Lay Servant Ministries
God calls every one of us to proclaim the presence and power of God through all that we say and do. How is God calling you to serve? With so many avenues of training, Lay Servant Ministries (Previously called Lay Speaking Ministries) offers you a valuable education in multiple ministry areas.
A Lay Servant is …
- An active, supportive (professing) member of a United Methodist church;
- Eager to serve the church, community, and world;
- Well-informed on Scripture and on the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church;
- Committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care-giving ministries, and spoken communication;
- Willing to improve his/her skills by training for service.
Lay Servant Ministry (LSM) is more than just speaking!
This ministry goes beyond filling in for the pastor or speaking in public. Lay Servant Ministries offer many options for serving in roles other than the traditional pulpit supply. Teaching, serving, training, leading, participating, caring, loving, and communicating are now integral parts of Lay Servant Ministries. With so many avenues of training, Lay Servant Ministries offers valuable education equipping United Methodists for all facets of lay ministry.
Consider taking a class.
From time to time classes are offered in various subject areas throughout the Conference. Starting with the Basic Class, one can then go on to advanced classes and go on to broader service. God calls us and through continued development equips us to be Lay Servant Ministers.
Lay Ministry in the United Methodist Church:
All Local and Certified Lay Servants are first Professing Members of a local congregation.
Titles and Requirements:
Local Church Lay Servant
Serve primarily in the local Congregation
Requirements
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Completes the Basic Course in LSM
3. Files an annual report
4. Takes a refresher course every three years
Certified Lay Servant
Local Church Lay Servants who have taken an advanced course in LSM, and serve in the local congregation and beyond.
Requirements
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Takes an Advanced course after the Basic course
3. Files an annual report
4. Completes 1 advanced course every 3 years
Lay Speakers
Certified Lay Servants who provide pulpit supply
Requirements
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Completes the required courses for Lay Speaker
3. Interviews with District Committee on LSM
4. Approved by Annual Conference Committee on LSM
5. Files an annual report
6. Every 3 years completes 1 advanced course and interviews with
District Committee on LSM
Certified Lay Minister
Certified Lay Speaker or Servant who is assigned by the District Superintendent to a particular ministry within the district or annual conference
Requirements
(Certified Lay Servant recommended)
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Approved by District Superintendent
3. Applies to District Committee on Ordained Ministry
4. Completes required course work
5. Certified by the Director of Connectional Ministries
6. Recertifies every 2 years
Approved Courses for Lay Servant Ministry
Philosophy:
With the geographical area of the Yellowstone Conference we need to be liberal in allowing individuals to take courses where ever and however they can. The advantage of an in-residence course is the interaction with the instructor and other class members. However, as we go forward and as more on-line web based courses and opportunities develop we need to embrace those opportunities. Additionally we need to embrace courses that develop our laity in the areas of teaching, serving, training, leading, participating, caring, loving, and communications
Currently Approved Courses: 2013
1. Approved are any Advanced Courses as listed on the Lay Speaking Ministries Web Site. Also any courses listed in the annual “Lay Ministry Equipping Resources Catalog” that are the preferred courses for first course work for individuals seeking Advanced Certification. This Catalog lists both in residence and on-line courses as well as Alternative Advanced Courses. Available on the GBOD Web Site.
2. Approved are On Line/Web Based Courses as reviewed and approved by the YAC Conference Discipling Team.
3. Approved are Conference, District or Circuit developed courses upon meeting the approval of the Curriculum Review Committee.
4. Approved are courses not listed on the Lay Speaking Ministries Web Site or developed in the conference that are Web Based to include:
A. The Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship (Southwester College) and the GBOD as announced on http://beadisciple.com
B. United Methodist Communications Training (training@umcom.org) as it pertains to lay development of communications skills (all skills, speaking, written, and web based).
C. The Illif “Small Group Leadership course by Podcast to include an end of course five hour meeting. Based on the “The Christian Small Group Leaded” by Thomas Hawkins,
D. The Saint Paul Lecture series conducted in Helena, MT.
E. Conference Spiritual Formation events, retreats that are structured to address the aspect(s) of Lay Servant Ministries in a particular area or areas. Examples of past
event subjects are Servant Leadership, Discipleship, Wesleyan History, and various workshops such as Trustees, SPRC, Christian Education and Finance.
5. In Residence Courses to include courses developed by:
A. The United Methodist Women’s Mission U (formerly School of Christian Missions). Requires the Basic Lay Servant Ministry Class and at least one Lay Servant Ministry advanced class be completed before credit for Mission U courses count as advanced course work.
B. Courses that would be available and approved from other Conferences to include in-residence and web based courses as long as an enrollee can meet all requirements of the course,
6. Retake of the Basic Course. If a Certified Lay Servant has not taken the current Basic Course, credit as an Advanced Course can be given for this course. Rational being that the individual is provided with information in which to use to encourage others to take the course.
Lay Ministry in the United Methodist Church
A short u-tube presentation of new terms and names for the Lay Servant and the role of the Lay Servant. http://youtu.be/9dQ5uTmuVRQ
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LINKED UP
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Education On Line:
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Be a DiscipleCourses: On line Advanced courses approved by the GBOD. Courses offered by Southwestern College, Richard and Julia Wilkie Institute. On the home page go to “Lay Speaking Ministries (GBOD) for current approved class offerings
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Iliff Scholl of Theology advanced course “Small Group Leadership”. This Advanced Course podcast presentation requires the online work with a follow on local group session. A great Advanced Course that can be conducted by a group at the local church level. Site instructions: click on “connect”, click on “Illif clips”, “audio clips” scroll down to Iffif courses, click on “Small group leadership lay ministry course. This is a free course.
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Informational:
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Ministry of the Laity: A GBOD page that contains general information regarding Ministry of the Laity. Lay Leaders, Lay Speaking, Certified Lay Ministers
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Lay Speaking Ministries: Contains a variety of useful information regarding Lay Speaking Ministries to include other web links and downloadable information.
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The Upper Room Bookstore To access the Upperroom Lay Servant Ministry Catalog, on the home page upper right click on catalog and select Lay Ministry
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The Cokesbury Bookstore
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Spiritual Gifts Old. A Spiritual Gifts presentation that includes a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. A beginning for those who want to explore their Spiritual Gifts.
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Check Back from time-to-time as more information is added to Linked Up
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Lay Servant Ministry Educational Opportunities – On Line
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Summer/Fall 2013
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Do you find it hard to make an Advanced Lay Servant Ministry Course? Then
Consider taking one of the courses recognized by the GBOD through the
Beadisciple.com program. The upcoming courses are listed below. Be a Disciple Courses: On line Advanced courses approved by the GBOD. Courses offered by Southwestern College, Richard and Julia Wilkie Institute. On the home page go to “Lay Speaking Ministries (GBOD) for current approved class offerings The Courses listed below are approved by the GBOD as advanced courses and some courses meet the requirement for course work for the new Lay Speaking program.
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Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts -- June 10-23, 2013 -- $60
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This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. In addition, this course meets one of the requirements for Lay Speakers.
Lay Speakers, Lay Servants, and all participants in the Body of Christ depend on the spiritual gifts God has given them. Those gifts differ but they provide the foundation for whatever ministry we do. Learn more about your spiritual gifts – and how to help your congregation learn more about their spiritual gifts – in this two-week workshop. Guided by instructor, Beth Perry, participants will interact (including online discussions, watching video instruction presentations, and possibly real-time group sessions) throughout the two weeks in order to earn their 10 contact hours.
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The only material participants will need to order will be the Discipleship Resources book, Each One a Minister, by William J. Carter. It is highly recommended that you read the book before the online course begins. This will help with time-management.
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Green Church: Earth Stewardship as an Act of Discipleship -- June 17-30, 2013 -- $60
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
In the Bible, salvation and creation are intimately connected. From Genesis' stories of beginnings to Revelation's vision of the renewing of the Earth, the salvation story is set within the context of Creation. Jesus himself is the firstborn of Creation. Yet at the same time, Mother Earth's natural features and abundant creatures are suffering from environmental stresses.
How to reconcile the two? The answer lies in practicing biblical stewardship of the earth.
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Based on the book by the same name, and faciliated by it's author, Rebekah Simon-Peter, this two week course is designed to introduce participants to biblical concepts of stewardship of the earth. And how to integrate them into the life of the believer. Through this online community, participants will receive support, share insights, and generate creativity to move their communities of faith into becoming Green(er) Churches.
In this empowering class you'll learn how you can take positive and inspiring actions that move your congregation toward a deeper shade of green. Each participant will need a copy of Green Church, available on Kindle, e-book, or in softcover.
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The course will include a project designed to be shared in one's church or faith community.
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Growing Spiritually Through Daily Discipline -- July 29 to Sept 13, 2013 -- $50
Do you want to grow in your faith journey?
Do you want to help others grow in their faith journey?
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
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This seven-week course uses the texts Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline and Devotional Life in Wesleyan Tradition (Steve Harper). Participants will be guided in discerning God's direction for their lives, practicing daily disciplines, and reaching out in love. Participants will participate in weekly class discussions based on their readings and will also experience an online small accountability group. The course will be led by Debra Dickerson. Participants are responsible for getting their own texts.
Participants will need to purchase the texts prior to the start of the workshop. Participants will be expected to be actively involved in the classroom (online) a minimum of three times per week. The accountability group assignments will be divided by gender unless there are not enough enrolled to make a group.
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
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Leading Public Prayer -- July 22 to August 2, 2013 -- $60
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. In addition, this course meets one of the requirements for Lay Speakers.
Prayer is something we learn; it is something that can be taught. For many, however, the only teaching about prayer they ever receive is modeled in Sunday worship.
As a Lay Speaker, you may find yourself the one leading prayer in worship services, as well as in other settings. It is vital then that you are knowledgeable and lead well. This course may challenge some of your assumptions, test some of your preconceived ideas, stretch your thinking and enrich your prayer life. It will, at the very least, present you with an opportunity to grow in the discipline of leading public prayer.
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This course follows the required text, Let the Whole Church Say Amen! by Laurence Hull Stookey (Abingdon Press, 2001). Each participant will need a copy of this woorkbook and should obtain it well before class begins. You will be expected to access the online workshop daily and stay current with the assignments. Therefore, obtain, read, and complete the workbook prior to the start of the course for better time management when the course begins.
This course has been approved for advanced Lay Servant Ministries credit and is the "Leading Prayer" class required for Lay Speaker certification. 1 CEU for clergy and staff is also available.
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Life Together in the United Methodist Connection -- August 19 - Sept 5, 2013 -- $55
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. In addition, this course meets one of the requirements for Lay Speakers.
Why does the United Methodist Church do things the way it does? Why is our pastor being reassigned? Why don't we get to vote on our new pastor? How do we get things done, like renovating our building or starting a new ministry? What are the rules - and why are they the rules? And what does any of this have to do with trying to be a place and a people that embody the Kingdom of God?
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Both laypeople and clergy are often confused and even frustrated by those questions and more. This class will help newcomers to the U.M.C. get their bearings, and longtime members consider the specific structural challenges the church faces in the 21st Century. Participants must have the textbook, "Polity, Practice and the Mission of the United Methodist Church" (in the latest edition available) by Thomas Edward Frank, and the 2012 ¬"United Methodist Book of Discipline." Participants should be prepared to read assignments and post their reflections on the discussion boards daily, but there is no set time to be online. (Getting and reading the book before the class starts, if possible, will make the class more relaxed and fun.)
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This class has been approved for advanced Lay Servant Ministries credit and is the "polity" class required for lay speaker certification. 1 CEU for clergy and staff is also available.
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Living Our United Methodist Beliefs -- September 9 - 23, 2013 -- $55
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. In addition, this course meets one of the requirements for Lay Speakers.
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The history, heritage, beliefs, mission and culture of the United Methodist Church for anyone who wants to know what's distinctive about being a United Methodist Christian. We'll explore the special gifts of theology, witness and organization that the United Methodist Church brings to the Church universal, how we got where we are today and how our distinctive emphases are still needed in the 21st Century church.
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This class is one of the core Lay Servant Ministries classes, but everyone is welcome! Participants must have the book, "Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way," by Bishop Kenneth Carder. Other materials will be downloaded. Participants should be prepared to read assignments and post their reflections on the discussion boards daily, but there is no set time to be online. (Getting and reading the book before the class starts, if possible, will make the class more relaxed and fun.)
This class is one of the classes required for Lay Servant Ministries lay speaker certification. 1 CEU for clergy and other staff is also available.
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Come to the Waters -- August 19 - Sept 5, 2013 (with break for Labor Day Weekend) - $55
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
Deepen your congregation's experience of baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation of baptism through this wide-ranging study of By Water and the Spirit, Scripture, Church history and United Methodist theology and practice of the sacrament. This course will reference, but go beyond, the official United Methodist teaching document on baptism. The class considers preparation of adults for baptism and the unique challenges of the digital age.
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Participants will need a Bible and a U.M. Hymnal; other materials will be downloaded. Class members should be prepared for daily reading, reflection and online discussion. This study is guaranteed to deepen your experience of baptism, providing resources and ideas for all, both laypeople and clergy, who plan and lead worship or teach confirmation or new member classes.
This class is approved for advanced Lay Servant Ministries credit and CEU's for clergy are available.
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Come to the Table -- September 9 - 23, 2013 -- $55
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This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
Deepen your experience of Holy Communion through this wide-ranging study of This Holy Mystery, Scripture, Church history and United Methodist theology and practice of the sacrament. This course will reference, but go beyond, the official U.M. documents to include art, music, film and video resources to enrich our understanding and participation in the holy meal. The class includes help in starting a Eucharistic ministry and discussion of the unique sacramental challenges of the digital age.
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Participants will need a Bible and U.M. Hymnal and, if possible, a Book of Worship; other materials will be downloaded. Class members should be prepared for daily reading, reflection and online discussion. This study is guaranteed to deepen your experience of Holy Communion, providing resources and ideas for all, both laypeople and clergy, who plan and lead worship and provide pastoral care.
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Biblical Storytelling I -- September 23 to October 7, 2013 -- $55
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
Learning the sacred stories of Scripture by heart and sharing them with others is both an ancient-future art and a powerful spiritual practice. This workshop’s methods, developed by the Network of Biblical Storytellers International, are for everyone who wishes to learn, to tell and to connect with God and other people through sacred story – yes, you can do it too! By the end of the two-week workshop you will be able to share at least one text with others by heart, and you will understand how this completely non-technological art fits into a digital-communications world. Whether you work with children in Sunday School or dream of bringing Scripture to life in worship or elsewhere, your ministry and your spirit will be enriched by this art. This class is recognized for United Methodist Advanced Lay Servant credit by the General Board of Discipleship.
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This is a two-week introduction to the ancient-future art and spiritual discipline of telling the sacred stories of Scripture. Participants will learn to prepare, learn, and tell a Biblical text by heart (not “memory”) using the methods of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International. The workshop is taught by NBS member and United Methodist deacon Beth Galbreath. There is a daily assignment (except Sundays), usually involving a short document to read and online discussion. There is also online exploration and creative work. You will get your money's worth!
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Biblical Storytelling II -- October 28 - November 18, 2013 -- $80
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries.
This workshop expands on the methods taught in Biblical Storytelling I. It explores a number of storytelling genres as well as telling the Biblical text, including midrash, chancel drama, first-person storytelling, puppetry, and more. The workshop also offers specific ideas for learning tough passages, using and not abusing voice and body, and enhancing tellings with props, digital media and more, with children and adults. It also suggests ways to deepen your practice of this art as a personal spiritual discipline. Anyone who is already practicing the art of storytelling, Biblical or secular, is welcome; Biblical Storytelling I is an excellent starting place for those new to the art but is not required. In this three-week workshop you will dive deeper into developing your unique storytelling “voice,” expand your technique and polish your art.
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Biblical Storytelling I is not a prerequisite or Biblical Storytelling II, but previous storytelling experience is highly recommended.
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Leading Worship 101 for Lay People -- $75 ($10 refund given to each if two or more members of the same congregation enroll together.)* -- Possibly offered again in Fall 2013
Do you read Scripture or lead the people in prayers on Sunday morning?
Would you like to sharpen your skills for the way you communicate at the lectern?
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. In addition, this course meets one of the requirements for Lay Speakers.
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Leading Worship 101 will focus on basic worship leadership skills for lay persons (“liturgists” or “lay readers”) who assist the pastor in leading Christian worship. If you currently help lead worship in your congregation or would like to prepare for such leadership, this course is for you. Particular emphasis will be given to basic skills: understanding your leadership role in relation to other leaders and the congregation, reading Scripture, leading prayer, distribution of the elements at the Lord’s Supper, and basic do’s and don’ts of effective worship leadership. Deacons, elders/presbyters, and lay worship leader coordinators are also welcome, particularly with an eye to doing local training and providing support to lay readers/assisting ministers in their local church settings.
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The course is offered by Daniel Benedict . This course is intensive. There will be daily assignments (Monday-Friday) for reading and for course interaction. Participants should plan on spending at least an hour a day.There will be a week of break during the course to allow for catch up and rest.
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Scheduled 2013 Lay Servant Training Opportunities within the Conference
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