Special order of service for laymen established May 5, 2004 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.  | A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. The Rev. R. Randy Day, top staff executive of the General Board of Global Ministries, addresses 2004 General Conference . |
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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