Brad Poorman

Pepperdine University
OMET Portfolio

Action Research Project Question

How can the use of on-line tools provide educational training and support for the development of a learning community to help meet the need for trained lay leaders in the United Methodist church and establish a community of practice for those lay leaders to support their continued growth and development of expertise in effective lay leadership?

Below are further research questions

Link to Word document containing research questions

Further Questions

• What can I learn from the existing online lay leader training programs identified in the Literature Review that will help make my proposed program successful? What tools have they employed and how have they successfully implemented them to facilitate their training?

• What will the academic requirements established by the church for the Certified Lay Minister certification be and how can I use on-line tools to facilitate the delivery of the necessary courses?

• Currently the Northwest Texas Conference holds an annul event called “Roundup”. The purpose of Roundup is to equip pastors, lay leaders, chairpersons of all ministries, and all other church volunteers with a desire to learn and serve. The event is held over a weekend and offers a wide variety of workshops. How can I incorporate the Roundup presentations and documents as resources for the participants in the proposed program?

• How can I structure the program to maximize the number of participants and what scheduling format would best meet their needs? Questions to be considered are what is the proper balance between online and face-to-face meetings; how often should the classes be held; what days of the week and what time of day should the classes be held?

• What program topics are most needed by the lay leaders of the church and what content best addresses those topics?

• How will people respond to these training methods when applied to church lay leadership topics?

• If supplied the means and opportunity will communities of practice successfully develop for lay leaders and will those communities persist?