THE HISTORY OF THE LAY ORGANIZATION
The Lay Organization is one of the youngest auxiliaries of the church, compared to the total year’s existence of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The record shows that laymen held places alongside the clergy during the formative years of the church.
However, at the Baltimore Annual Conference of 1826, a resolution was passed that made a change in the relationship of the laymen to the Annual Conference. It was voted that “exhorters and stewards in full connection could be members of the Annual Conference with a seat, but that they could have neither voice or vote.”
Lay Organization Stages of Growth and Development:
1. Formative Years - 1912-1916 2. Second Stage - 1916-1946
3. Third Stage - 1946-present
Brief Summary of Each Stage
Formative Years
The organized lay movement started at the General Conference in Kansas City, Missouri in 1912. Professor Charles H. Johnson, of Wilberforce, Ohio was the first president. It was known as the “Laymen’s Missionary Movement.” No written records are available to tell us more about its workings. Professor Johnson did travel extensively and wrote the pamphlet, “Men at Work and Laymen’s Missionary Movement.”
Second Stage
Professor Carl V. Roman organized the “Connectional Lay College” at the General Conference of 1916. He was not satisfied with the progress of the LMM. He taught at Fisk University and was the first president. The CLC met only once every four years at the seat of the General Conference. Only delegates to the General Conference were members. Its weakness was its ever changing membership, lack of funds and inability to mobilize the laity at the local level.
Third Stage
The delegates to the CLC meeting in Little Rock Arkansas in 1946, abolished the old CLC and organized the Connectional Lay Organization as we know it today – from the Episcopal District level down through the Conferences to the local church unit.
This action was ratified at the General Conference of 1948 giving laymen the right to organize in the local church and make the lay organization a part of the organic law of African Methodism. The CLC met quadrennially at the site of the General Conference.
Some Significant Accomplishments Along the Way
What has made the movement successful?
The Lay movement has come a long way, but there is still much to be done.
MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGE
That all we say and do in the name of the Lay Organization must further the purpose and objectives of the organization and must “connect” to the mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Lay Organization is one of the youngest auxiliaries of the church, compared to the total year’s existence of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The record shows that laymen held places alongside the clergy during the formative years of the church.
However, at the Baltimore Annual Conference of 1826, a resolution was passed that made a change in the relationship of the laymen to the Annual Conference. It was voted that “exhorters and stewards in full connection could be members of the Annual Conference with a seat, but that they could have neither voice or vote.”
Lay Organization Stages of Growth and Development:
1. Formative Years - 1912-1916 2. Second Stage - 1916-1946
3. Third Stage - 1946-present
Brief Summary of Each Stage
Formative Years
The organized lay movement started at the General Conference in Kansas City, Missouri in 1912. Professor Charles H. Johnson, of Wilberforce, Ohio was the first president. It was known as the “Laymen’s Missionary Movement.” No written records are available to tell us more about its workings. Professor Johnson did travel extensively and wrote the pamphlet, “Men at Work and Laymen’s Missionary Movement.”
Second Stage
Professor Carl V. Roman organized the “Connectional Lay College” at the General Conference of 1916. He was not satisfied with the progress of the LMM. He taught at Fisk University and was the first president. The CLC met only once every four years at the seat of the General Conference. Only delegates to the General Conference were members. Its weakness was its ever changing membership, lack of funds and inability to mobilize the laity at the local level.
Third Stage
The delegates to the CLC meeting in Little Rock Arkansas in 1946, abolished the old CLC and organized the Connectional Lay Organization as we know it today – from the Episcopal District level down through the Conferences to the local church unit.
This action was ratified at the General Conference of 1948 giving laymen the right to organize in the local church and make the lay organization a part of the organic law of African Methodism. The CLC met quadrennially at the site of the General Conference.
Some Significant Accomplishments Along the Way
- 1928 – Legislation giving the lay equal representation at the General Conference.
- 1932 – Granted the right to serve on the Episcopal Committee
- 1936 – Election of Attorney Herbert L. Dudley, lay movement accelerated
- 1940 – General Conference, Detroit, Michigan, legislation guaranteeing equal representation at Annual Conference
- 1944 – General Conference legislation providing equal representation on all department committees
What has made the movement successful?
- Leadership that is respected in the church and community
- As a body, free and independent in thought and action
- Unmotivated by any desire except the general welfare of the church
- Dedicated to the ideals and programs of African Methodism
- Respect for the leadership of the church at all levels
The Lay movement has come a long way, but there is still much to be done.
MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGE
That all we say and do in the name of the Lay Organization must further the purpose and objectives of the organization and must “connect” to the mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.