District Lay Leader Report
District Lay Leader Report – Aton Abril
El Camino Real District | California-Nevada Annual Conference
El Camino Real District | California-Nevada Annual Conference
Dear Wesley family,
Thank you for your continued prayers and support as I serve both our congregation and the wider family of United Methodist churches across the El Camino Real District. I’m grateful for the ways our church encourages lay leadership and helps share the Methodist witness throughout our region.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support as I serve both our congregation and the wider family of United Methodist churches across the El Camino Real District. I’m grateful for the ways our church encourages lay leadership and helps share the Methodist witness throughout our region.
What It Means to Serve as District Lay Leader
The District Lay Leader is elected by the district’s annual conference of laity and clergy to represent the voice of all lay members in our district’s 49 United Methodist churches, from the Bay Area down through the Central Coast.
My role includes:
The District Lay Leader is elected by the district’s annual conference of laity and clergy to represent the voice of all lay members in our district’s 49 United Methodist churches, from the Bay Area down through the Central Coast.
My role includes:
- Strengthening connections among churches and ministries
- Encouraging spiritual growth and leadership development for laity
- Working alongside our District Superintendent and clergy to carry out the mission of the church.
Highlights from the Past Two Years
- Connectional Ministry: I’ve worshiped or met with members from roughly 75% of our El Camino Real churches, listening, learning, and celebrating the diverse ways God is at work among us.
- Spiritual Formation: I’m completing a two-year program called Spirituality in Practice (offered through The Upper Room’s Academy for Spiritual Formation), which focuses on deepening one’s prayer life, discernment, and integration of faith into daily living. This program has deepened my understanding of contemplative leadership and informed how I support spiritual growth among laity.
- Leadership Development: I recently joined a three-year program called Creating a Culture of Renewal (CCR), led by Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter. This program equips church leaders—both lay and clergy—to reimagine the church’s future and lead with hope, courage, and innovation. Though I’m new to the program, I’m excited about what this will mean for El Camino Real District.
- Digital Ministry: Partnered with Monterey UMC to design and launch their new website: montereymethodists.org.
- District Communications: Continue to manage and curate posts for our El Camino Real District Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/el.camino.real.district.cnumc.
- Leadership Gathering: In October 2026, I will join our Bishop, one clergy, and one other lay leader as part of the California-Nevada delegation to the inaugural Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering in Calgary, Canada, which brings together church leaders from around the world to strengthen collaboration and envision the future of The United Methodist Church.
Certified Lay Servant Ministry
In addition to my district work, I also serve as a Certified Lay Servant, a designation within our denomination that recognizes laypeople trained to provide leadership through preaching, teaching, and service. I regularly complete courses and will be submitting my recertification report this year.
In addition to my district work, I also serve as a Certified Lay Servant, a designation within our denomination that recognizes laypeople trained to provide leadership through preaching, teaching, and service. I regularly complete courses and will be submitting my recertification report this year.
A Word on Presence
You may notice that I’m not always at worship locally—because much of my ministry happens out in the district: visiting congregations, attending leadership gatherings, and building bridges between churches.
I do this not apart from our congregation but on its behalf, helping to grow and sustain our Methodist tradition in the wider world. Together, we are living into our conference vision:
“Following Jesus. Thriving in Community. Healing the World.”
With gratitude and hope,
Aton Abril
District Lay Leader, El Camino Real District
Snapshots in Connectional Ministry
You may notice that I’m not always at worship locally—because much of my ministry happens out in the district: visiting congregations, attending leadership gatherings, and building bridges between churches.
I do this not apart from our congregation but on its behalf, helping to grow and sustain our Methodist tradition in the wider world. Together, we are living into our conference vision:
“Following Jesus. Thriving in Community. Healing the World.”
With gratitude and hope,
Aton Abril
District Lay Leader, El Camino Real District
Snapshots in Connectional Ministry
- Giving the message at Spirituality in Practice “Get off your ass - taking another look at the call of the Good Samaritan”
- Giving communion at Aptos UMC
- Opening message for United Women in Faith’s Mission U topic – Practicing Hope Together
- Received certificate for being an active Certified Lay Servant, presented by Rev. John Oda
- With Spirituality in Practice Worship and Music leader Beth Richardson
- With Conference Lay Leader Michael Pope at Annual Conference
- With Fellow Laity at Sacramento River Cats game that Bishop Sandy threw the opening pitch at
- After a Fijian Methodist gathering in Sacramento, they gave me “some” food to take home
- I visited Salinas UMC, afterwards Clarissa and I got to spend some time with Rev. Shinya Goto
- Celebrating 150 years at Pacific Grove UMC with fellow laity and District Superintendent Rev. Samuel Hong.
Posted in Charge Conference 2025