{"id":2712,"date":"2014-07-23T17:01:05","date_gmt":"2014-07-23T21:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=2712"},"modified":"2015-08-08T14:11:09","modified_gmt":"2015-08-08T18:11:09","slug":"2014-lay-leadership-academy-to-be-held-sept-12-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=2712","title":{"rendered":"2014 Lay Leadership Academy to be Held Sept. 12-13"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s a “Vital Congregation?”\u00a0 Other than being a “buzzword” that’s in the forefront of discussions around the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, it is a commitment to doing what the church is supposed to be doing:\u00a0 Making Disciples for Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

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Vital Congregations…<\/span><\/h3>\n

The United Methodist Church is seaking to empower local church congregations to become a “vital” part of their communities so that they are better equipped to “Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”\u00a0 Check out the UMC Website for more information on Vital Congregations<\/span><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Also, check out this recent article<\/a><\/span>.\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Vital Congregations have the following characteristics:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Inviting and Inspiring worship.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Engaged disciples in mission and outreach.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Gifted, empowered, and equipped Lay leadership.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Effective, equipped, and inspired Clergy leadership.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Small Group Ministries<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Strong Children’s and Youth ministries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div><\/div>\n

    2014 Laity Leadership Academy…<\/span><\/h3>\n

    “Empowered and Equipped” lay leadership is critical if the church is going to fulfill its mission.\u00a0 Clergy can’t do it alone; effective ministry comes when there’s a partnership between clergy and laity.\u00a0 But to be “Equipped,” laity need some training.<\/p>\n

    A Laity Leadership Academy was held in in Ocean Grove last September and it was a huge success, attendance-wise (and in may other ways too!).\u00a0 This year’s academy is designed to accommodate more people.<\/p>\n

    \"Rosa<\/a>

    Rosa Williams. Lay Leader of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. At PUMC during the 2014 District Day of Learning.<\/p><\/div>\n

    The Laity Leadership Academy is organized by the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, and it’s open to laity throughout the conference.\u00a0 In addition to the training, the academy gives the opportunity to “network” and share “best practices” with United Methodists from across the state.\u00a0 The academy is led by Conference Lay Leader Rosa Williams, and the sessions will be taught by experts on each topic.<\/p>\n

    Here are some details…<\/p>\n