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Advanced Courses

Advanced courses are developed by Discipleship Ministries.  Advanced courses provide at least 10 hours of instruction.  Advanced courses use a required text and will involve pre-course assignments.

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

 

Conference Wide Alternative Advanced Courses

To receive continuing education credit for an Alternative Advanced Course, you must:

  1. Contact your District Director(s) of Lay Servant Ministries PRIOR to attending the event for approval and to obtain the required Continuing Education Form. 
  2. Take the Continuing Education Form to the event and obtain the instructor's signature at the end of the course.
  3. Upon completion of the course and your portion of the form, return the completed form to your District Director to receive credit.

Prior permission is NOT required to take a regular Advanced Course outside of your home District.

 

Opportunity #1

Title:  Walking with Jesus in the Wesleyan Spirit
Dates:  Sept. 22-23, 2017; Nov. 18, 2017; Feb. 17, 2018; and Mar. 24, 2018
COMPLETED.

 

District Sponsored Trainings

Cache River District

#1
Title:  Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturdays, May 5 and 12, 2018 (both dates required) 
COMPLETED.

#2
Title: You Can Preach! (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Friday, June 15, and Saturday, June 16, 2018 (both dates required)
COMPLETED.
 

Embarras River District

#1
Title:  Dancing with Words
Dates:  Saturdays, Oct. 13 and 20, 2018 (both days required)
Time:  7:30 AM-3:30 PM (Registration begins at 7:15 AM)
Location:  Centenary UMC, 203 E Grove Ave, Effingham, IL 62401
Cost:  $35.00 (includes two meals and snacks)
Registration deadline:  Monday, Oct. 1  Registration on-line soon.
Contact:  Lori Sparks, 217-259-3234, la_sparks2008@yahoo.com
Required text: Dancing with Words by Ray Buckley (ISBN 978-0-88177-407-8). Individuals are expected to purchase and read this book prior to first class.  Available through Upper Room, Cokesbury, and Amazon.

#2
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturdays, Oct. 13 and 20, 2018 (both days required)
Time:  7:30 AM-3:30 PM (Registration begins at 7:15 AM)
Location:  Centenary UMC, 203 E Grove Ave, Effingham, IL 62401
Cost:  $35.00 (includes two meals and snacks)
Registration deadline:  Monday, Oct. 1  Registration on-line soon.
Contact:  Lori Sparks, 217-259-3234, la_sparks2008@yahoo.com
Required text: Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth Carder (ISBN 978-0-88177-571-6).  Individuals are expected to purchase this text and read the book prior to the first class. Available through Amazon, Upper Room, or Cokesbury.

 

Illinois River District

#1
Title:  Called to Preach! (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 (both days required) 
COMPLETED.

#2
Title:  Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 (both days required) 
COMPLETED.

 

Iroquois River District

#1  
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018
COMPLETED.

#2  
Title:  Life Together in the UM Connection (Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018
COMPLETED.

 

Kaskaskia River District

Title:  Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018
Time:  8:00 AM-6:30 PM
Location: West Salem Trinity UMC, 4212 Broadway St, Mt Vernon, IL 62864
Cost:  $40.00 (includes all materials and snacks).  Bring a sack lunch.
Registration deadline: Nov. 1, 2018.   Registration on-line.
Instructor:  Rev. Harold Quick
Contact:  RC Merten, rcmjr608@charter.net, 618-918-0124

 

LaMoine River District

#1
Title: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: May 5, 2018
COMPLETED.

#2
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: May 5, 2018
COMPLETED.

 

Mississippi River District

 

Sangamon River District

#1
Title: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Nov. 3 and 4, 2018 (both days required)
Times:  Saturday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Cotton Hill UMC, 5931 N Cotton Hill Rd, Springfield, IL 62712
Cost:  $30.00 (make checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 29, 2018.  Advanced registration is required.  Please use registration form (check appropriate course).
Instructor: TBA
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard, floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  Each One a Minister by William J. Carter (ISBN DR375-0-88177-375-0).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class.  Available through Amazon (paperback or Kindle), Cokesbury, or Upper Room (paperback, Kindle, or EPub).

#2
Title:  Life Together in the UM Connection (UM Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Nov. 3 and 4, 2018 (both days required)
Times:  Saturday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Cotton Hill UMC, 5931 N Cotton Hill Rd, Springfield, IL 62712
Cost:  $30.00 (make checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 29, 2018.  Advanced registration is required.  Please use registration form (check appropriate course).
Instructor: Rev. Floyd Blackard
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard, floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  The Method of Our Mission by Laceye C. Warner (ISBN 978-1-42676-717-3).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class. Available through Amazon (paperback or Kindle), Abingdon Press (paperback or EPub), Cokesbury, or Upper Room.

#3
Title:  Called to Preach  (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Nov. 3 and 4, 2018 (both days required)
Times:  Saturday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Cotton Hill UMC, 5931 N Cotton Hill Rd, Springfield, IL 62712
Cost:  $30.00 (make checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 29, 2018.  Advanced registration is required.  Please use registration form (check appropriate course).
Instructor: Rev. Ken Dees
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard, floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie (ISBN  978-0-68706-6605). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class.  Available through Amazon (paperback or Kindle), Abingdon Press (paperback or EPub), Cokesbury, or Upper Room.

#4
Title:  Dancing with Words
Dates:  Nov. 3 and 4, 2018 (both days required)
Times:  Saturday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Cotton Hill UMC, 5931 N Cotton Hill Rd, Springfield, IL 62712
Cost:  $30.00 (make checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 29, 2018.  Advanced registration is required.  Please use registration form (check appropriate course).
Instructor:  Rev. Donn Stephens
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard, floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  Dancing With Words by Ray Buckley (ISBN-978-0-88177-407-5).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class.  Available through Amazon, Cokesbury, or Upper Room.

 

Spoon River District

#1
Title:  Leading Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, July 21, 2018
COMPLETED.

#2
Title:  Life Together in the UM Connection (Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Wednesday, Aug. 1, and Thursday, Aug.2, 2018 (both dates required)
COMPLETED.

#3
Title:  Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018
COMPLETED.

#4
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Location: Galesburg First UMC, 120 N Kellogg St, Galesburg, IL 61401
Cost: $40.00, includes book, lunch and snacks. 
Registration deadline:  Oct. 20, 2018
Instructor: Pastor Paul Newhall
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net

 

Vermilion River District

Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 and 4, 2018 (NEW DATES)
Time:  Saturday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 2:00-5:00 PM.  
Location:  McDowell UMC, 18156 E 1400 North Rd, Pontiac, IL 61764
Cost:  $40.00 (includes lunch, snacks, and certificate)
Registration deadline: October 20.  Advance registration is required.  Register on-line now!  
Instructor:  Rev. Kim Stuby
Contact:  Amy Smith at  SmithAmyL678@gmail.com
Required text: Living Our Beliefs:  The United Methodist Way by Bishop Kenneth Carder (ISBN 9780881775716).  Participants  are expected to read this text prior to class and complete required assignments, due electronically to instructor by October 22, 2018.  Available through Amazon (paperback & kindle), Upper Room, and Cokesbury.

Lay Servant Ministries