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LACE

LACE:
Lay Academy of Church Excellence

The mission of the Lay Academy of Church Excellence (LACE) is to provide an integrated program to educate, energize, and empower lay people in each United Methodist local church to become faithful disciples and effective leaders who create vital congregations for the transformation of the world.  LACE accomplishes this mission by assisting faithful disciples to identify, develop, and enhance their spiritual gifts leading them into leadership roles in diversified fields of ministry.

Completion of the core curriculum prepares LACE participants for three options.
- Complete the basic requirements to become a lay speaker.
- Learn more about United Methodist history and theology.
- Sharpen leadership skills to become a more effective servant leader in the Church.

More about the program

-The program is taught entirely within the boundaries of each district. Thus, there is no need to travel very far to attend the classes.
-The program is taught in five (5) sessions.
-The district response teams (also known as District Leadership Teams) will have the discretion to schedule the sessions depending on the needs in each district. Each district response team will designate five (5) strategic host churches throughout the district to provide classrooms and lunch for the participants.
-The Board of Laity designed the program at no expense to participants except their time to participate. However, participants will be asked to give a love offering to the individual churches providing lunch.
-The instructors will consist of local people including pastors, deacons, district superintendent, and lay people proficient in the different classes being taught.
-Districts may bring in additional speakers who are experts in their fields providing funds are available.

If you have ever had a desire to learn more about Methodism, become a lay speaker, or acquire skills that will help you become an effective church leader, then this program is for you. Remember, God works through each of us to make our local churches vital congregations for the transformation of the world!

Download LACE PowerPoint file

Download (PDF file) LACE flyer

Download (PDF file) LACE Registration Form

Download Below (Word documents) related to LACE

The word documents that were listed here previously are in the process of being revised they will be put back onto the website after the revisions are completed.