The primary agents of God’s mission in today’s world are the lay people or laity of the United Methodist Church: you and me. The ministry of the laity flows from a commitment of Christ’s outreaching love. Lay members of the United Methodist Church are called to be active advocates of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every lay person is called to be in mission. The witness of the laity, their Christ-like examples of everyday living and their sharing of their own faith experiences of the gospel, is the primary evangelistic ministry through which all people will come to know Christ and the way the United Methodist Church can fulfill its mission to make Disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.

We are called to serve in our homes, our work, our local community and the world. The laity role is that of a servant who models the love of Christ by example, and the local church is where our labor is constant in witnessing and sharing our faith experiences of the gospel in many different ways.

The Laity Board has developed a system that honors our laity and celebrates their ministry through the “Lay Ministry Recognition Awards.”

The 2026 Laity Ministry Recognition Awards will recognize individuals or ministry teams demonstrating Christ-like ministry that exemplifies qualities of servant leadership. Servant leadership is defined in the Book of Discipline (para. 138) which reads in part, “The privilege of servant leadership in the Church is the call to share in the preparation of congregations and the whole Church for the mission of God in the world. The obligation of servant leadership is the forming of Christian disciples in the covenant community of the congregation. This involves discerning and nurturing the spiritual relationship with God that is the privilege of all servant ministers. It also involves instructing and guiding Christian disciples in their witness to Jesus Christ in the world through acts of worship, devotion, compassion, and justice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley described this as “watching over one another in love.”

To nominate a person or group in your church for Lay Ministry Recognition that honor their creativity and innovation in transforming lives and making disciples of Jesus Christ, please complete the nomination form below. Only one nominee will be considered per church.

In 2026 awardees will receive a banner and recognition certificate, which will be provided to the local church for celebration.