{"id":4927,"date":"2022-02-18T23:00:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-19T04:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/?page_id=4927"},"modified":"2026-05-21T18:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T22:44:05","slug":"renewal-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/certified-lay-minister\/renewal-process\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Renew"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Certified lay ministers serve in ongoing, long-term assignments. Certification provides laypersons the training, support, supervision, and accountability needed to fulfill their roles effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Certified lay ministers who need a season of discernment or transition may also choose to step back from active service. (See <a href=\"#inactive\">inactive status<\/a>). CLMs who are discerning a permanent transition out of certified ministry may choose to retire their certification. (See <a href=\"#retire\">retirement<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to remain active and in good standing, CLMs follow the review and renewal process outlined below. This process helps CLMs and their teams remain effective and aligned with the church&#8217;s mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Every Year<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ministry Covenant:<\/strong> Review the ministry covenant with your mutual ministry team or other appropriate group within your ministry context (e.g. SPRC or church council). You will be asked to upload the most recent copy of your covenant with your annual report.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Annual Report<\/strong>: Complete the online <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/annual-report\/\">annual report<\/a>. The report runs on a July\u2013June cycle, becomes available on July 1 each year, and should be completed before your church&#8217;s charge conference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommendations:<\/strong> After you submit your annual report, your pastor and church council chair will automatically receive an email requesting that they complete a recommendation form affirming their support for renewing your certification for the following year. <br><br><em>Note: If you are the church council chair, talk with your pastor about who should complete the recommendation on your behalf. The lay leader is often a good alternative.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Charge Conference:<\/strong> Ensure your name is listed in the charge conference minutes as a continuing CLM. If possible, take a few minutes during the conference to share with your congregation about your CLM ministry. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Every Two Years<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>In a recertification year, all renewal elements (including your annual report) are due by August 31 unless otherwise noted.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Continuing Education:<\/strong> Complete a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course or approved substitute (see <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/upcoming-courses\/\">upcoming courses<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/substituting-an-alternative-course-for-a-standard-advanced-course\/\">guidelines for substituting an alternative course<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Background Check:<\/strong> Request a <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/background-check\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">background check<\/a> through the conference provider. There is a $10 fee for this service. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ministry Review:<\/strong> Obtain a <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/certified-lay-minister\/ministry-review\/\">ministry review<\/a> from the committee on pastor-parish relations, church council, or charge conference from the congregation where the CLM is assigned (or, if not assigned, from the congregation where the CLM is a member). A representative from the team will submit the <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/certified-lay-minister\/ministry-review\/report\/\">ministry review report<\/a> by September 30.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interview:<\/strong> Interview with the district committee on ordained ministry (dCOM). These are usually scheduled in November and take place via Zoom. This committee recommends you for recertification to the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>District Superintendent Recommendation:<\/strong> Share <a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/certified-lay-minister\/ds-recommendation\/\">this form<\/a> with your district superintendent, ideally immediately following your dCOM interview, as that conversation often provides helpful context. <br><br><em>Note: While many DSs complete these forms routinely for renewing CLMs in their district, it&#8217;s still helpful if you make contact, especially as they may want an additional conversation prior to recommending you.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Final Approval:<\/strong> Once all of your materials toward recertification are complete, the conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries will review your file and vote on recertification. This meeting usually happens in December, after all charge conferences are complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-light-gray-background-color has-background\" id=\"inactive\" style=\"border-width:2px;border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px\"><strong>Option to Pause Active Ministry: <\/strong>CLMs who wish to step back from active service during a season of transition or discernment may choose to become inactive or unassigned for up to four years. While in this status, no annual reports, continuing education, or other renewal requirements are required. During this time, CLMs are encouraged to stay connected with their clergy mentor\/pastor and district superintendent for guidance and discernment.<br><br>To return to active status within four years, CLMs follow the normal renewal process in place at that time. After four years in inactive status, additional requirements may be needed to return to active certification, depending on current CLM standards.<br><br>To request inactive status, email the CLM Registrar (<a href=\"mailto:josey.snyder@nccumc.org\">josey.snyder@nccumc.org<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-light-gray-background-color has-background\" id=\"retire\" style=\"border-width:2px;border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px\"><strong>Option to Retire from Certified Lay Ministry: <\/strong>Retirement from certification is a way to formally honor and conclude a period of service in lay ministry. When a CLM chooses retirement, no further annual reports, continuing education, or renewal requirements are expected.<br><br>Retired CLMs who later discern a call to return to active service should follow the same procedures as CLMs returning from inactive status.<br><br>To request retired status, email the CLM Registrar (<a>josey.snyder@nccumc.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Certified lay ministers serve in ongoing, long-term assignments. Certification provides laypersons the training, support, supervision, and accountability needed to fulfill their roles effectively. Certified lay ministers who need a season [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":1082,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4927","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Renew | Laity Ministries | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/laity\/certified-lay-minister\/renewal-process\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Renew | Laity Ministries | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Certified lay ministers serve in ongoing, long-term assignments. 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