Lay Council
Historically, lay persons have played an important role in the organization,
development and growth of the Church. The historical role that lay persons played in our
overall development can be seen in our early leadership, in the liberation struggle of Black
Americans. Those early leaders included a number of well-known personalities such as Harriet
Tubman and Frederick Douglas. Therefore, to full marshall the resources of our laity and
maximize their efforts in the total mission of our church, a Lay Council was organized.
Lay Councils are represented at all levels of our organization. They include
Lay Councils at the Episcopal District, The Annual Conference, the District Conference and the
Local Church.
The objectives of the Lay Council include: (a) Deepening the spiritual
life of the laity; (b) disseminating information; (c) cultivating denominational loyalty;
(d) expanding the denomination through education and evangelism; and (e) promoting any
interest of the Kingdom of God.
Any person, a member in good standing of the Shrewsbury Avenue A. M. E. Zion
Church, is urged to become a member of the Lay Council and support its programs and objectives.
