Laity Session Celebrates What It Means to Love Boldly

by SUS Communications

Before the formal opening of Annual Conference 2026, lay members from across the Susquehanna Conference gathered for the annual Laity Session around a simple but powerful invitation: Love Boldly.

Throughout the morning, speakers, music, and personal testimonies explored what it means for laypeople to embody Christ’s love in their churches, communities, and everyday lives. The session reflected the broader Annual Conference theme and the new vision of The United Methodist Church, emphasizing that discipleship is not limited to clergy or church programs, but is lived out through the witness and service of God’s people wherever they are called.

Conference Lay Leader Joyce Davis welcomed those gathered, while worship and prayer centered participants on God’s faithfulness and love. The morning featured music, storytelling, and reflections designed to inspire and challenge laity to embrace their calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez invited attendees to consider the transformative power of expectation and faith. “What would it look like in my life as a layperson,” he asked, “if every time I gathered in community with other fellow Christians I would come with an expectation that God would show up and do what only God can do?” He suggested that when believers move that expectation from their heads to their hearts, revival becomes possible. “Lives will be changed,” he said. “Communities will be transformed by the healing love of Jesus Christ.”

Young people from across the Conference offered their own perspective on loving boldly, reminding those gathered that youth are not merely preparing to become the Church in the future. “The youth are not preparing to be the church some day,” they shared. “They are the church, right here and right now.” Their message highlighted the ways young people are already praying, serving, asking deep questions, and participating in God’s work today.

Fawn McCallister of United Women in Faith shared how bold love extends beyond local congregations and into communities around the world. Highlighting the organization’s support of 135 national mission institutions, she reminded attendees that the Church’s witness reaches far beyond its own walls. Quoting John Wesley, she said, “The world is my parish,” underscoring the call to engage in ministry wherever people are in need.

Betsy Keller challenged participants to recognize that service takes many forms and remains a calling throughout every season of life. Whether helping neighbors, serving in local churches, or supporting ministries in the wider community, she encouraged attendees to remain engaged in God’s work. “I challenge you, in whatever season of life you’re in, to be an influencer,” she said, calling laity to model faithfulness for family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow church members.

Throughout the session, music reinforced the day’s theme, with songs including How Great Is Your Love, World on Fire, Love Lifted Me, Your Love Is Beautiful, and Order My Steps celebrating the power of God’s love to transform lives and communities.

A recurring message throughout the morning was that bold love requires action. Whether expressed through worship, mission, service, leadership, or everyday relationships, participants were reminded that Christ’s love becomes visible when ordinary people choose to live it out faithfully.

As the session concluded, attendees were encouraged to carry the theme of Love Boldly into their congregations, neighborhoods, and daily lives. The message was clear: the Church’s witness is strongest when disciples of all ages answer God’s call to love courageously, serve faithfully, and trust that God is still at work transforming the world.