LAY ACADEMY OF CHURCH EXCELLENCE

1. LAY ACADEMY OF CHURCH EXCELLENCE

2. MISSION The mission of the Lay Academy of Church Excellence (LACE) is to provide an integrated program to educate, energize, and empower lay people in each United Methodist local church to become faithful disciples and effective leaders who create vital congregations for the transformation of the world. LACE accomplishes this mission by assisting faithful disciples to identify, develop, and enhance their spiritual gifts leading them into leadership roles in diversified fields of ministry.

3. LACE • Designed by Board of Lay Ministry • (Revised in November 2009). • Combines Lay Speaking Ministries (LSM) & • Servant Leadership Program

4. CORE CURRICULUM • Complete Basic Course requirements for LSM • Introduction to history & theology of • Methodism • Learn leadership skills • Twenty-five (25) hours

5. LOCATION • Taught entirely within local district • District lay leader and lay speaking director • along with their District Superintendent • will work together to plan and implement • LACE in each district.

6. LOCATION • Location rotated around five different • host churches within the district or the district • can determine the best way to offer the • program for participants • Host churches provide lunch & classrooms • Host church must have Safe Sanctuary • Policy if providing child care

7. INSTRUCTORS • Local people in district • Elders, deacons and local pastors • District superintendent • Lay people • Conference staff • Outside resources with expertise • when needed

8. COSTS • Conference provides budget • Students will be asked to make love offering • to host church that provides lunch • All LACE materials posted on conference • website www.kyumc.org for flexibility and ease • of modification

9. COSTS • Resource books will be housed in each District office to be used for instruction • Participant books may be purchased by the district at their discretion if funds allow

10. BOOKS • Faithful Leadership: Learning to Lead with • Power • Lay Speaking Ministries-Basic Course • Christian Reflections on Leadership Challenge • Kouzes and Posner • Faith Sharing by H. Eddie Fox & George E. Morris

11. BOOKS-cont. • The United Methodist Member’s Handbook • by George E. Koehler • Other books and resources will be used • Books may be ordered from • www.discipleshipresources.org • Local church lay leader handbook available • www.kyumc.org\ add link when ready again

12. MODELS • Built-in flexibility allows districts to • present the lay speaking Basic Course in consecutive • sessions • introduce topics important in their particular district • schedule LACE to best meet district needs

13. CURRICULUM • The Curriculum in each Model would include • the following topics • Called by God & Called to Proclaim the Gospel • Spiritual Gifts/Exploring Your Spirituality with • Myers-Briggs by Malcolm Goldsmith • Called to Lead Worship/Worship Modalities

14. CURRICULUM—cont. • Introduction to Methodism including Our • Methodist Heritage, the Gospel of Grace, and • Baptism & Communion • Called to Teach • Kentucky Conference Resources • Evangelism-Called to Witness

15. CURRICULUM—cont. • Church Organization • Duties of Church Officers • Conducting Administrative Board Meetings

16. CURRICULUM—cont. • Called to Proclaim the Gospel through: • Leadership & Service • Growing in Personal Faith and Lifestyle • Preaching

17. CURRICULUM—cont. • Stewardship • Ministry Presentation/Leadership • Conflict Management in the Church • Wrap-up, DS comments, and Communion

18. REMEMBER God works through each of us to make our local churches vital congregations for the transformation of the world!