Committee on Lay Leadership: Overview

Introduction

The charge conference elects members for the committee on nominations and leadership development (formerly the nominating committee or committee on lay leadership). This committee or team serves throughout the year to guide the church council or alternative structure on matters regarding the leadership of the congregation (other than employed staff). Members of this committee must be sensitive to the leadership needs of the congregation and know the capabilities, gifts, skills and experience of the persons in the congregation.

This committee's work will affect your life in the church, as well as the lives of others. The influence of the persons you recruit for the various tasks in your church will go beyond the bounds of your congregation. These leaders will be representatives of the body of Christ in the surrounding community.

—From Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: Nominations and Leadership Development, 2009-2012 (Cokesbury, 2008), p. 6

Primary Tasks and Responsibilities of the Committee

The major responsibilities of this committee are to:

get to know members of the congregation and identify (and help them to discern) their skills, gifts, knowledge, and level of commitment
identify leadership and service opportunities in your congregation
prepare job descriptions for leadership positions
match potential leaders with leadership positions and invite persons to serve in those positions, making sure that these persons represent the makeup of your congregation
present recommendations to the charge conference
equip leaders through training and support

—Adapted from Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: Nominations and Leadership Development, 2009-2012 (Cokesbury, 2008), pp. 6, 10; and Local Church Officer Job Descriptions: Nominations and Leader Development

Organization and Relationships

There should not be more than nine members on the committee on nominations and leadership development in addition to the pastor and the lay leader. All members must be professing members of the local church. One or more members may be a youth, and at least one member should be a young adult. Remember that you are encourage to have a diverse and inclusive group, including race, culture, economic status, gender, and age (¶ 258.1.e)

The pastor chairs the committee, and a lay person elected by the charge conference serves as vice chair. The membership is divided into three classes, each elected for a three-year term. This ensures a more stable committee because not everyone is new at the same time. A rotation is suggested in ¶ 258.1.d of the Discipline.

The committee is responsible to the church council and to the charge conference. In a charge of more than one church, a charge-wide committee may be elected if desired.

—From Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: Nominations and Leadership Development, 2009-2012, p. 17. Copyright © 2008 Cokesbury. Used by permission.

Read more from the Book of Discipline

The material above gives only a basic description the purpose and responsibilities of the committee on nominations and leadership development. The booklet, Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2009-2012: Nominations and Leader Development, will provide practical and concrete suggestions and resources for helping you carry out these important ministry responsibilities. For example, you will find a planning overview that will help guide the work of the committee throughout the year. You will also find helpful information about how to become better acquainted with the members of your congregation, and how to identify and record their skills, gifts and interests. Becoming familiar with your members will help the committee identify and match persons with opportunities for service in leadership positions. Once persons have been identified for positions, you will find guidance for how to invite them to serve. Finally, this Guideline will provide practical suggestions and resources for nurturing and empowering leaders in your congregation.