We, the international organized laity of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in order to foster

efficient outcomes in our governing activities, maximize the growth and development of our

members and support the mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, do affirm, and adopt,

with clarity and conviction, through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Constitution of the Eleventh

Episcopal District Lay Organization.

Section 1. Mission Statement. The Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

is commissioned to teach, train and empower its members for lay ministry, global leadership and

service following the tenets of Jesus Christ.

Section 2. The Purpose of this organization shall be to organize and train the laity of the African

Methodist Episcopal Church so that lay persons may maximally utilize their God given abilities

and skills to improve and extend the kingdom to create happiness, peace, and harmony among its

members.

a. To instill in the membership of the church a love for, and an appreciation of the history,

traditions, principles and development of African Methodism by encouraging, motivating, and

educating all lay persons.

b. To keep forever alive the sacred memory of Richard Allen, the illustrious founder of the AMEC.

c. To advocate respect and loyalty at all times to constituted authority and leadership,

d. To encourage the laity to support the total program of the church in the local congregation, in

the community, and throughout the Connection;

e. To foster a systematic and regular study of the Book of Discipline of the African Methodist

Episcopal Church and parliamentary procedure, to the end that greater knowledge and information

may be disseminated among the laity, and with the further purpose of encouraging lay members to

participate more largely in the general functioning and supervision of the African Methodist

Episcopal Church;

f. To foster, influence, and support all constructive and progressive legislation for the church that

promotes the teachings of Jesus Christ;

g. To encourage development, recognition, and utilization of the most appropriate operational

practices and modern technology in conducting the activities of the African Methodist Episcopal

Church;

h. To promote the spread of personal evangelism through activities designed to prepare lay

members for appropriately conveying God’s Word;

i. To provide training in Christian Stewardship, which causes lay members to recognize that the

connotation of stewardship addresses more than giving money;

j. To increase the circulation of church periodicals;

k. To provide for the orderly and systematic training of lay persons, especially officers, in order

that they might more effectively perform their service responsibilities;

l. To promote activities that will result in harmonious fellowship for lay persons throughout the

Connection;

m. To help in the support of the AME educational institutions;

n. To give financial assistance to the Connectional Lay Economic Development Corporation

(CLEDC) in support of Connectional programs.