Laity Development

Leadership is an extension of discipleship. It calls for Christians who are committed to increasing their leadership skills and deepening their spiritual practices. In the simplest terms this progression might be understood in five stages that operate more like a cycle than a linear process.

1. Call. All discipleship starts with a general call to turn away from sin and death and turn toward God and the abundant life offered to us through Jesus. All leadership starts with hearing how and where God is calling you to in this season. 
2. Covenant. The promises made between God and God's people set the bar for the covenants that we make with God and with one another. From the covenant of our baptism to the Wesleyan covenant prayer to the vows we make when we become members, to covenant discipleship groups we are reminded of who we are and whose we are.
3. Commitment. Without commitment, we drift from both our call and covenants. Commitment takes the form of saying "yes" to active servant leadership (in the church and in the world), to deepening our spiritual disciplines and to engaging in necessary training to grow in our ability to lead.
4. Consecration. While some may only think of this in terms of ordination, at its core, consecration is simply the giving of oneself to God; a living sacrifice for the glory of God. This is often done corporately.
5. Certification. Some laity embark on one of the following certifications as a way of expressing or formalizing their call, covenant, commitment and consecration: Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Speaker, and/or Certified Lay Minister. Click here to learn more.