History of
Laity Sunday
-Methodism, in all its roots, has a long history celebrating and recognizing
the ministry of the laity.
In
the early days of American Methodism, the laity served and maintained congregations
between visits of the circuit riders. Today, lay people are the front line of
daily ministry at the workplace, in the home and within the community.
The Early Days - Archives
suggest the earliest plans for a Laity Sunday beginning in 1928. The first
recorded observance of "Laymen's Day" was in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South in 1929. By 1930 the Evangelical Church had begun celebrating the
work of laity at the culmination of each annual men’s retreat. (Reflecting the
times, these early celebrations focused only on the ministry of men.)
Once
the factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church merged in 1939, the joint
General Board of Lay Activities approved Laymen's Day and designated February
23, 1941, as the first UMC observance. The January issue of The Methodist
Layman enthusiastically reports the aim of Laymen's Day as "...to emphasize
the place that lay members have in the total life and work of the church."
Laity
Sunday is a time to recognize the work and mission of all laity — not only
within the walls of the church but in everyday lives.
The
excitement about this day of recognition grew. The January 1942 issue of The
Methodist Layman includes this entreaty: Think what this could mean to the
church! Forty thousand laymen - lawyers, physicians, teachers, bankers, businessmen,
mechanics, farmers and others - speaking on The World Mission of the Church!
The whole Methodist Church will be moved and stirred to action by such a
message. ...There are vast possibilities for good in Laymen's Day. It is the
prayer of the General Board that every Conference, District, Associate
District, Charge and Church Lay Leader and every District Superintendent and
Pastor will give wholehearted cooperation to make the day significant in the
life of The Methodist Church.
In
October 1942 The Methodist Layman recommends the last Sunday of February
"be fixed as Laymen's Day throughout the Church" and calls for "serious
preparation for this day and...[for] Pastors to give active cooperation."
Mid-20th
Century to Today - Laymen's Day is first mentioned in the 1944 Book of Discipline (¶ 1483), where its
direction is placed under the auspices of the General Board of Lay Activities.
In
the 1964 edition of the Book of
Discipline, Laymen's Day is designated as the second Sunday of October. (¶
1499.3) The 1968 Book of Discipline
(¶ 1202) expounds on the day's larger purpose:
...shall
be to interpret the role of the laity in the world and to provide laymen with
opportunity to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to
his mission in the world.
By
the 1972 edition of the Book of Discipline,
Laymen's Day was renamed the gender-neutral Laity Sunday (¶ 163) but was often
referred to as Laity Day until 1977.
We
need the whole Body of Christ as we seek to become more vital congregations who
make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!