Lake Neuron

Certified layspeakers who want to preach this June at the Tennessee Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church can either submit a manuscript or a video, or both, for consideration. Naturally, I assumed a video would carry more weight, and my father, a retired UM pastor, was looking forward to taping me.

But the deadline is Monday, and my voice is still torn up. So I’m going to have to go the manuscript route. I think I’ve got it done; I’m giving printouts to my father and to my pastor at church tomorrow night; I may or may not wait for their feedback before sending off my envelope.

This is the first time they’ve asked a layspeaker to preach during laity night at Conference, which is the annual gathering of United Methodist pastors and church leaders from throughout Middle Tennessee. They will sift through the submissions and draw up a short list, and then the finalists will have to preach their sermons for the selection committee. (My voice will, of course, have cleared up long before they get to that point.) They plan to make this an annual event and have already said that this year’s speaker will be a member of next year’s selection committee.

I don’t suppose I have much chance, but it’s fun to try.