Class Leaders | wardchapel

Class Leaders Of Ward Chapel

Class Leaders of the AME Church

The Class Leader System has been in force in the AME Church since the beginning of the church. Much reference has been given to the sensitivity and promotion of the system done by Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, who described the class leaders as proxy-pastors who assist the pastor to minister to each member of the congregation.

In his Methodist Polity, by Bishop Turner referred to the "class system" in the church as "Next to the Word of God." In the General Conference of 1992, the Right Reverend Vinton R. Anderson, in his Episcopal Address, called for the full reactivation of the Class Leader System in the AME Church.

The time is ripe -- in our day as in history our church is in great need for an effective working Class Leader System. There is a great need to nurture and support people in their Christian growth. The Class Leader System is designed for such functions in the church.

Class leaders are appointed by the pastor of the church for a period of one year and may remain in the position as long as their conduct is satisfactory.
Class leaders should be spiritually a knowledgeable church member that can teach, inspire, and motivate members to attend and participate in the church events.
Class leaders shall be examined by the pastor and presiding elder quarterly.

Duties of Class leaders:

Meet with members from time to time, inquire of how each soul prospers
Stand at the altar with new members for support
Provide training for new members
Introduce new members to members in your class and to other church members
Monitor the probationary period of new members
Stress the importance of financial support of the church
Support regular church attendance
Converse with the pastor regarding the temperance of class members via referral cards
Report to the pastor and official board members that are sick, hospitalized and other family matters as warranted

Director of Class Leaders

Virgil L. Rush