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: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, June 26 and July 10, 2021 (both dates required)
COMPLETED.
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
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
#1
Title: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, March 20; Sunday, March 21; and Tuesday, March 23, 2021 (all dates required)
COMPLETED.
#2
Title: Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18, 2021 (both dates required)
COMPLETED.
#3
Title: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, April 17; Sunday, April 18; and Tuesday, April 20, 2021 (all dates required)
COMPLETED.
#4
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27, 2021 (both dates required)
COMPLETED
#5
Title: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16
COMPLETED.
Spoon River District
#1
Title: Leading Bible Study
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021
COMPLETED.
#2
Title: Called to Preach (counts toward certified lay speaker track)
Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
COMPLETED.
Vermilion River District
