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Lay Servant Ministries Documents

Five ceramic bowls
 

Certified Lay Servant
Annual Reports

Certified Lay Servant Report HERE
Certified Lay Speaker Report HERE
Certified Lay Minister Report HERE

 

Questions?

Please contact Michigan Conference Lay Servant Ministries Director Colleen Croxall

District Directors

Central Bay: Ray Francis & Janice Buckley
East Winds: Kristen LePalm & Becki Brice
Greater Detroit: Rickey Gibson & Paul Sadowski
Greater Southwest: TBD
Heritage: Anne Marie Hanna
Northern Skies: Liane Callow
Western Waters: SK Osborn & Sara Wolfsen

CLM Program Lead

CLM Sharon Appling

Documents for Lay Servant Ministries

This page will include any available documents that will help with the certification and processing of Certified Lay Servants, Certified Lay Speakers and Certified Lay Ministers. All are available as downloadable and printable documents.

A list of all available documents is available as a printable and clickable PDF for download here.

 
 
 

Certification Database by District

The Lay Servant Ministries Certification Database is compiled by the Associate Director for Lay Leadership Development. It includes Certified Lay Ministers and Certified Lay Speakers. It cannot be edited through these links. If there is a correction to be made please contact your District LSM Director.

Central Bay
East Winds
Greater Detroit
Greater Southwest
Heritage
Northern Skies
 
Western Waters
 
 
 
 

Lay Speaker Congregational Evaluation Questions

Lay Speaker District LSM Committee Question Guide

 
 
 

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. (See ¶266 of The Book of Discipline of The UMC - 2016.)

To become a Certified Lay Servant, you must:

  • Complete Intro to LSM: BASIC Course
  • Complete Advanced LSM Course
  • Recommendation from pastor
  • Recommendation from church council or charge conf.
  • Review & approved by CCLSM or dCLSM

To maintain Certified Lay Servant status, you must: 

  • Report & renewal application to charge conf. or church council
  • Report & renewal application to dCLSM
  • Complete LSM Advanced course in last 3 years
  • Review & approved/certified by CCLSM or dCLSM

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 ¶267 of The Book of Discipline of The UMC - 2016.)

To become a Certified Lay Speaker, you must:

  • Current Certified Lay Servant
  • Recommendation from pastor
  • Recommendation from church council or charge conf.
  • Complete track of study that includes 1 course from each subject of: Leading Worship, Leading Prayer, Discovering Spiritual Gifts, Preaching, UM Heritage, UM Polity
  • Submit text, audio/video of sermon
  • Submit 3 sermon evals & current charge conf. annual report
  • Interview with & obtain recommendation from dCLSM
  • Review & approved/certified by CCLSM

To maintain as a Certified Lay Speaker, you must:

  • Report & renewal application to charge conf. or church council
  • Recommendation from pastor & church council or charge conf.
  • Complete LSM Advanced course in last 3 years
  • Report & renewal application to dCLSM
  • Interview with & obtain recommendation for renewal from dCLSM in last 3 years
  • Review & approved/recertified by CCLSM

CERTIFIED LAY MINISTER

A certified lay minister is called and equipped to preach the Word, conduct public worship, care for the congregation, develop faith communities, lead small groups, or establish community outreach ministries as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergyperson. (See ¶268.2 of The Book of Discipline of The UMC - 2016.)

  • Consult with pastor; read & discuss The Christian as a Minister
  • Current Certified Lay Servant
  • Complete Leading Bible Study
  • Current Certified Lay Speaker
  • Recommendation from pastor
  • Recommendation from church council or charge conf.
  • Recommendation from District Director of LSM
  • Recommendation from DS
  • Complete 4 module academy courses
  • Complete Protection Policy training
  • Submit request to be CLM to CCLSM
  • Request interview with dCOM & recommendation from dCOM
  • Review & approved/certified by CCLSM
  • Renewal required every 2 years

Last Updated on January 26, 2024

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The Michigan Conference