Advanced Courses
Our standing policy is: “Online Courses may be counted as continuing education on the same basis as Alternative Advanced Courses can be counted (every other time a Certified Lay Servant completes continuing education for credit).” We have suspended this policy through the end of 2021. You may take an on-line class to meet continuing education requirements for Certified Lay Servant and Certified Lay Speaker without prior approval from your District Director. (Please remember that you must submit your certificate of completion of any on-line classes with your next annual report.)
Some districts are offering virtual courses. Also on-line classes may be taken through BeADisciple.com. They offer a wide variety of classes, so please make sure you are taking only those courses approved for Lay Servant Ministries. The list of approved classes can be found at https://www.beadisciple.com/lay-servant-ministries/ Please be aware that classes may fill up quickly.
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. Classes that "count toward the Lay Speaker track" may be taken by anyone, not just individuals pursuing Certified Lay Speaker status.
Conference Wide Alternative Advanced Courses
To receive continuing education credit for an Alternative Advanced Course, you must:
- Contact your District Director(s) of Lay Servant Ministries PRIOR to attending the event for approval and to obtain the required Continuing Education Form.
- Take the Continuing Education Form to the event and obtain the instructor's signature at the end of the course.
- 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
None available at this time.
District Sponsored Trainings
Cache River District
Title: Leading Worship (counts towards Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 (both dates required)
Times: Friday, 6:00-8:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM on Saturday
Location: Marion Aldersgate UMC, 1201 N Fair St, Marion, IL
Cost: $20
Registration Deadline: Oct. 29, 2021
Instructors: Ann Conner, Rick Wilson, and Angie Kaye Ransom
Contact: Ann Conner, call or text 618-571-0880
Required Text: Worshiping with United Methodists (Rev.) by Hoyt Hickman (ISBN 978-0-687-33526-8). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class. Available through Cokesbury and Amazon. Available as ebook. Once you sign up you will be sent a syllabus with required assignments.
Embarras River District
Illinois River District
Iroquois River District
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 (both dates required)
Times: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM on Oct. 8 and 8:00 AM-7:00 PM on Oct. 9. Registration at 5:30 PM, Oct. 8.
Location: Arthur UMC, 128 E Illinois St, Arthur, IL 61911
Cost: $40
Registration deadline: Sept. 20, 2021
Instructor: Rev. Bob Sabo
Contact: Susan Connor, call or text 217-259-1649. Register at https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/IRD2021FallAdvancedLayServantCourseLeadingWorship
Required Text: Worshiping with United Methodists (Rev.) by Hoyt Hickman (ISBN 978-0-687-33526-8). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class. Available through Cokesbury and Amazon. Available as ebook.
Kaskaskia River District
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2021
COMPLETED.
LaMoine River District
#1
Title: Leading Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
COMPLETED.
#2
Title: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
COMPLETED.
Mississippi River District
Sangamon River District
Title: Public Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: 5 Tuesdays - Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, and Oct. 26, 2021 (all dates required)
Time: 6:30-8:30 PM.
Location: ZOOM Class
Cost: $15
Instructor: Rev. Andrew Maxwell
Registration deadline: Sept. 21, 2021. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Contact: Carol Conover, cconover@igrc.org
Required text: Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher (978-0-80287-097-1). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class. Available through Cokesbury, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
Title: Called to Preach (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturdays, Nov. 13 and 20, 2021 (both dates required)
Times: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location: ZOOM Class
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Nov. 12, 2021. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Instructor: Rev. Bradley Watkins, II and Brian Caughlan
Contact: Carol Conover at cconover@igrc.org.
Required text: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie (ISBN 978-0-68706-660-5). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class. Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Cokesbury. Available for Kindle.
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: 5 Thursdays – September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, and October 28, 2021
Times: 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: ZOOM
Cost: $ 15.00
Instructor: Rev. Haley Hausman
Registration deadline: September 23, 2021. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Contact: Carol Conover, cconover@igrc.org
Required text: Worshiping with United Methodists (Rev.) by Hoyt Hickman (978-0-68733-526-8). Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class. Available through Cokesbury and Amazon. Available as ebook.
Spoon River District
#1
Title: Living Our UM Beliefs (open to anyone; counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturdays, Nov. 6 and 13, 2021 (both dates required)
Time: 8:00 AM to noon each day. There are required videos to watch outside of class.
Location: Riverside UMC, 712 16th St, Moline, IL. Also offered as a Zoom class; link to be provided upon registration.
Cost: $20, participants bring their own snacks and drinks.
Registration deadline: Oct. 23, 2021. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor: Christine Harper, Spoon River District Certified Lay Speaker
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required text: Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carder (978-0-88177-571-6_. Available through Upper Room and Amazon. Available as an e-book. Participant is required to purchase own book. There will also be required pre-class homework and recordings to watch.
#2
Title: Leading Missional Small Groups (open to anyone.)
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 6 and 13, 2021 (both dates required)
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM each day. There are also required videos to watch outside of class and pre-class homework.
Location: Riverside UMC, 712 16th St, Moline, IL Also offered as a Zoom class; link to be provided upon registration.
Cost: $20, participants bring their own snacks and drinks
Registration deadline: Oct. 23, 2021. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor: Jozett McCoy, Spoon River District Certified Lay Speaker and Deacon Candidate
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required text: Transforming Community, The Wesleyan Way to Missional Congregations by Henry H. Knight III and F. Douglas Powe Jr. (978-0-88177-754-3). Participants are required to buy their own book. Books are available at Upper Room or Amazon. Available as an e-book at either site.
Vermilion River District
