As Northern Illinois Synod’s congregations adapt to the current ministries they can provide, their ministerial leadership needs change, too. Some can no longer afford a full-time rostered minister, either on their own or shared with another local congregation. When ordained clergy are not available, congregations may request to be served by a lay minister. In Northern Illinois Synod, lay ministers who are allowed to preside over communion and baptisms in a specific context are called “Synod Authorized Ministers,” or “SAMs” for short.
Although the first SAMs may have been asked to serve congregations as emergency coverage, lay ministry has adapted over the years. As synod leadership realized the many unique gifts of local lay ministry, the number of SAMs has grown. Some SAMs primarily provide worship leadership while others also serve during the week.
Because SAMs are from the congregation they serve or a nearby congregation, they have a deep appreciation for the local context. SAMs often have a profound heart for rural ministry. They practice God-given gifts of faithful curiosity, service, willingness to learn, being able to love God’s people, being an active participant in the Body of Christ, and responding to the baptismal call to do God’s work.
SAMs are expected to have some preaching and religious education through a lay faith formation program like Growing in Faith/The diakoniaTM Program. Many have also taken the Backstory Preaching class, Preaching Among Friends.
