Advanced Courses
Some face-to-face courses are again being offered on a limited basis. 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 are suspending 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
Embarras River District
Illinois River District
Iroquois River District
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturdays, May 1 and 8, 2021 (both dates required)
Times: 8:30 AM-1:30 PM both dates
Location: Arthur UMC, 128 E Illinois St, Arthur, IL 61911
Cost: $40
Registration deadline: April 23, 2021
Instructor: Rev. Bob Sabo
Contact: Susan Connor, radtech20032003@yahoo.com
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
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Beulah UMC, 1040 Beulah Lane, Sumner, IL 62466.
Cost: $20.00
Registration deadline: April 10, 2021
Instructor: Pastor Mike Rucker
Contact: Nancy Volk, volkster45@hotmail.com or 618-843-8655
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.
LaMoine River District
#1
Title: Leading Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM (breakfast foods, lunch, and snacks provided)
Location: Greenfield UMC, 400 Prairie, Greenfield, IL 62044
Cost: $30 with own text; $40 for class and text
Registration deadline: April 23, 2021
Instructor: Pastor Rob Roper
Contact: Peg Ratliff. 217-883-0137; pegrat04@hotmail.com
Required Text: Let the Whole Church Say Amen by Laurence Stookey (ISBN 9780687090778). Available through Amazon and Abingdon Press. Available as ebook.
#2
Title: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM (breakfast foods, lunch, and snacks provided)
Location: Greenfield UMC, 400 Prairie, Greenfield, IL 62044
Cost: $30 with own text; $40 for class and text
Registration deadline: April 23, 2021
Instructor: Pastor Becky Williams
Contact: Peg Ratliff. 217-883-0137; pegrat04@hotmail.com
Required Text: Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carder (ISBN 978-0-88177-571-6). Available through Amazon, Upper Room, and Cokesbury. Available for Kindle and EPub.
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)
Times: Saturday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00-4:00 PM; and Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Zoom Video Class
Cost: $15.
Registration deadline: March 15. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Instructor: Rev. Donn Stephens
Contact: Carol Conover, cconover@igrc.org or 217-529-3820
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: 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)
Times: Saturday, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, and Sunday, 2:00-5:00 PM
Location: Zoom Video Class
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: April 10. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Instructors: Floyd & Bobbi Blackard
Contact: Carol Conover, cconover@igrc.org or 217-529-3820
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.
#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)
Times: Saturday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00-4:00 PM; and Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Zoom Video Class
Cost: $15.
Registration deadline: April 12. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedlayspeaking
Instructor: Rev. Donn Stephens
Contact: Carol Conover, cconover@igrc.org or 217-529-3820
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.
#4
Title: Leading Worship (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, 2021 (both dates requires)
Times: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Saturday and 2-5 pm Sunday
Location: Lifesize video class
Cost: $ 15.00
Instructor: Taylor Penseneau
Registration deadline: June 20. 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: Leading Bible Study
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Elmwood UMC, 821 West Main St., Elmwood. This will be offered in person and via Zoom.
Cost: $20. In-person participants must bring their own lunch and snacks. Due to Covid-19 guidelines no food or drink will be provided. Masks are required for in-person participants and proper social distancing will be in place.
Registration deadline: May 8, 2021. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor: Bill Schumaker, Certified Lay Speaker
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required text: Biblical Interpretation: A Roadmap by Sharon Ringe and Frederick Tiffany (ISBN 978-687016082). Available at Cokesbury or Amazon. Participant must purchase their own book. Pre-class assignments will be sent once registration received.
#2
Title: Called to Preach (counts toward certified lay speaker track)
Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Elmwood UMC, 821 West Main St., Elmwood. This will be offered in person and via Zoom.
Cost: $20. In-person participants must bring their own lunch and snacks. Due to Covid-19 guidelines no food or drink will be provided. Masks are required for in-person participants and proper social distancing will be in place.
Registration deadline: June 5, 2021. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructors: Pastor Don Shane, Viola/Preemption UMC, and Pastor Teri Shane, Williamsfield/Dahinda UMC
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net
Required text: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie (ISBN 978-0-687-06660-5). Participant must purchase their own book. Available at Cokesbury. Pre-class assignments will be sent once registration received.
Vermilion River District
