About Lay Servant Ministries

Lay Servant Ministries courses are open to ALL, whether or not an enrollee applies to serve as a lay servant.

Lay Servant Ministries had its origins in the early organization of the Wesleyan revival in England in the 18th century. With more societies than ordained clergy, John Wesley authorized the use of lay assistants who preached and conducted worship in the absence of clergy. Today there are a wide range of ministries, both in the church and in the world, for lay servants.

Scripture and Christian experience point to the importance of proclaiming God’s transforming love. Lay servants fill pulpits; lead Bible studies; teach Sunday school; speak at retirement centers, to prisoners and at youth group gatherings; as well as teach and facilitate in other small group settings. Some are involved with crisis ministries or hospital visitation. Others share in caring one-on-one or are involved in a specialized ministry.

Lay Servant Ministries help Christians to claim their spiritual gifts, talents, and skills by offering empowering training. This training encourages them to find places to use their God given gifts in ministry while providing them a network of support.

Certified Lay Servant

A certified lay servant is a professing member of a local church or charge or a baptized participant of a recognized United Methodist collegiate ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting who desires to serve the church and who knows and is committed to Scripture and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church. This is a person who has received specific training to witness to the Christian faith through spoken communication, to lead within a church and community, and to provide caring ministry.

The certified lay servant serves the local church or charge (or beyond) in ways in which his or her witness, leadership, and service inspires others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. The certified lay servant, through continued study and training, should prepare to undertake one or more of the following functions, giving primary attention to service within the local church or charge, United Methodist collegiate ministry, or other United Methodist ministry setting:

Provide leadership, assistance, and support to the program emphases of the church or other United Methodist ministry
Lead meetings for prayer, training, study, and discussion when requested by the pastor, district superintendent, or committee on Lay Servant Ministries
Conduct, or assist in conducting, worship services, preach the Word, or give addresses when requested by the pastor, district superintendent, or committee on Lay Servant Ministries
Work with appropriate committees and teams which provide congregational and community leadership or foster caring ministries
Assist in the distribution of the elements of Holy Communion upon request of the pastor
Teach the Scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of The United Methodist Church

Tri-fold brochure: Certified Lay Servant (2018) (pdf)

Flow chart of the steps to become a Certified Lay Servant

Becoming a Certified Lay Servant

Complete Application to Begin as a Certified Lay Servant
Obtain the recommendation of the pastor and church council or charge conference of the local church
Complete the "Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course"
Complete an advanced Lay Servant Ministries course
Receive approval from the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries

Maintaining certification

Recognition as a certified lay servant may be renewed annually by the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries after the certified lay servant has:

Submitted 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
Obtained recommendation for renewal from the pastor and the church council or charge conference of the local church in which he or she holds membership
Completed a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course in the last 3 years

Certified Lay Speaker

A certified lay speaker is a certified lay servant whose call has been affirmed by the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries to serve the church in pulpit supply in accordance and compliance with paragraph 341.1 in the 2016 Book of Discipline. The certified lay speaker serves by preaching the Word when requested by the pastor, district superintendent, or committee on Lay Servant Ministries, in accordance and compliance with paragraph 341.1 in the 2016 Book of Discipline.

Tri-fold brochure: Certified Lay Speaker (2019) (pdf)

Flow chart of the steps to become a Certified Lay Speaker

Becoming a Certified Lay Speaker

Be a current certified lay servant
Complete Certified Lay Speaker Application to Begin or Renew
Be recommended by the pastor and the church council or charge conference of the local church in which he or she holds membership
Complete a track of study (within a 6-year period from the time of application*) of the following advanced Lay Servant Ministries courses
Leading Worship
Public Prayer (formerly Leading in Prayer)
Discover Your Spiritual Gifts
Preaching (From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon or Called to Preach!)
Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (United Methodist heritage)
Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (United Methodist polity)
Interview with and obtain recommendation from the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries
Receive approval and certification from the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries

*If a prescribed course was taken in the last 3 years before application to the program, it will count toward meeting this requirement. Consult with your district director of Lay Servant Ministries for additional details.

Maintaining certification

Recognition as a certified lay speaker may be renewed annually by the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries after the certified lay servant has:

Submitted an annual report and renewal application to the charge conference or church council and the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries, giving evidence of satisfactory performance
Obtained recommendation for continued recognition from the pastor and the church council or charge conference of the local church in which he or she holds membership

Every third year:

Completed a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course
Completed the Certified Lay Speaker Application to Begin or Renew
Interviewed with and obtained recommendation from the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries and the approval of the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries

Certified Lay Minister

For information, see https://www.igrc.org/CLM

Flow chart of steps to become a Certified Lay Minister

Lay Servant Ministries