Find a church Clergy Directory Districts Church Portal SupportLinc Request Meeting Room Staff Email
About Us Bishop Beard News Get Involved Our Conference, Our Kids

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:  Aug. 23-24, Oct. 5, and Nov. 16, 2019 (all dates required)
CANCELLED.

 

District Sponsored Trainings

Cache River District


Title:  Lay Pastoral Care Giving
Dates: Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 (both dates required) (bring a sack lunch)
Time:  Friday, 6:00-8:00 PM; Saturday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM 
Location:  Marion Aldersgate UMC, 1201 N. Fair St., Marion, IL 62959
Cost: $35.00
Registration deadline:  Oct. 25, 2019
Instructor: TBA
Contact:  Roberta DePuy, 573-201-6650;  happyfish27@hotmail.com;  PO Box 96, Marion, IL 62959
Required text: Lay Pastoral Care Giving by Tim Farabaugh (ISBN 978-0-88177-554-9).  Individuals are expected to purchase, read, and study this book prior to first class.  Available through Upper Room, Amazon, and Cokesbury.

 

Embarras River District

 

Illinois River District

Title:  Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, October 12, 2019 (Please note:  THIS IS A NEW DATE)
COMPLETED.

 

Iroquois River District

#1
Title:  Called to Preach! (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019
COMPLETED.

#2
Title:  Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019
COMPLETED.

 

Kaskaskia River District

#1
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019
COMPLETED.

#2
Title:  From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon (Preaching) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturdays, Nov. 2 and 9, 2019 (both dates required)
Time:  10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location:  Beulah UMC, 1040 Beulah Ln, Sumner, IL 62466
Cost:  $30
Registration deadline: Oct. 21, 2019
Instructor:  Rev. Mike Rucker
Contact:  Nancy Myers, 618-553-2645, nmyers941@gmail.com
Required Text:  From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon by Tony Franks and David Carroll (ISBN 978-0-88177-536-5).  Registrant must order, read, and study text prior to class.  Available from Amazon, Cokesbury, and Barnes & Noble.  

#3
Title:  God’s Mission…Our Journey
Date:  Saturdays, Nov. 2 and 9, 2019 (both dates required)
Time:  10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location:  Beulah UMC, 1040 Beulah Ln, Sumner, IL 62466
Cost:  $30
Registration deadline: Oct. 21, 2019
Instructor:  Nancy Myers, CLM
Contact:  Nancy Myers, 618-553-2645, nmyers941@gmail.com
Required Text:  A Mission Journey: A Handbook for Volunteers (ISBN 978-0-8358-1786-8).  Registrant must order, read, and study text prior to class.  Available at Upper Room and Amazon.  Available for Kindle.

 

LaMoine River District

Title:  Life Together in the UM Connection (UM Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019
COMPLETED.

 

Mississippi River District

Title:  Discover Your Spiritual Gifts
Dates:  Saturday, Aug. 24 and 31, 2019 (both days required)
COMPLETED.

 

Sangamon River District

#1
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 (both dates required)
Times:  Saturday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday, 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Argenta UMC, 520 W Elm St, Argenta, IL 62501; 217-795-4722
Cost:  $30  (Checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 27, 2019.  Advanced registration is required.  Download form.  Make sure you mark class you plan to attend.
Instructor:  Rev. Donn Stephens
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard at floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carder (ISBN 978-0-88177-571-6).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class.  Available through Amazon, Upper Room, and Cokesbury.  Available for Kindle and EPub.

#2
Title:  Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution
Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 (both dates required)
Times:  Saturday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday, 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Argenta UMC, 520 W Elm St, Argenta, IL 62501; 217-795-4722
Cost:  $30  (Checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 27, 2019.  Advanced registration is required. Download form.  Make sure you mark class you plan to attend.
Instructor:  Rev. Floyd Blackard
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard at floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation by Thomas Porter (ISBN 978-0-8358-1026-1).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to the first class.  Available through Amazon, Upper Room, and Cokesbury.

#3
Title:  Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 (both dates required)
Times:  Saturday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday, 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Argenta UMC, 520 W Elm St, Argenta, IL 62501; 217-795-4722
Cost:  $30 (Checks payable to IGRC and send with registration.)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 27, 2019.  Advanced registration is required. Download form.  Make sure you mark class you plan to attend.
Instructor:  Beth Fender
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard at 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, Abingdon Press, and Cokesbury.  Available as Kindle and e-Book.

#4
Title:  Called to Preach (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 (both dates required)
Times:  Saturday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday, 2:00-5:00 PM
Location:  Argenta UMC, 520 W Elm St, Argenta, IL 62501; 217-795-4722
Cost:  $30  (Checks payable to IGRC and send with registration form)
Registration deadline:  Oct. 27, 2019.  Advanced registration is required. Download form.  Make sure you mark class you plan to attend.
Instructor:  Rev. Sylvester Weatherall
Contact:  Bobbi Blackard at floyd.bobbi.blackard@gmail.com or 217-825-7303 (text or call)
Required text:  From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie (ISBN  978-0-68706-660-5).  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.

 

Spoon River District

#1
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, July 13, 2019
COMPLETED.

#2
Title:  Public Prayer  (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2019
COMPLETED.

#3
Title:  Called to Preach! (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
COMPLETED.

#4
Title:  Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates:  Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
COMPLETED.

#5
Title:  God’s Mission…Our Journey
Date:  Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019
Time:  8:00 AM-6:30 PM
Location:  Christ United UMC, 3801 7th St, East Moline, IL 61244-3506
Cost:  $20 (includes lunch and snacks).  
Registration deadline: Oct. 2, 2019. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor:  Jozett McCoy
Contact:  Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required Text:  A Mission Journey: A Handbook for Volunteers (ISBN 978-0-8358-1786-8).  Available at Upper Room and Amazon.  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class.  Available for Kindle.

#6
Title:  Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019
Time:  8:00 AM-6:30 PM
Location:  Christ United UMC, 3801 7th St, East Moline, IL 61244-3506
Cost:  $20 (includes lunch and snacks).  
Registration deadline: Oct. 2, 2019. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor:  Christine Harper
Contact:  Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required text:  Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carder (ISBN 978-0-88177-571-6).  Individuals are expected to purchase the text and read it prior to class.  Available through Amazon, Upper Room, and Cokesbury.  Available for Kindle and as ePub.

 

Vermilion River District

#1
Title:  Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, July 13, 2019
COMPLETED.

#2  
Title:  Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM Polity)  (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
COMPLETED.

Lay Servant Ministries