Board of Laity and Dicipleship

Our purpose as the Board of Laity and Discipleship: Equipping Congregations for the Journey of Discipleship.

Goals and Objectives

The Board of Laity and Discipleship recognizes that there are events which equip people to be in mission and ministry in the local church that must draw participants from many congregations to be practicable. "Ministry Event Grants" will provide financial backing for such events that meet the following criteria:

• Multi-congregational (group or cluster) in its planning and target participation.
  
• The activity is a short-term event with its purpose being to develop a method or approach in discipleship.
  
• Completion of an application that includes the purpose statement, list of lay and clergy event organizers, and a financial statement of expenditures and resources, including other grant applications.
  
• Agreement to complete programmatic and financial evaluation no more than 60 days after the beginning of the event.
  
• The "Ministry Event Grants" will be considered twice a year(application deadlines March 1 and Sept. 1) by the Board of Laity and Discipleship members. Funding may be granted up to 12 months prior to an event with funds being available for expenditure six months prior and 90 days following the event. A board member will be assigned as a liaison to each event.

In support of the importance of the Ministry of the Laity, funding will continue to be set aside each year for the expenses of the Conference Lay Leader and Associate Conference Lay Leader, Annual Conference Orientation, the Laity Convocation and the administrative costs of the Lay Speaking Ministries.

There are other on-going programs of the Board of Laity and Discipleship which are self-supporting such as the Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation Engaged and Marriage Encounter Weekends, Walk to Emmaus. On-going shepherding, advocacy and incidental funding for these programs will be continued by the Board.