Throughout Methodism new ministers are arriving at churches and becoming familiar with the people in the new parish and the challenges of new appointments. During the month of June and much of July the focus of attention is on the new minister's family and how they will fit into the community and become vital parts of the ministry of the church.

In a very real sense the itinerant ministry is a team ministry. The talents of individual ministers are moved about to respond to the needs of individual churches as they arise from time to time. The success of this system requires a commitment on the part of the minister to go where needed and sent, and the commitment of the churches to surrender individual preferences for the benefit of the common ministerial cause. The assurance is that each church will be furnished ministerial services and each minister is assured of a charge to keep. The covenant is entered into voluntarily and the rights and responsibilities are mutually binding. The itinerant system in America is very much as it is in England. The ministers move from Circuit to Circuit within the Conference and they move about from Charge to Charge within the Circuit. The "Itinerancy" is truly one of the distinguishing characteristics of Methodism.

But there is another very distinctive aspect of ministry within the Methodist tradition. The Lay Preachers have consistently been recognized as key members of the ministerial team. "Lay Preachers" first appeared in London to provide leadership within the Societies when John Wesley was traveling elsewhere. Thomas Maxfield, called a "helper," was the first Lay Preacher to deliver full sermons. When Wesley first heard about Maxfield's preaching in London he was alarmed and rushed back to London to correct this situation. Once again John Wesley's mother became the voice of reason and logic. Speaking to her son in the Foundry Parsonage, she said, "He [Maxfield] is as surely called of God to preach as you are."

Wesley then rushed off to hear Maxfield for himself. Following that first sermon, Wesley is reported to have said, "It is the Lord." Thomas Maxfield thus became the first of that long procession of lay preachers who have become so important to Methodism. They have been called "Lay Preachers" because they have no ordination from a Bishop's hands. According to Methodist historian, A.B. Hyde, there were 23 "helpers" or Lay Preachers who were itinerating and following the example of their untiring leader.