REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAY MINISTRY CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Being Essential Within An Essential Church MR. CLIFFORD L. HARRIS, General Secretary BISHOP TERESA SNORTON, Chair Mrs. Barbara C. Campbell, Connectional Lay Council President Ms. Diana Winton, Connectional Usher President Mrs. Jolinda Dugger, Connectional Stewardess President Mr. Charles Taylor, Connectional Steward President 4 THE GENERAL CONNECTIONAL BOARD MEETING - MAY 3-5, 2011 Memphis Hotel and Conference Center Memphis, Tennessee Phone - Voice 918.519.4233 or 918.304.1999 www.c-m-e.org/core/layministry.htm clifford.harris@thecmechurch.com
Introduction Madam Chair, Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., other members of the College of Bishops, members of the Judiciary Council, College Presidents, General and Connectional Officers, Delegates, and the loyal laity, Pastors, and Presiding Elders of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, - I greet you in the magnificent and majestic name of Jesus the Christ. I am humbled, yet honored and pleased to stand and make this my first report of stewardship and service to the church. I am appreciative to both lay and clergy members of our Zion who have encouraged the department s efforts and provided opportunities for growth and service. I am, further, thankful to our Chair, Bishop Teresa Snorton, for her unwavering support and my General Officer Colleagues for their individual and collective assistance. Consistent Communication Every four to eight weeks we have provided updates concerning the work that is being done, as well as provided writings for teaching and training. We have been and will continue to be committed to consistent communication to the laity and clergy through email blast and other personal means. Transition of Leadership After the close of the General Conference I had transitional conversations and meetings with Dr. Victor Taylor to gain added insight relative to executing the duties of the Office of General Secretary of Lay Ministry. I am grateful for the unselfish manner in which the past General Secretary shared pertinent information, expectations, and responsibilities. To that end, transfer of all remaining supplies and inventory will soon be complete. One matter that has not been resolved is the deposition of the equipment purchased by the Department of Lay Ministry for use by CMETV. While it was discussed during the last night of the 2010 General Conference, the question of a permanent solution is yet to be determined. We feel that, moving forward, the matter needs to be resolved so that the church is clear about what is or will be taking place. Over the past nine (9) months, I have developed a much better feel and understanding of the present and past realities that define this matter. I will, therefore, in the Recommendation section of this report, share with the 1
Standing Committee on Lay Ministry and the General Connectional Board, my recommendations concerning the equipment in question. Connectional Ministries The duties and responsibilities of each Connectional Ministry President and those of the Episcopal District Vice Presidents have been posted on the Lay Ministry Web Site. We are appreciative of the commitment that each Connectional President has made to the life and witness of Lay Ministry and the particular Ministry in which they serve. Ms. Diana Winton, Connectional Usher President, is to be applauded for the hard work and time spent in writing the CME Usher Manual. Over 750 copies have been sold since the manual was made available during the July 2010 General Conference. There continues to be request for the Stewardess Manual, written by the first Connectional Stewardess President, Mrs. Maxine McClury; future printings with revisions provided by the current Stewardess President, Mrs. Jolinda Dugger are forthcoming. There continues to be interest and request for a steward manual, and it has become one of our goals to have a manual available for approval prior to the 2012 General Connectional Board Meeting. We will continue to support and encourage the development of the Connectional Ministries (Connectional Lay Council, Ushers, Stewardesses, Stewards) that are a part of the General Department of Lay Ministry. It is our intent to work with each of these ministries in a manner that will cause greater growth, knowledge, and confidence within our local churches. Scholarship During 2010-2011, over $4,446.00 in contributions to the W. L. Graham/Roscoe C. Webb Scholarship Fund, were received. Contributors included local congregations, district and regional lay councils, as well as individuals from across the CME Connection. I am very grateful to the lay leaders at every level who lead their local churches, districts, and regions in this effort. To show our appreciation for the contributions made to the fund, - certificates of recognition were prepared and mailed to contributors. The custodian for the assets of the Graham- Webb Scholarship (as well as all other monies received by this department) is the Department of Finance. Even in a declining market and low returns in recent years, the balance of the Graham-Webb Scholarship Fund remains above $69,000.00. We have, thus, decided to award scholarships for the 2011-2012 2
academic year. The guidelines and application are now available on the Lay Ministry Web Site at www.c-m-e.org/core/layministry.htm. In addition to the Graham/Webb Scholarship Fund, the Department of Lay Ministry is proud to propose the creation of the I Carlton Faulk/W. E. Lockett Memorial Scholarship, which will be dedicated to the continent of Africa. Because both of these legendary men of God showed an unending love and concern for our brothers and sisters of Africa, it is our intent, beginning in the year 2012, to provide a scholarship in the amount of $300 to a student (male or female) from both the 10 th and 11 th Episcopal Districts. The current Graham/Webb Scholarship Committee and the General Secretary will develop specific guidelines/criteria for this new scholarship opportunity. The past and sitting Bishops for the 10 th and 11 th Episcopal Districts will be asked to serve as advisors/consultants. The Foreign Work At the writing of this report, I am pleased to share that I have had the opportunity to travel with the Mission Team, led by Bishop Teresa Snorton, to six countries within the Eleventh Episcopal District of Africa. Taking part in the Annual Conferences held in Zambia, DR Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania, plus a training session for the Eleventh Episcopal District Mission Supervisors, held in Kenya, served as an invaluable experience and opportunity. Our goal of getting a first hand look, feel, and understanding of the continent and to get a more realistic focus for the work of Lay Ministry in each Region, was accomplished. We look to form a collaborative relationship with other departments as well as individual laity and clergy to further our efforts. By the time this report is presented we will have accompanied Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III and members of the First Episcopal District to St. Elizabeth Parrish, Jamaica, to share in the work and service of the Jamaica Annual Conference. Current and Future Initiatives Revision and updating of the current Lay Manual. Prepare a supplement to the Lay Manual for the work in Africa and provide training for Lay Leaders and others. Intentional Leadership Summit Meeting with Connectional Presidents. 3
Formal and informal leadership summit meetings with lay leaders throughout the CME connection. Reduce current and future selected Programs of Study and Helping Hands Bulletins to CD and DVD format to enhance the teaching and training opportunities for the laos. Continue writing Programs of Study and Helping Hands Bulletins. Place the Reporting forms for lay leaders on the Lay Ministry Web Site. Encourage, as well as provide, teaching and training workshops throughout the CME Connection. Explore and seek to secure additional streams of revenue for the Department of Lay Ministry in order to further teaching and training opportunities. Continue sincere dialogue and gathering of information to formulate collaborative strategies and best practices to help develop and improve the financial and fiscal well being of our local churches. Continue to engage our Young Adults and Youth in meaningful and positive dialogue relative to growing, sustaining, and retaining leaders. Recommendation In so much as the equipment that was purchased for use by CME TV, primarily for use in recording and documenting various CME events, and that a portion of the revenues gained from the sale of CD s and DVD s, etc, was regularly tendered back to the General Church, - I recommend that ownership and responsibility of all equipment that is being used by CME TV, be transferred from the Department of Lay Ministry to CME TV and the Department of Finance of the CME Church. Upon transfer, the cost of storage/rental space to house the equipment shall officially become the responsibility of CME TV and the Department of Finance of the CME Church. Note: Ownership and responsibility of equipment to be 4
transferred does not include the server and two (2) cooling fans that are housed in the Department of Lay Ministry Office at 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN. It is, further, recommended that (a) because of the age and depreciation of some of the equipment in question and (b) because on occasion updated equipment may need to be rented (or purchased), that this proposed action will be a simple conveyance without consideration of compensation to the Department of Lay Ministry. Such conveyance, however, would stipulate that all equipment would remain the property of the CME Church to be operated by CME TV for the benefit of the CME Church. In addition, it is stipulated that revenues and expenses will go directly through the Department of Finance and that a monthly report of any and all funds received by CME TV be provided to the CME Church. In conclusion, it is recommended that details of monthly reporting and oversight be placed in the hands of the General Secretary of Finance and the College of Bishops. 5