Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls (Lexham Ministry Guides)
Inviting others into God’s good work
The church is ordered so that good can run wild. God appoints leaders to commission the laity in the church’s ministry and mission. Pastors and ministry leaders serve and organize the church in such a way that people in their care can pursue their unique gifts.
In Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls, Aaron Perry empowers pastors to empower laity in leadership. Perry helps leaders recognize the challenges and pursue the opportunities in sharing vision, inviting participation, delegating roles and responsibilities, and equipping people for sustained ministry. With theological structure and practical wisdom, Perry provides a foundational theology of the laity and specific actions for leaders to apply in their own context.
Praise for Lay Leadership
Most pastors and churches have settled for ministry done by the few and observed by the many. Aaron Perry has given practical and pragmatic ways for those who dare to recover the full-body ministry of the body of Christ. It is theologically sound, engagingly written, and eminently useful.
—Jeffrey E. Greenway, President Pro-Tempore, Allegheny West Conference, Global Methodist Church
In a Christian world that is increasingly professionalized, Aaron gives us a much needed nudge toward organic, lay-centered ministry that is relational through and through. In winsome, easy language he leads us step by step into the kind of ministry that builds community and advances the kingdom, with real people using real gifts and responding to the very real call of God. Every church needs this teaching.
—Carolyn Moore, lead pastor, Mosaic Church, Evans, GA
For pastors who desire to see their congregations flourish and engage the work of ministry as a whole community, Aaron Perry has laid out an exceptional guide to support that vision. Theologically wise, practical, and complete, this book will give fuel to any pastor who wants to grow and support laborers for the advance of the gospel.
—Jeremy Writebol, pastor, Woodside Bible Church Plymouth, MI; author, Pastor, Jesus Is Enough
Lexham Ministry Guides
The Lexham Ministry Guides, edited by Harold L. Senkbeil, offer practical, proven wisdom for the church. But wisdom takes time. The authors in this series developed their wisdom through years of ministry experience and conversations with colleagues. These books invite you to enter into these conversations to better serve the Savior’s sheep and lambs with confidence. You will find hands-on tools, lessons from years of ministry experience, and an array of resources to apply to your own ministry context.
- Lead: Ministry that Runs Wild, Wide, and Deep
- Cast: Helping Others to See What You See
- Ask: Inviting Others into the Work of God
- Task: Designing Fitting Roles and Responsibilities
- Train: Equipping People for Ministry
- Track: Managing the People in Ministry
- Thank: Expressing Praise to God and Gratitude to His People
- Start: Who’s Ready to Begin
- Title: Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls
- Author: Aaron Perry
- Series: Lexham Ministry Guides
- Series Editor: Harold L. Senkbeil
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2025
- Pages: 240
- Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
- Trim Size: 4.25x7
- ISBN: 9781683597780
Aaron Perry is director of Wesleyan Academic Initiatives for The Wesleyan Church; adjunct professor at Wesley Seminary, Asbury Seminary, and Indiana Wesleyan University; and coeditor of Leadership the Wesleyan Way.