Certified Lay Servant
Called and Equipped for Leadership Roles in the Local Church
Certified Lay Servants are lay leaders formed in the life of the church, recognized and supported by their local congregation, and trained to serve through teaching, care, worship, and leadership.
They serve in many ways, including:
- Leading Bible studies and Sunday school classes
- Serving on administrative committees and shaping the life of the church
- Engaging in caring and outreach ministries that extend the church’s witness
- Assisting in worship as liturgists or communion servers and, when requested, preaching or leading worship in their local congregation
How to Become a Certified Lay Servant
Any active member of a United Methodist Church is eligible to become a certified lay servant.
- Talk to Your Pastor
Begin by sharing your sense of call with your pastor and church leadership (church council or charge conference). You will need their recommendation as part of the process. - Take the Basic Course for Lay Servant Ministries
You can take this course through your local church via our UM101 initiative or through any district. View upcoming courses. - Take One Advanced Course
Any course offered through Lay Servant Ministries that is not the basic course will suffice to meet this requirement. View upcoming courses. - Complete the Certified Lay Servant Application
- Signatures
When you submit your application, your pastor and church council chair will receive an email inviting them to fill out a simple form as their electronic signature to recommend you as a certified lay servant. Be sure you are in conversation with both so they will anticipate this email. - Final Approval
Once all materials are received, the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries will review your application and can affirm your certification. Reach out to your district director if you have any questions.
“I have met a lot of wonderful people through this program. You don’t have to be afraid to step beyond your own church. God will help you do what God calls you to do, and God will give you people to walk alongside you.”
How to Renew
The district committee on Lay Servant Ministries reviews and renews certified lay servants each year. In order to maintain active status, the following steps are expected:
- Annual Report
Submit an annual report after July 1 and before your church’s charge conference each year. - Advanced Course
Be sure you have completed at least one advanced Lay Servant Ministries course within the past three years. Any Lay Servant Ministries course other than the Basic Course meets this requirement. View upcoming courses.
Some conference learning opportunities are also pre-approved to meet this requirement. - Signatures
When you submit your annual report, your pastor and church council chair will receive an email inviting them to fill out a simple form as their electronic signature to affirm your continued recognition as a certified lay servant. Be sure you are in communication with both so they anticipate this email. - Final Approval
The district committee on Lay Servant Ministries will review your materials and confirm your renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all certified lay servants preach?
No. Some certified lay servants are invited to assist in worship or share messages in their local congregation, but many focus on teaching, caring ministries, outreach, or other forms of leadership in the church.
Is this the same as a certified lay speaker?
No. Certified lay speakers are specifically trained and approved to provide pulpit supply in other congregations. Certified lay servants primarily serve in their local church in a wider variety of ministries.
Can I serve in more than one area of ministry?
Yes. Certified lay servants often serve in multiple areas such as teaching, care ministries, outreach, and worship support, depending on gifts and church needs.
Do I have to be “qualified” before I start?
No. This pathway is designed for people who sense a call to grow. Training and experience are part of the process.
Why do I need the support of my local church?
In The United Methodist Church, we recognize that calling is not lived out alone but affirmed and supported by the church. A person who senses a call to ordained ministry begins by sharing that call with their local church, where pastors and individuals within the congregation recognize and affirm gifts for leadership and service. Lay Servant Ministries follows this same pattern of communal discernment, recognizing the essential role of the local church in forming and affirming disciples in their calling.
If you have any questions, reach out to your district director of Lay Servant Ministries or contact Josey Snyder, josey.snyder@nccumc.org, Associate Director of Leadership Development and Christian Formation for the North Carolina Conference.