Lay Person in presenting the suggested methods for achieving the goals of the Lay Person.

7. The subcommittee liaison shall follow up with a phone call within 2 months from the field visit to the Lay Person to see the progress of the Lay Person. If at that time it is determined that addition help from the Lay Subcommittee is necessary, the subcommittee liaison may recommend an expert to help or may ask the Lay Subcommittee to craft additional help for the Lay Person.

Guidelines for Institutions

1. Twice yearly the Lay Subcommittee shall hold a lecture in which persons or committees who are unsure of the kind or type of ministry they wish to develop or discover may hear about the ministries and work of the church, the type of work done by such ministries and the commitment levels required by each ministry. Said lecture shall also provide a system whereby persons or committees and their Priests, Vicars or Priests In Charge may determine and assess their gifts.

2. Such lectures shall take place twice yearly, one at the beginning of November and the second after Easter.

Reports

The Chairperson of the Lay Subcommittee shall make periodic reports to the Chair of the Commission On Ministry with a copy for the Commission On Ministry's Liaison to the Lay Subcommittee for inclusion in the Commission On Ministry's regularly scheduled monthly meeting.