Board of Laity


Welcome to the Conference Board of Laity pages on ngumc.org.

The North Georgia Conference has a long history of vibrant lay leadership. Established in 1866 and headquartered in Norcross, the North Georgia United Methodist Conference is comprised of 1,000 churches, more than 1,500 clergy members, and more than 320,000 lay members. Currently, it is the largest United Methodist Conference in the United States.

In his book, Methodism in North Georgia: A History of the North Georgia Conference, the Rev. Dr. Herchel H. Sheets outlines the vibrant history of the North Georgia Conference’s lay leadership. Dr. Sheets describes the work of F.M. Byrd and D.W. Brooks who initiated the program that became the Ministerial Education Fund, and he chronicles the positive impact that the Board of Laity, the United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Men, and other lay-led groups had on camping ministries, education, missions, church extension, and programs of lay training. This strong tradition continues.

I invite you to learn more about the mission and ministry of the North Georgia Conference. I especially encourage you to learn more about Leadership UMC, Lay Speaking Ministries, and the Lay Revitalization Ministry.

Thank you for the many ways you serve Christ and the Church.

Grace to you and peace,

Mathew Pinson
Conference Lay Leader
North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church

mathewpinson@gmail.com