wfn.org | Special order of service for laymen established

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

May 5, 2004 GC04-075

By Dana Jones*

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church has established an office of
service for laymen that parallels the historic office of deaconess for
laywomen.

Established May 3, the new office is called "home missioner." The action
greatly strengthens professional ministry opportunities for laymen, says the
Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive, United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries. 

Like deaconesses, home missioners will devote their lives to alleviating
suffering, eradicating causes of injustice and working to help others develop
their full potential. They will serve in local churches and through
community-service organizations and agencies beyond the church.

Home missioner candidates will be approved by the Board of Global Ministries,
commissioned by a bishop and retain an ongoing relationship with the board.
Full-time service will be the norm, with appointments fixed by bishops.

Creation of home missioners provides laymen with an opportunity for lifetime
commissioned ministry for the first time since 1996. In that year, the
denomination eliminated the category of lay diaconal ministers and
established ordained deacons as a route to service ministries for women and
men. The home missioner is the denomination's first program solely for
laymen.

General Conference delegates reconfirmed an earlier decision to grant annual
conference membership, with voice and vote, to deaconesses and will extend
the same privilege to home missioners.

Details are available by contacting Becky Dodson at the Board of Global
Ministries at (212) 870-3850 or deaconess@gbgm-umc.org.

# # #

*Jones is editor of Response Magazine.

News media contact: (412) 325-6080 during General Conference, April 27-May 7.
After May 10: (615) 742-5470. 

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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