Lay Servant Ministries

At the 2016 General Conference approved legislation to bring about clarity, consistency, and collaboration in the LSM program.  The adopted legislation streamlines and simplifies the processes for people to become certified lay servants, certified lay speakers, and certified lay ministers.  In addition, the lay missioner will become a part of the Certified Lay Minister process.  This will bring the number of categories to three: certified lay servant, certified lay speaker, and certified lay minister.  The category of local church lay servant has been removed.  A layperson can still serve in the local church after completing only the BASIC course, but in order to be certified as a lay servant he/she will need to take an additional Lay Servant Ministries’ advanced course.

Lay Servant Ministries provides training and ministry opportunities for the laity of the church.  The Southeast District holds a spring training usually in February and a fall training in October. 

General Board Lay Servant Resources

Lay Servant Ministry Types

There are now 3 types of Lay Servant Ministries:  Certified Lay Servants, Certified Lay Speakers, and Certified Lay Ministers.  Learn more about each one below or DOWNLOAD the adopted Lay Servant Ministries legislation.

Certified Lay Servant

A certified lay servant…

• Is a professing member of a local church/charge, or a baptized participant of a recognized UM collegiate ministry, or other UM ministry
• Desires to serve the church
• Is knowledgable and committed to Scripture and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church
• Is specifically trained to witness to the Christian faith through spoken communication, to lead within a church and community, and and to provide caring ministries

A certified lay servant serves the local church/charge (or beyond the local church/charge) in ways in which his or her witness, leadership, and service inspires others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship.  The Certified lay servant, through continued study and training, serves the local ministry and:

• Provides program leadership, assistance, and support
• Leads meetings for prayer, training, study, and discussion
• Conducts, or assists in conducting, services of worship, preaches the Word, or gives addresses
• Provides congregational and community leadership and fosters caring ministries
• Assists in the distribution of the elements of Holy Communion
• Teaches the Scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of The United Methodist Church

Requirements to become a certified lay servant...

• Pastor and church council or charge conference recommendation
• Lay Servant Ministries BASIC course
• Lay Servant Ministries advanced course
• District committee on Lay Servant Ministries (or equivalent structure) approval

Certified Lay Speakers

A certified lay speaker...

• Is a certified lay servant whose call has been affirmed by the conference committe on lay servant ministries 
• Serves by preaching the Word when requested by the pastor or district superintendent

Requirements to become a certified lay speaker...

• Certified as a lay servant
• Pastor and church council or charge conference recommendation
• ompletion of a track of study including courses on leading worship, leading prayer, discovering spiritual gifts, preaching, UM heritage, and UM polity
• Conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries approval after interview with and recommendation from the district committee on Lay Servant Ministries

Certified Lay Ministers

A certified lay minister

• Is a certified lay servant
• Is called and equipped to conduct public worship, care for the congregation, assist in program leadership, develop new and existing faith communities, preach the Word, lead small groups, or establish community outreach ministries as part of a ministry team
• Has the supervision and suport of a clergyperson
• Is assigned by a district superintendent

A certified lay minister serves to enhance the quality of ministry, much like a class leader did in early Methodism through service in the local church, circuit, or cooperative parish, or by expanding team ministry in other churches/charges.  As with lay ministry in early Methodism, the certified lay minister uses his or her spiritual gifs as evidence of God's grace.

Requirements to become a certified lay minister...

• Certified as a lay servant, lay missioner (or equivalent as defined by his or her central conference)
• Pastor and church council or charge conference recommendation
• Completion of a track of study including Modules I–IV for Certified Lay Ministry or equivalent training
• District Superintendent recommendation
• Appropriate screening & assessment
• Conference committee on Lay Servant Ministries approval after interview with and recommendation from district committee on Ordained Ministry