The work area chairperson of prayer advocacy in cooperation with the pastor, Council on Ministries or Administrative Council, will encourage, invite, serve as resource to other areas of the local church that prayer may be a regular part of the church's life, ministry, program, meetings, and missions.
a) The work area on prayer advocacy shall not be a primary source of new programs, but its main focus shall be to advocate that prayer be a conscious and deliberate presence in all areas of the church's life and work. Prayer being understood to include a wide range of prayer forms: verbal, non- verbal; spoken, read, silent; incarnated acts of love; personal, family, corporate; daily examines, days apart; for newcomers, for long- time members, for all ages, for church leaders, for lay and ordained ministers, for volunteers, for paid staff.
b) The work area may organize itself as a work area on spiritual formation to promote and foster regular individual, family, and corporate spiritual growth using the resources of the General Board of Discipleship, especially The Upper Room, and other devotional resources. The work area may, in cooperation with age level coordinator(s), organize spiritual growth retreats, and days apart. The work area shall serve as an advocate for regularly scheduled days for prayer for all lay and ordained employees of the local church, for all elected leaders of the local church, for all members and constituents. The work area may encourage and invite the creation of prayer chains, prayer support groups, prayer vigils, participation in district, conference and general church spiritual growth ministries.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20099-LC-262.11-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference