Certified lay speakers are laity who are ready to answer the call to fill a pulpit for a pastor who is sick or is otherwise in need of a substitute preacher. In the North Carolina Conference, we have more than fifty laity who are trained and ready to be serve (Meet Our Lay Speakers).
If you are interested in becoming a certified lay speaker, now is a great time! This January and February, we are offering four of the seven required courses for certification. Find the class(es) you need, and register today!
- Basic Course in Lay Servant Ministries – offered in person in Raleigh, February 10, 2024 (register for Basic)
- Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM History) – offered on Zoom, February 17, 2024 (register for UM History)
- Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (UM Polity) – offered on Zoom, January 20, 2024 (register for Polity)
- Leading Worship – offered on Zoom, February 3, 2024 (register for Worship)
Note: These courses are open to all laity. We would love for you to join us, whether or not you are interested in becoming a certified lay speaker.
Need Other Lay Speaker Courses? The final three lay speaker required courses (spiritual gifts, public prayer, and preaching) are being planned for this spring and summer (dates TBD).
Prefer the Certified Lay Minister Route? Our Day of Discovery to learn about certified lay ministry happens every July, with the CLM modules beginning in the fall, but three of these classes (basic, history, and polity) are prerequisites. If you are contemplating the CLM route, you can get ahead of the game and sign up for these pre-reqs now!
To learn more about becoming a certified lay speaker or certified lay minister, we encourage you to visit our website or email us at cle@nccumc.org. We’re here to help!