Certified Lay Servant
Annual Reports & Renewal Requests
Certified Lay Servant Report
Certified Lay Speaker Report
Certified Lay Minister Report
Questions? Please contact:
Michigan Conference Lay Servant Ministries Co-Directors:
Colleen Croxall & Anne Marie Hanna
District Directors
Central Shores:
Janice Buckley & Sara Wolfsen
Greater Detroit:
Rickey Gibson & Paul Sadowski
Greater Southwest:
Northern Skies:
Beth Pelkey & Laurie de la Garza
CLM Program Lead
Growing in your faith
Lay Servant Ministries is an important lay leadership development program within the United Methodist connection. It equips and empowers lay servants to have opportunities to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Disciples who then go and make other disciples.
Lay Servant Ministries can be a significant component of any discipleship system, training participants in Hospitality, Offering Christ, Purpose and Engagement.
Becoming a Lay Servant
Classes can be taken in a variety of locations and dates including online. The Lay Servant Ministry Committee organizes classes to fit the needs of participants, specific requests for a topic, and to meet certification requirements.
The conference committee encourages the BASIC course and preaching course to be taken in person (within district) to foster community connection. BASIC and Preaching can be offered and taken via video conferencing. Some classes (no more than 50%) can be taken through BeADisciple.com. When taking an online class it is the responsibility of the individual to provide completion/certification information to the district committee.
Lay servant classes generally fall into the following categories: Introduction to Lay Ministry, Spiritual Gifts, United Methodist Heritage, United Methodist Polity, Leading Worship, Leading Prayer, Preaching.
Everyone must complete a BASIC course before becoming a Certified Lay Servant. Districts post class offerings online with registration information. Participants may take classes in any location but are responsible to provide their local district with proof of completion.
Levels of Certification in Lay Servant Ministries and Process Details
Certified Lay Servant Process
Certified Lay Speaker Process
Certified Lay Minister Process
Certified Lay Minister Process
If you are interested in becoming a Certified Lay Minister, be sure to contact your district Lay Servant Director. CLM information and current classes can be found here.
Upcoming LSM Classes
Please see the list below for available courses, times and locations. Click the links within the table for registration. Please note the requirements below.
The detailed process of becoming a Lay Servant and certification levels can be found on the left, and general information in the Lay Servant Ministries Equipping Resources booklet.
Schedule of Lay Servant Ministry Classes
A list of all Lay Servant Ministry Classes available in Michigan. Find one that fits your schedule and location.| District | Course | Date & Time | Location | Cost | Register | Contact Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Detroit | Basic | 1pm-3pm Sundays: October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (Consecration at 3pm) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Lead Public Worship | 1pm-3pm Sundays: October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (Consecration at 3pm) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Polity (Book of Discipline) | 1pm-3pm Sundays: October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (Consecration at 3pm) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Loving People and Planet in God's Name | 1pm-3pm Sundays: October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (Consecration at 3pm) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Spiritual Gifts | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - November 17, 19, 21 and December 10 and 12 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Preaching | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - November 17, 19, 21 and December 10 and 12 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Biblical Storytelling (Dancing with Words) | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - November 17, 19, 21 and December 10 and 12 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Knowing Who We Are as United Methodists | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - November 17, 19, 21 and December 10 and 12 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Leading Adult Bible Study (Teaching Biblical Faith, Leading Small Group Bible Studies) | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - January (2027) 19, 21, 23 and February 2, 4, 6 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | History and Tradition UMC | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - January (2027) 19, 21, 23 and February 2, 4, 6 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Accountable Discipleship | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - January (2027) 19, 21, 23 and February 2, 4, 6 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Justice in Everyday Life | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - January (2027) 19, 21, 23 and February 2, 4, 6 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Lead Public Prayer | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Ministry with the Forgotten: Dementia | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Through The Spiritual Lens (+ Mama's Still Here) | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Praying in the Arts | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Transforming Evangelism | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | Knowing Who We Are as United Methodists | 7pm-9pm Tuesday and Thursdays + 10am-Noon Saturdays - April (2027) 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 (Consecration: Noon) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Greater Detroit | See All the People | 10am-1pm Saturdays and 2pm-4pm Sundays - August (2027) 14, 15, 20, 21 (Consecration: 4pm) | Hazel Park: First UMC 315 E. Nine Mile Road or via Zoom | $30 | Registration Form | Paul Sadowski |
| Central Shores | Basic Course | September 25-26 (Register by September 14) | White Lake UMC, Montague | $30. Participants responsible for purchasing book. | Registration | Janice Buckley |
| Central Shores | Worship Design | September 25-26 (Register by September 14) | White Lake UMC, Montague | $30. Participants responsible for purchasing book. | Registration | Janice Buckley |
| Central Shores | Frese Expressions | September 25-26 (Register by September 14) | White Lake UMC, Montague | $30. Participants responsible for purchasing book. | Registration | Janice Buckley |
- Pre-registration is required for all classes.
- Each course includes 10 hours of class time as well as outside reading.
- For credit toward certification, participants must attend the entire course and complete all work.
- Please bring a Bible, pen and notebook.
- For your convenience, you may participate in courses outside of your home district – just make sure to share the course details and a copy of the certificate with your home district director.