Who Is My Class Leader?

Membership & Leadership Training Session #1 Who Is My Class Leader? THE MINISTRY & WORK OF THE CLASS LEADER IN THE A.M.E. CHURCH Part 1 Saturday, January 26, 2019 10:00 am Workshop Facilitator: Rev. Melvin E. Wilson, Pastor/Teacher pastorwilson@stmatthewame.org Cell (914) 562-6331

I. Why These Monthly Leadership & Membership Training Sessions? A. We need them. The more you know, the more you realize how much you don t know. B. Part of the reset and restart process. C. Equipping the saints. D. Will deal with a different issue each session. 1. Part 2 of this Session will be next Saturday at 10 am. II. III. Why This Particular Session A. We need to revise the Class System of St. Matthew. B. Begin to address several aspects of the ministry and work of the Class Leader and the class member in the A.M.E. Church C. I am aware that: You may or may not know anything about the A.M.E. Class system. You may or may not know who your Class Leader is. You may not have a Class Leader. This is not the first training session on Class Leaders held at St. Matthew. Congregational Survey (Rev. Dr. Allan Parrot, 7 th Episcopal District) Each congregant is asked to respond to each of the following statements for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the Class Leader Ministry. Please circle your answer. 1. The Class Leader is important in my personal spiritual development. 2. The Class Leader is important to the overall growth of the church. 3. The Class Leader needs to be more responsive to class members needs. 4. The Class Leader should bring the class members together more often. Page 1 of 11

5. The class meets too often. 6. The Class Leader should have more one-on-one contact with the Class members. 7. The Class Leader is cordial, thoughtful and easy to talk to. 8. The Class Leader is a collector of dues. 9. Class Leaders are no longer needed in the life and ministry of the Church. 10. Class Leader was helpful during a crisis in my life. IV. The Current Class Leaders of St. Matthew Class # 1 Bro. Durwin Coppock Class # 2 Sis. Karen Taylor Class #3 - Sis. Jaqueline Shanks-Herran Class #4 Sis. Tency Eason Class #5 Sis. Karen Deas Class #6 Sis. Veronica Morton Class #7 Sis. Sherrill Austin Class #8 Bro. Terry Spicer Class #9 Bro. Randy Montgomery Class #10 Sis. Mattie Crowley Class #11 Sis. Teresa Corum Class #12 Bro. Robert Jackson Class #13 Sis. Kathleen Turpin Merritt Page 2 of 11

Class #14 Class #15 Class #16 Sis. Versie McNeil Class #17 Sis. Tracey McGill Class #18 Bro. Joseph Adams Class #19 Sis. Christine Roz Samuels Class #20 Sis. Michele Moore Class #21 Sis. Shirley Grundy Class #22 Sis. Shelley Harris Class #23 Bro. Charles Bracy Class #24 Sis. Brenda Clarke Class #25 Sis. Terrie Stanley Roberts Class #26 Sis. Betty Mantion Class #27 Sis. Jennifer Peaks Class #28 Sis. Laury Tilus Class #29 Class #30 Sis. Leslie Allen Class #31 Sis. Veronica Devaux Class #32 Class #33 Class #34 Sis. Robyn Sorbino Class #35 Class #36 Bro. Shannon Stukes Youth Class Leaders/Classes IV. Understanding Some of the History of the Class System A. 2016 Doctrine & Discipline of the A.M.E. Church, Pages 90-91 John Wesley, United Society, 1739 United Society led to the Class Meeting. The Leader selected from the Class. The Class Ticket Band Societies & Rules B. From Turner s Polity (Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, 1885) CHAPTER XXII - CLASS LEADERS SECTION I. 632 Q. What are class-leaders in the African Methodist Episcopal Church? A. They are sub-pastors, and as such are appointed by the preacher in charge. The minister is bound to take heed of all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer, and to enable him to discharge this duty the more effectively, the leader is a proxy-pastor. Page 3 of 11

633 Q. What did Bishop Hedding say about class-leaders? A. He said: "If the leaders cannot, or will not, do their duty, let them be changed for others who will be more faithful; and then, if it be necessary, appoint other agents to assist the leaders (assistant leaders), so as to be sure and have a report from all the members. Sometimes, when females are to be searched out, visited, comforted, exhorted or reproved, it may be very proper and useful to appoint judicious and pious persons of their sex to perform that service (we have stewardesses), and thus the sisters may follow the example of those in the apostolic church, who labored with St. Paul in the gospel." 634 Q. What should be the qualifications of class-leaders? A. They should be of deep personal piety, mature experience, ability to give religious counsel and advice, wisely and affectionately, and to influence the members, young and old, to the systematic discharge of their Christian duties. They should be well versed in the Discipline of the church, daily readers of the Bible, sufficiently familiar with the Holy Scriptures to apply the Word of God to the varied cases of every person they may lead. They should read the lives of persons eminent for piety; commit to memory the sayings of holy men in all ages, the better to become acquainted with the different shades of experience and the Christian duties devolving upon the church. They should be good singers, and should have from twenty to forty hymns committed to memory; should be men who observe family prayer at their homes, and see that their children attend both Sabbath-school and public preaching, and they themselves, regularly. They should be men who attend the house of God forenoon on the Sabbath, and worship when all nature lends a helping hand, and not wait till Sabbath night to bestir themselves, when the owls, bats, coons, frogs and other animals, which are afraid of light, creep forth from their dark retreats. They should also be polite, mild in expression, accustomed to speaking to the members, not gossippers, news-carriers, haughty, light, triflers and given to too much joking, but on all occasions should be grave and venerable. 635 Q. What are the qualifications of an assistant leader? A. The Discipline does not provide for and recognize the office of an assistant leader, yet they have existed in the Methodist Churches since 1771, possibly earlier, but history does not confirm it. Assistant leaders are generally appointed by the leaders themselves, and not by the pastor. Some pastors, however, claim the right to confirm them, and other pastors claim the right to appoint them. Where the pastors appoint the assistant leaders, they are generally allowed to represent the leader in charge, in his absence, at the Official Board. They should have the same qualifications of a regular leader. This would be an excellent method, if generally adopted, to utilize young men and train them for effective leaders in the future. 636 Q. Who instituted the class-leadership? A. Mr. Wesley, at the very birth of Methodism. Each society (congregation) was divided into small companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode, and one of them was appointed the leader. 637 Q. What is meant by their respective places of abode? A. In the primitive days of Methodism, class-meetings were rarely held at the place where they met to have preaching. The members in different neighborhoods met and held class-meetings in each other's parlors or sitting-rooms often, till they went the circuit of their dwellings. Thus the meaning of their respective places of abode. 638 Q. How many members are allowed to a leader? A. Primitive Methodists only allowed twelve, including the leader, to a class, and the General Rules really provide only for that number yet. But all branches of Methodism have departed from that old custom, so that our classes now number from ten to fifty, and sometimes more. But no leader can do justice to over fifteen or twenty members without an indefinite number of assistant leaders. 639 Q. What is the duty of class-leaders? A. The General rules, which is the fundamental law of Methodism, in speaking of the leader, says: "It is his duty, 1. To see each person in his class once a week at least, in order, first, to inquire how their souls prosper; second, to advise, Page 4 of 11

reprove, comfort or exhort, as occasion may require; third, to receive what they are willing to give towards the relief of the preachers, church and poor. 2. To meet the ministers and stewards of the society once a week, in order, first, to inform the minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly and will not be reproved; second to pay the stewards what they have received from their several classes in the week preceding. 640 Q. What should a leader infer when he meets his class and finds a member absent? A. That the member is sick, or dead, or has been unexpectedly summoned away from home, or that there is indisposition in the family, for every good Methodist will endeavor to be at class. 641 Q. What should the class-leader do then? A. Inquire after the cause of the absence, in person, or through his first or second assistant leaders, if he has any. Yet, a class-leader should not be presumed to be a regular church constable, running day and night after church criminals. 642 Q. What should a class-leader do with a member who constantly neglects class and will not amend his ways? A. Before reporting him to the pastor, the leader, with a number of members, should visit the house of the said delinquent--sing, pray, and lead him a few times at his own residence, and if this with the other means that the Discipline provides, does not reform him let the leader report him to the minister, as the law requires, and the law will naturally take its course; but the pastor should visit the delinquent, also, as well as the leader before he applies the law; no pastor can expel members for neglecting class, until he has visited them and urged reformation. SECTION II. 643 Q. What if a class-leader allows an expelled member to enjoy the privilege of class-meeting, or furnish such with a ticket for love-feast? A. He shall instantly be removed by the preacher in charge, says the law; yet, when a leader is endeavoring to recover a lost member, he is invariably allowed to exercise his judgment in permitting an expelled member to visit his class. There is not so much secrecy attached to class-meetings as formerly, and inasmuch as a leader has the right to exhort, he should be allowed to use his gifts and privileges to the best advantage. 644 Q. How may the leaders of classes be rendered more useful? A. Let them be diligently examined concerning their method of conducting class. Let this be done with all possible exactness, at least once a quarter, taking sufficient time, and allowing the class-leader to give full illustrations. 645 Q. Who shall examine the class-leaders concerning their gifts and usefulness? A. The pastor in charge should do it in the Official Board at his pleasure. But the Presiding Elder should always make it a part of his Quarterly Conference duties, though he may only have time to examine two or three. 646 Q. What particular feature of a class-leader's duty should be the most carefully examined into? A. The ability of the leader to advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as the occasion may require. 647 Q. Why is this so necessary in a class-leader? A. Because upon this qualification, more than any other, is suspended his power for good or evil with his class. If the leader is ignorant, indolent and does not read and keep himself posted in the Scriptures and all religious matters, he will become common, insipid, and a drone to his members, and fall into the use of the same set of words till his members become as familiar with them as with the fingers upon their hands, which ends his usefulness at once. 648 Q. What then is necessary to his effectiveness? A. After hearing his members relate their varied experiences, he should, as the General Rules require, suit his remarks to their several conditions, and advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, just as the stated conditions of the Page 5 of 11

members require or demand. The leader who studies, prays and prepares himself so to address his members will be always effective, successful, and an instrument for good in the hands of God. 649 Q. What portion of the Discipline, of all others, should a class-leader be most familiar with? A. The General Rules, because these rules embody the very heart, constitution and fundamentalities of practical Christianity, as understood and required to be lived by every branch of Methodism, and formed the landmarks and catalogue of religious duties for over forty years before the twenty-five ARTICLES OF RELIGION were drawn up and adopted by Mr. Wesley and his associates. 650 Q. Then it would appear that class-leaders should make the study of the General Rules a specialty? A. Yes. Next to the Word of God, Methodist ministers and class leaders should familiarize themselves with the General Rules. They furnish material for the pulpit, for the class-room, for the mourner, for the backslider, for the sinner, as well as for the Christian. No one observing the provisions of these rules will ever lose membership in the church, the respect and confidence of civil society, nor a place at the right hand of God when done with earth. 651 Q. What is meant by the trial leader, or the probationer's leader? A. The Discipline provides that all persons uniting with our church on probation shall be placed upon a separate class or classes. This makes it compulsory upon the pastor to appoint them a special leader and, from the organization of Methodism to the present such a leader has been known as the trial leader, or the probationer's leader. 652 Q. Why was it adjudged necessary to place the probationers upon a class to themselves? A. Because the General Rules which were drawn up by the two great Wesleys--John and Charles--and adopted in 1743 for the use of the Methodist societies, provides that persons having the form and seeking the power of godliness could join the church on six months' probation--that is, before they experience justification by faith, or, as we commonly say, are converted; therefore, it was thought that the kind of training needed by these unconverted, but penitent seekers, was different from that which would be profitable to regular Christians; hence, men of age, great experience, adapted to training the young, were appointed over these classes and known as the trial leaders. 653 Q. Is this rule still enforced in the African Methodist Episcopal Church? A. Certainly, and in every other Methodist Church that has the General Rules in its Book of Discipline, and holds them sacred, as every Methodist is in duty bound to do. Trial leaders, however, should be men of such age and godly lives as will always be examples of such Christian piety and fatherly bearing that the probationer may never suffer harm through the effects of their conduct or influence. 654 Q. How do the English class-leaders often stir up their delinquent members who neglect class meetings? A. Send them the following cards--often printed: Mr. James Farnell, your class leader, sends his kind regards, and will be happy to see you at class next Tuesday, at seven and a half o'clock in the evening. He is sure you will be greatly benefited, and his heart will be greatly relieved by your presence. V. The EASY Part Learning The Duties & Responsibilities of Class Leaders Per The Doctrine & Discipline of the A.M.E. Church A. Class Leaders (pgs. 90-91) 1. One of the persons assigned to each class is the class leader. 2. Class Leaders must be appointed annually by the minister. They shall serve for one year and may be appointed as long as their conduct is satisfactory. They shall be examined quarterly by the minister and the presiding elder. Page 6 of 11

B. Duties: 1. To meet the members in class once a week, to inquire how each soul prospers, to visit their members from time to time, and to receive what they are willing to contribute for the support of the Gospel (Class dues). 2. To read the rules of Band Societies to those who meet with the class for the first time. (pgs. 51-53) 3. To visit other classes frequently 4. To converse with their pastors frequently and freely 5. To admit non-members to their class meeting no more than 3 times, with none of them to be consecutive 6. To exclude, suspend and expel members from the class meeting 7. To watch over probationers with special care and recommend those who are eligible at the end of 90 days for full membership, upon their profession of saving faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ 8. To report to the Official Board: a) those who are sick, b) those who walk disorderly and will not be reproved, c) the amount of money collected for the support of the Gospel, paying the same to the stewards 9. To serve as leaders for children s classes. Such leaders shall perform the duties as outlined above and, in addition, give instruction in The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. C. The Class 1. My opinion: For a Class Leader to have maximum effectiveness, the Class should have NO MORE THAN 12 15 PEOPLE! Page 7 of 11

2. A means of discipleship VI. The NOT SO EASY Part Dealing With All The STUFF That Comes With Being a Class Leader & Implementing Your Duties & Responsibilities A. What the Appointed Class Leader Must Consider 1. Are you spiritually prepared to be a Class Leader? a. YOUR personal devotion, prayer time, bible study 2. Your Willingness to Provide/Follow Leadership a. How are your people skills? b. Do you have the desire, time, spirit? c. How do you see what you do? Do you see this work as a viable ministry of the church? Shepherd/sheep Not Assistant Pastor; the Class is not a church within the church 3. An Awareness of the Attitude of Local Church Leadership regarding Membership and Discipleship 4. Do you realize what you are doing? (Caring for the Leadership and the Congregation) B. The Challenges of Congregational Culture 1. The way we do things here 2. Dealing with the power brokers (persons, families, organizations) C. Keeping the Class & The Class Meeting Focused 1. How Is Your Life In God? 2. NOT an opportunity to handle other church-related business, or share other church-related information 3. Not a teacher, but more a facilitator VII. The Top Ten Ways to Guarantee That Your Class Meeting Will Fail (Kevin Watson) 1. Never organize one 2. Meet at an inconvenient or irregular time a. Meet for more than 90 minutes 3. Turn the class meeting into a curriculum driven group 4. Forget the differences between classes and bands. a. Classes mixed b. Bands homogenous 5. Select the leader based on anything other than spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership. 6. Allow one person to dominate the conversation 7. Have all the answers 8. Hide during the meeting 9. View the group as a place to gather gossip Page 8 of 11

10. Be unwilling to be challenged to grow in your faith and be transformed by the grace of God VIII. Let Technology HELP You (But Not REPLACE You) A. Conference Call Meetings B. Web Chats, Webinars C. Text Messaging IX. The Impact of Home Cell Groups A. Dr. David Yonggi Cho is the pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Central Church in Seoul, Korea. The church has grown to become the largest worshiping body in the world with a congregation that numbers over 1,000,000 members, who are involved in more than 25,000 home cell groups. Dr. Cho is the author of several other books including, Unleashing the Power of Faith and A Leap of Faith. He studied theology under a scholarship at Full Gospel Bible College in Seoul, graduating in March, 1958. He has spent more than 44 years emphasizing the importance of cell group ministry. He founded Church Growth International, in 1976, to teach pastors the principles of evangelism and church growth. X. Recommended Book: The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten and Essential Small Group Experience by Kevin M. Watson XI. Q & A XII. Please come back for Part 2 Next Saturday at 10 am NOTES Page 9 of 11

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