Archives & History

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 frontline 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.)

The September 1928 issue of The Methodist Layman reports:
“… the third Sunday in May [is] Anniversary Day, commemorating the constitution of the Board of Lay Activities by the General Conference, the same to be designated as “Laymen’s Day”, and strict observance of this day by a lay program in every church, which shall set forth adequately the place of lay activities in the Church and be of inspirational value to the laymen for larger service in the kingdom.”

Within two years, the success of the celebration hastened to make Laymen’s Day an annual observance.

Once the factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church merged in 1939, the joint General Board of Lay Activities approved Laymen’s Day and designated 23 February 1941 as the first United Methodist Church 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.

Today, Laity Sunday is celebrated the third Sunday of October. Quadrennial themes are set by the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders and approved by the board of directors of Discipleship Ministries. 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!

Laity Sunday – At Present

On Laity Sunday, observed on the third Sunday in October, lay people plan and participate in the worship service. In many local churches, lay persons even lead all parts of the service. The General Board of Discipleship has the responsibility to provide the general supervision and resources for Laity Sunday.

We celebrate the ministry of all lay Christians whose lives are empowered for ministry by the Holy Spirit. Laity Sunday offers a moment for lay people of all ages to pause and consider again their own unique call to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It recognizes the servanthood of all believers, a concept that was modelled perfectly by Jesus when he washed the dust from his disciples’ feet.