All members of Christ’s universal church are called to share in the ministry which is committed to the whole church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of property and accumulated resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other persons. Participation in disciplined groups such as covenant discipleship groups or class meetings is an expected part of personal mission involvement. (¶220, 2012 Book of Discipline)
The North Carolina Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries is Ann Davis.
In the popular video ministry, “Chuck Knows Church” Chuck talks about Lay Servant Ministry.
What is a lay servant?
A Certified Lay Servant is a professing member of a local church or charge, or a baptized participant of a recognized United Methodist collegiate ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting, who:
- is ready and desirous to serve the Church;
- is well informed on and committed to the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church; and
- has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership, and care-giving ministries.
An applicant must be active in the support of the local church or charge. (¶266.1)
What about pulpit supply?
While pulpit supply is no more important than other roles within Lay Servant Ministries, it is a valuable and necessary role. Not everyone may be called to this role of Certified Lay Speaker. For those whose discernment of call leads them to this place, advanced training is now required (as of the 2012 General Conference). That training consists of six courses beyond the Basic Course: leading worship, leading prayer, discovering spiritual gifts, preaching, United Methodist heritage, and United Methodist polity. Other courses may be added by an annual conference in order to respond to a specific missional context. Each of these courses requires 10 hours of classroom work plus outside assignments.
What if I feel called to do more than just occasionally preach?
While Certified Lay Speakers are called for an occasional preaching opportunity at a local church, there is another opportunity for laypersons to serve the church in an ongoing, longer term deployment. It is through the Certified Lay Minister (CLM) program. Educational requirements are different and the ongoing accountability is with the District Superintendent and the district committee on ordained ministry.
Training
Districts offer training according to their schedules and in nearby district locations. The Lay Servant Ministry program has numerous courses they have developed that will allow individuals to concentrate their training in areas in which they feel God has called them to serve. Annual conferences are also able to develop their own courses. These courses will follow the standard design which requires 10 hours of class time plus outside assignments. Our North Carolina Conference offers some of the courses in an online format. One item to note is that these courses are open to everyone. You do not need to be pursuing the designation of ‘lay servant’ to take one of the classes. Check this page for information on current training opportunities available.
Looking for ways to improve your skills for leadership, mission, and ministry? Check out Pathways.