Covid has presented lay preachers with many challenges; however, at Conference, meeting via Zoom on Monday night offered a welcome opportunity to gather virtually at a more convenient time than its usual slot around lunch on the Sunday of Conference. Connecting by Zoom enables us to meet more regularly than once a year, and we plan another gathering for early 2022.

This year, lay preachers from across the country - many who might never attend Conference - met each other, updated news, and shared ideas and experiences. We discovered lay preachers who had been active for nearly 60 years and others who had only just become accredited during the introductions. We heard about the training offered by the Pasifika Synods and discussed options for English-speaking lay preachers that include a certificate available online through Trinity College or parish-based Lead Worship. The cost of training was also raised as an issue and we discussed possible sources of funding.

We noted that the presentation of certificates to long-serving lay preachers becomes a challenge when records have not been kept up-to-date either through the annual Methodist returns or by belonging to the inter-denominational New Zealand Lay Preachers’ Association (NZLPA), which also maintains a database. Every Methodist lay preacher is warmly encouraged to send details of their date of accreditation and current parish to the Network.

Participants talked about the importance of Lay Preachers’ Sunday. For some, it gave the parish presbyter a Sunday off after August Synod, for others a welcome opportunity to lead worship, and for some, it was a time of recognition by the parish of the vital ministry offered by lay preachers.

More information, the latest Network newsletter and the current Update Form can be found on the Methodist website www.methodist.org.nz/board_of_ministry/lay_preachers