Ron Hardman Delivers Laity Address

Ron Hardman, conference lay leader, addressed the conference Monday afternoon with the annual laity address.

He said district superintendents and district lay leaders are waiting for the names of emerging leaders in local congregations.

He also mentioned the Common Table Task Force. He commends the report that will be given tomorrow during conference. "I believe you will find a renewed strategy for encouraging the mission and ministry in your local church -- the place where the rubber hits the road. Be in prayer about this important proposal."

When the Board of Laity looked at the conference vision statement, the word "transformed" leaped off the pages. The board has said it wants to clarify expectations of lay leadership in all levels of the church. "What is expected of me if I say yes to the invitation to take on a leadership role?" Those guidelines may be found in this year's Book of Reports in the Board of Laity report, p. 30.

"We want a group of Christians who  have a passion for making disciples," Hardman said. The guidelines are presented as goals.

"If you partner with one another, when we gather next year, there will be stories to tell about individuals and churches who have been transformed in the process," he continued. "The church should be a training ground for growing spiritual giants."

"Christ is calling each of us to be fishers of people." Hardman talked about several lay people across the conference who have responded to help others in need."