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 2022. 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
Title: Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022
Times: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Location: Morton UMC, 420 N Tennessee Ave., Morton, IL 61550
Cost: $ 20.00 (bring a sack lunch and your own snacks; coffee and water will be provided)
Instructor: Rev. Bradley Watkins III
Contact: Kim Wade, kamwade77@outlook.com or 309-825-7237 (call or text)
Required text: The Method of Our Mission by Laceye C. Warner (978-1-42676-717-3) 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.
Iroquois River District
#1
Title: Leading Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Friday, April 29, 2022 and Saturday, April 30, 2022 (both dates required).
COMPLETED.
#2
Title: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Friday, April 29, 2022 and Saturday, April 30, 2022 (both dates required).
COMPLETED.
Kaskaskia River District
Title: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, May 21, 2022
COMPLETED.
LaMoine River District
#1
Title: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022
COMPLETED.
#2
Title: Lay Servants as Christian Transformational Leaders
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022
COMPLETED.
Mississippi River District
Sangamon River District
#1
Title: Public Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Wednesdays, May 4-June 1, 2022 (all dates required)
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: ZOOM Class
Cost: $15
Instructor: Rev. Andrew Maxwell
Registration deadline: May 2, 2022. 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.
#2
Title: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM heritage) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Dates: Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10 (both dates required)
Times: Saturday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM and Sunday, 2:00-6:00 PM
Location: Zoom Video Class
Cost: $15.
Registration deadline: July 6. Register at igrc-reg.brtapp.com/srdadvancedayspeaking72
Instructors: Rev. Bradley Watkins, II and Rev. Brennan Hurley
Contact: Carol Conover at 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.
Spoon River District
Title: Becoming Accountable Disciples
Date: Saturday, July 30, 2022
Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Location: This will be a virtual class only. A link to participate will be sent a week prior to the class.
Cost: $25. The first 8 people to register will be sent the textbook at no additional charge.
Registration deadline: July 14, 2022. Register at cemken@mymctc.net
Instructor: Claudia Emken, certified lay speaker; Director of Lay Servant Ministries for Spoon River District.
Contact: Claudia Emken, cemken@mymctc.net.
Required Text: Accountable Discipleship by Steven W. Manskar (ISBN 978-0-88177-339-2). Available through Cokesbury, Upper Room, and Amazon.
Vermilion River District
#1
Title: Leading Prayer (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker track)
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Time: 8:30 AM-7:15 PM
Location: Saybrook-Wesbein United Methodist Church, 113 N. Main St, Saybrook IL 61770
Cost: $30. Please bring your own lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Instructor: Pastor Aletha Weatherall
Registration deadline: June 17, 2022 . Register here
Contact: Dee Wilson, deewilson@mchsi.com
Text: Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher (ISBN 978-0-8028-7097-1). Purchase and read book before class. Available through Amazon and Cokesbury.
#2
Title: Life Together In The Methodist Connection (Polity) (counts toward Certified Lay Speaker Track)
Date: Saturday June 25, 2022
Time: 8:30AM-7:15PM
Location: Saybrook-Wesbein United Methodist Church, 113 N Main, St, Saybrook, IL, 61770
Cost: $30. Please bring your own lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Instructor: Pastor Julie Smith
Registration deadline: June 17, 2022. Register here
Contact: Dee Wilson, deewilson@mchsi.com
Text: The Method of our Mission: United Methodist Polity & Organization by Layece C. Warner (ISBN 978-1-4267-6717-3). Purchase and read the book prior to class. Available through Upper Room, Amazon, and Cokesbury.
