If you do not see a course in the list of Lay Servant Ministries Upcoming Courses that suits your interests or needs for recertification, you have a few options:

1. Ask for more offerings!
   Contact your district director and inquire about additional upcoming opportunities. We may have a class in the works that is not yet advertised. Or, your inquiry may prompt an additional offering!
2. Take advantage of pre-approved NC Conference learning opportunities.
   The conference committee on LSM has approved a number of alternative continuing education offerings for certified lay servants, speakers, and ministers. View pre-approved offerings.
3. Take an online LSM class through BeADisciple.
   BeADisciple.com offers a wide array of online LSM advanced courses that can count toward your certification or renewal requirements. Note that not every course offered through BeADisciple.com is an LSM advanced course. If you have any questions, ask your district director. Also, for those interested in becoming a certified lay minister, note that the CLM training modules offered through BeADisciple are not an accepted substitute for our CLM Candidate Training Program.
4. Request approval for an alternative course.
   Click the red button below to ask for an alternative course to count toward your certification or renewal requirements. Be sure the course is comparable in terms of time commitment (10+ hours) and that the subject matter is relevant to your work as a certified lay servant, speaker, or minister.

Pre-Approved Conference Offerings

1. Two Days of Learning offered through the Center for Leadership Excellence;
2. One all-day or two half-day Mission U courses offered annually through the NC Conference United Women in Faith;
3. Completing a Discipleship Coaching certificate through EMC3 and Discipleship Ministries.
4. Participation in the Leadership Fellows program.
5. Participation in the Academy for Spiritual Formation’s Five Day Academy or Two Year Academy.
6. Seminary courses offered by United Methodist seminaries are also pre-approved for credit. To replace a lay speaker requirement, the course must match the subject-matter for the specific course (e.g. “intro to worship” or “intro to preaching”). Other courses could be used to meet the continuing education requirement for certifications.