First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville

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Lay Ministry

Lay Ministers, 2006
Lay Ministers, from left to right:
Nikki Moore, Nancy Ransom, Jennifer Wilson, Lisa Pasto-Crosby, Rebecca Bell, Lynetta Alexander, Joanne Rich, and Jack Bliek (not pictured: Brad Bullock)

What is the Lay Ministry Program?

Lay ministers provide leadership directly and indirectly in the practice of being a compassionate community. By their very presence, lay ministers affirm the role of all members and friends in ministry and demonstrate the importance of deliberate attention to the needs of our members. They model the kind of compassion we hope all will share with each other.

Lay ministers are trained to be a caring, listening presence, but not to counsel, perform therapy or offer advice. Generally, lay ministers work with congregants dealing with major life transitions or those who are emotionally upset. Lay ministers may make references and recommend connections. Lay ministry may be in the form of visits to homes, hospitals or nursing homes, phone calls, or written notes.

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History

In the spring of 1999 FUUN Minister Mary Katherine Morn announced her intention to work with a small group of members on developing a lay ministry program. The program was publicized both in the newsletter and from the pulpit. Several members expressed interest in the program and Mary Katherine recruited a few others to participate.

In the fall and winter of 1999 ten members of the congregation met with Mary Katherine twice a month for six months to explore issues of spirituality, talk about the form a lay ministry program might make, and train in compassionate listening skills. That spring the lay ministers were affirmed during a Sunday morning worship service. Through the summer and fall of 2000 the lay ministers continued to meet monthly and the group developed a covenant statement. The lay ministers were also actively engaged in a ministry of presence with members of the congregation and continuing to sort out the structure of the program itself.

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Job Description

A lay minister is a volunteer who commits to providing a ministry of caring within our congregation. Lay ministers will:

  • Complete a program of training provided by the minister
  • Have an interview with the minister to determine appropriateness for lay ministry work.
  • Be recognized at a worship service once each year. (Commitment is for one year only, but can be renewed on a year-to-year basis).
  • Answer requests to visit or call on members when possible.
  • Contact members on care list at least once each year.
  • Maintain an ongoing relationship with one or two members with special needs when possible.
  • Attend continuing education/support meetings monthly with other lay ministers.

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Mission Statement / Covenant

We, the lay ministers of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, enter into a ministry of caring with our beloved community.

We covenant to:

  • Enrich the church life through sharing the blessings and challenges we face
  • Be present for members and friends in need
  • Maintain the confidences which we are privileged to hold
  • Grow in our roles as lay ministers
  • Serve with the support and guidance of our minister

We do this in affirmation of the sacred connections that bind us to one another in loving community.

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Who are the lay ministers?

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How does one become a lay minister?

Lay ministry is a calling to serve one’s worship community. It is a unique means of serving your congregation. The unique responsibilities of lay ministry make it a calling that should be answered only after careful thought and consideration. The call should neither be taken lightly nor answered immediately. If you feel called to serve FUUN as a lay minister, please do discuss your thoughts with the supervising minister.

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