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BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Marvin Wamble, a conference lay member from Ft. Washington UMC, stood at a mic in the aisle in the Pavilion of Pier 6 in Baltimore during the Laity Session at annual conference. He was there to illustrate how to be heard from the floor of annual conference. He gave his name, his church, then addressing the (imaginary) bishop, asked, 'What happens when you get lost on the Discipleship Adventure?'

He spoke to new members to annual conference and the exercise was to train them for the plenary sessions ahead.

To much amusement, Anthony Brzeczko, conference associate lay leader from the Baltimore North District, who was conducting the session, replied, 'When the bishop comes we?ll ask him for the answer.'

As Alverta Gwynn from Sharp Street UMC in Chase and Janice Mason from Epworth Chapel UMC, led praise singing, the rest of the laity joined the newcomers for their annual session.

Delores Oden, the conference lay leader, introduced the morning speaker, the Rev. Helen Fleming, assistant to the bishop for leadership development.

'You (lay leaders) hold the most important key to the Discipleship Adventure,' Fleming said, a point she emphasized several times. 'God has chosen you, and the body of Christ (the church) is not complete unless you fulfill your call.'

Looking over the audience, Fleming reminded the members ('you?re members, not delegates') that '?retirement? is not a word in the Bible.'

She said that growth in worship will happen if 'we grow to maturity,' meaning, taking responsibility,

praying and being accountable. She emphasized the importance of respecting the pastor (not gossiping, complaining or bad-mouthing him or her).

'If you?re of one accord,' she said, 'there?s nothing the Lord won?t do for your churches.'

As an illustration she told the story of Douglas Memorial UMC, the church she serves part-time, which has grown from 29 dispirited members last fall, to 80 today. The 'survivors' of a church split were unified, of one mind, to make the church grow, she said.

'The Discipleship Adventure is not a program,' she said. 'It?s God calling you to turn the church around and back to Jesus.'

Fleming offered many resources from the conference for assisting the laity to be effective leaders in the church. 'We want to make sure everyone has what they need,' she said. Conference lay leaders will provide training in local churches to pull together laity in Bible studies, which will focus on identifying and using spiritual gifts. In January a lay training academy will start.

'You (laity) are so special to the building of the Kingdom of God,' she said. 'Run the race ?. Just do it, do what God tells you to do.'