The Connectional Lay Council was created with the specific purpose of deepening the spiritual life of the Laity, to disseminate information, to cultivate denominational loyalty, to expand the denomination through education and evangelism, and to promote any other interest of the Kingdom of God.

As witnesses of the grace and mercy of God, the Connectional Lay Council, of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, exists to prepare and equip laity for life discipleship in the Kingdom of God. We do this by maintaining effective ministries that evangelize, encourage and edify laity in the A. M. E. Zion Church.

As servants of the Most High God, and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ that are guided by the Holy Spirit, the vision of the Connectional Lay Council of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is to prepare the lay members of our denomination for a life of service in the Kingdom of God.

We will do this by:
1. Developing ourselves and others as Christian disciples.
2. Helping others to know, worship and follow Christ in spirit and in truth.
3. Collaborating and cooperating across organizational, institutional and denominational boundaries to minister to the masses.

Our motto “Come with us to Christ” is the impetus for implementing ministries that are positive in transforming people’s lives spiritually, socially and economically; in promoting fellowship with God and other believers, as well as those who are not saved. We affirm our belief that no one is too old, too young, too rich, too poor, too saved or even too lost to benefit from the ministries offered by the Lay Council. Membership in the Lay Council is not a prerequisite to benefit from the Lay Council’s ministries. However, all laity in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church are strongly encouraged to catch the vision for Christian Leadership, Accountability, Stewardship and Christian Service so that, together, we might usher in the Kingdom of God through the A. M. E. Zion Church.

The Connectional Lay Council is governed by elected officers consisting of a president, first and second vice presidents, recording secretary, financial secretary, treasurer, chaplain and an Executive Board. This board consist of all elected officers, Regional Directors, the chairpersons of all standing committees, the parliamentarian, the editor of Laity Speaks/The Connection, the President Emeritus and the immediate past president.