The life and services of the laity in the Methodist Church dates as far back as 1st October, 1831. Mr. F.L Bartels in his book “The Roots of Ghana Methodism” page 9 indicate that early African Pioneers whose quest for divine truth eventually led to the formation of the Methodist Church on 1st January, 1835. Some of the pioneer lay leaders like Joseph Smith, William De- Graft, Peter Brown and their companions held their first meeting at Cape Coast on 1st October, 1831. They resolved to study the word of God as the best rule for Christian living. The laity continued to great services after the establishment of the Church at Cape Coast by the Rev. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell, the first missionary on 1st January, 1835. The pioneer lay leaders letter to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London requesting for Bibles led to the arrival of the first missionary in the person of Rev. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell whom they welcome and toiled with him in service. The first African caretakers and the interpreters like Joseph Smith and William De- Graft accompanied the Missionaries to London to solicit for funds and workers for the work in the then Gold Coast District. It was the lay pioneers who acted anytime a Missionary passed away and have been a part of the Church as founding members, founders of societies, local preachers, leaders, teachers and caretakers. It is however worthy of note to mention that the first society to be established outside Cape Coast area was the Ebenezer Society at Winneba which was started a lay worker called William De- Graft.

But the initial idea for the formation of a body for the Laity to investigate all aspects and problems of the Church‘s life was in 1948. The Synod at her meeting then appointed the Taylor Commission and the title of their report was “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH” which was later adopted as a motto for the Association in 1949. The first recognized Association for the laity was then formed in 1949. The veteran founders, Messrs I.K. Agyeman, MBE of Kumasi, J.E. De- Graft Johnson, OBE of Cape Coast, Beau Nunoo of Apam, I.C. Inkumsah of Kumasi and Tackie Otoo of Accra named the Association as LAYMENS Association. Their primary aim was to cater for the Superannuated Ministers.

The Methodist Church Ghana Lay Movement (1949-1999) Golden Jubilee Brochure indicate than the name of the Association which seem not to be all embracing was changed to the Lay Movement Council in the year 1985. During the 24th Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in August 1985, a decision was taken and the committee appointed met on 20th September, 1985. Dr. Alex Quaison- Sackey and Nana (Dr.) J.S. Annan the fifth and Sixth Vice Presidents of Conference respectively were mandated by Committee to draw up the necessary guidelines.

The Lay Movement Council had been established from the Societal to the Connexional level. Their aims and objectives were to bring all the members under one body ad to Co-ordinate the life and activities of the organizations in the Church. It is to be noted that a lot of developments have taken place in the movement since 1949 and these are a few of them.

The position of the Diocesan Lay Chairpersons was created.

The President of Conference then was the Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, Conference Secretary was Rev. Albert Ofoe Wright and the Vice President was Mrs. Naomi Okine.

The then Vice President, Mrs. Naomi Okine was elected as the first Lay President from 1999 to 2002. The Methodist Church Ghana has elected nine (6) Lay Presidents since 1999. The others are Messrs.’ Ato Essuman, James Abaidoo- Brew , Mrs. Araba Ata- Sam, Mr. Awotwi Pratt and Lawyer Kwame A. Boafo. The first batches of Lay Chairpersons were inducted into Office at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Cape Coast by the Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante- Antwi and the first Presiding Bishop in the year 2001. The Lay Movement Council Annual and bi- annual General Meeting’s since 1965. The first one which took place at the Wesley Methodist Chapel at Cape Coast was under the chairmanship of Paa I.K. Agyeman, a founding father and second National Chairman (1960-1975). The Annual General Meeting held at the Methodist Unversity College- Dansoman marked the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Council (1949-2009). The lay President who presided over the celebration was Mrs. Araba Ata- Sam. The Guest speaker was the Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante- Antwi, the first Presiding Bishop and the Chairperson for the Official opening was Mrs. Naomi Okine, the first Lay President and the Celebration was climaxed with a memorable Thanksgiving Service at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral- Accra on Sunday 2nd August, 2009.

The Lay Movement Council has since its inception of the Methodist Church in 1835 made outstanding logistical contributions towards the holisticgrowth of the Churchfrom the Society to the Conenexional level. The significant ones are the construction of of the Royal Alpha Hostel at the Methodist University College at Dansoman and the donation of an amount of 30000 Gh ceds to the Raffiki Children Orphanage at Gyhadze in the Winneba Diocese. The Methodist Church Ghana and outside Ghana is indeed grateful to the Lay Movement.

The Current Connextional Lay President is Mr. Kwame Adjapong Boafo.

NAME	YEAR OF OFFICE
Prof. Seth Opuni Asiama, BSc, PhD	Lay Chairman
Dr. Christopher Larbi	Vice Chairman
Bro. Paul Akwasi Amankwaah	Secretary
Bro. Abraham Oduro Kyeremanteng	Assistant Secretary
Bro. Samuel Takyi Burns	Treasurer
Bro. Paul Arhin Donkoh	Organizer

The Lay movement council has aptly summed up her life, history, aims and objectives in their song which was composed by “Professor” E.C. Bilson, an eminent organist and musicologist thus:

ENGLISH:

I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH

WITH ALL MY MIND AND STRENGTH

WHEREIN THINE HONOUR DWELLS

TO GLORIFY THY NAME

WITH A RIGHT GOOD WILL

AND A RIGHT GOOD HEART

I WILL UILD MY CHURCH.

MESI M’ASOR

MEDZE M’ADWEN M’AHODZEN

WO BEA A W’ENYIMYAM HYEREN

EYI WO DZIN NO AYEW

MEDZE OPEPA NA AKOMA PA

MESI M’ASOR

MESI M’ASORE

MEDE M’ADWEN M’AHODEN

WO BEA A W’ANUONYAM HYEREN

AYI WO DIN AYE

MEDE OPEPA NE AKOMA PA

MESI M’ASORE