CERTIFIED LAY SERVANT

The Certified Lay Servant is committed to scripture, the doctrine, heritage, organization and life of The United Methodist Church. They have received specific training to witness to the Christian faith through spoken communication, to lead within a church and community, and to provide caring ministry. A Certified Lay Servant must be a professing member of a local church or charge or baptized participant of recognized United Methodist collegiate ministry.

To become a Certified Lay Servant, you must:

• Obtain recommendation from the pastor and church council or charge conference in which you hold membership.
• Complete the Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The BASIC Course.
• Complete an advanced lay servant ministries course.
• Apply to and have qualifications reviewed by the district committee on lay servant ministries.

To maintain Certified Lay Ministry status, you must:  

• Submit an annual report and renewal application to the charge conference or church council and to the district committee on lay servant ministries giving evidence of satisfactory performance as a Certified Lay Servant.
• Obtain recommendation for renewal from the pastor and church council or charge conference of the local church or other UM ministry you hold membership.
• Complete a lay servant ministries advanced course every three years.

CERTIFIED LAY SPEAKER

The Certified Lay Speaker serves by preaching the Word when requested by the pastor, district superintendent, or committee on lay servant ministries. A certified lay speaker is a certified lay servant whose call has been affirmed by the conference committee on lay servant ministries to serve in the church in pulpit supply. (See The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church ¶341.1)

To become a Certified Lay Speaker, you must:

• Be a Certified Lay Servant.
• Obtain recommendation from the pastor and church council or charge conference of the local church in which you hold membership.
• Complete a course of study including courses on leading worship, leading prayer, discovering spiritual gifts, preaching, United Methodist heritage, and polity, and/or other courses as determined by the conference committee on lay servant ministries.
• Interview with and obtain recommendation from the district committee on lay servant ministries for approval and certification. District interview deadlines differ. Final approval will be done at the Annual Conference Lay Servant Ministry Director meeting. Please check with your district committee chair for dates.

To maintain as a Certified Lay Speaker, you must:

• Submit an annual report and renewal application to the charge conference or church council and to the district committee on lay servant ministries giving evidence of satisfactory performance as a certified lay speaker
• Obtain recommendation for continued recognition as a certified lay speaker from the pastor and church council or charge conference of the local church or other United Methodist ministry in which you hold membership.
Complete a lay servant ministries advanced course in the last three years.
• In the last three years, have been interviewed and obtained recommendation for renewal as a certified lay speaker from the district committee on lay servant ministries and approval of the conference committee on lay servant ministries for recertification.

CERTIFIED LAY MINISTER

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Lay Minister, please contact your district superintendent or district and conference committee on lay servant ministries.