The Lay Committee
At the beginning of the autumn quarter, you and your Teaching Pastor should work together to form a Lay Committee of three to five members who will assist you in your field education. You should meet with your Lay Committee at least once every six weeks.
Working with a Lay Committee is a wonderful opportunity to learn an important skill in ministry: how to gather a group of interested lay people for worthwhile conversation. Your Lay Committee can be helpful in offering you feedback on your preaching, worship leadership, and teaching. You can also learn a great deal about ministry and the role of the church in people's lives by inviting Lay Committee members to talk about their faith, their understanding of Christian practices, and their own hopes for the church and its ministries.
You will convene and serve as chair for all meetings of your Lay Committee. Your Teaching Pastor should not attend these meetings. Here are some suggestions for what to do. As you come to know and trust each one another, other agendas will no doubt present themselves.
1. Ask for feedback on your most recent sermon. What did your committee members think the sermon was about? What moved them? What confused them? How could you improve your delivery?
2. Ask each member to give a miniature spiritual autobiography. What drew them to the church? What keeps them there?
3. Reflect together on a biblical passage-perhaps the text for your next sermon!
4. Reflect together on a short reading, perhaps something from Colloquium or Practicum, that you think they would enjoy.
5. Pray together.
6. Convey your gratitude to your Lay Committee for their commitment to your education in ministry.
