THE MISSIONAL NATURE OF LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES
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groups? What can we do to enhance existing worship or
doctrine, heritage, and the organization of The United
to organize and conduct additional services in style and
Methodist Church. Lay servants receive training through
content that may be vital and fruitful congregations?
their district or conference to develop their skills in wit
How can we contribute to the involvement of
nessing to the Christian &ith. They are to serve the local
more laity in leadership roles in the minstry of the
churchlcharge and beyond using their spiritual gifts to
church? Opportunities will flow from the answers to
inspire others to a deeper commitment to Christ and
these questions and will drive the needs that you and
more effective discipleship. Lay servants are equipped
your committee need to fulfill in recruiting, training,
through continued study and training to lead, assist, and
and matching your lay servants in ministry and in
support the mission and ministries of the church. (See
partnership with churches and clergy throughout your
local church paragraphs on lay servant ministries in The
district or conference.
Book ofDiscipline)
Lay servants in the local church serve primarily in
their local churches, however, all disciples are called to
Four Focus Areas
•
•
•
•
Developing principled Christian leaders for
the church and the world.
Creating new places for new people by start
ing new congregations and renewing exist
ing ones.
Engaging in ministry with the poor.
Stamping out killer diseases by improving
health globally.
be in mission and ministry in every aspect of life: home,
workplace, community, leisure activities, local congrega
tions, and the world.
FIRST STEPS: A candidate may be recognized as
a local church lay servant after one has made application
in writing and is recommended by the pastor and church
council or charge conference of the congregation where
they hold membership.
TRAINING: The candidate must complete the
basic course in Lay Servant Ministries. Completing this
course equips a local church lay servant to deepen their
The mission and ministry of each lay servant
spiritual lives, lead meetings, learn communication prin
should be guided by the Four Focus Areas which were
ciples, share their faith story, participate in caring minis
adopted by the 2008 General Conference.
tries, and perform other leadership functions within the
As you plan your leadership activities keep the
focus areas in mind so that the best of what United
Methodists do is highlighted.
ministries of the local church.
NOTE: The Basic Course in Lay Servant Ministries
is not intended to equip lay servants to preach.
Advanced courses taken prior to the basic course
Lay Servants in The Book of
and applying for lay servant status may be considered by
the district committee on lay servant ministries as credit
Discipline
for certification.
According to The Book of Discipline, if the lay ser
Lay Servant Ministries is described in The Book of
vant desires to serve as “pulpit supply,” the lay servant
Discipline of The United Methodist Church. This infor
must complete the lay speaker track through lay servant
mation can be found in the local church portion, para
ministries. (For informaTion on this specific training see
graphs 200 and following in section Xl.
pagc 22.)
Lay servants are to be active, supporting, and pro
CONTINUED RECOGNITION: Each year a
fessing members of a local church. They should desire
local church lay servant must file an annual report and
to serve the church and be well informed on scripture,
reapply to the charge conference for continued approval.
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LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES GUIDE
Every three years he or she must complete a refresher
and is well informed on and committ&l to the Scriptures
course-which is approved by the district or annual con
and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The
ference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries.
United Methodist Church. A lay speaker has received
specific training to develop skills, in this case to serve the
church in pulpit supply.
Certified Lay Servant
While pulpit supply is no more important than
other roles within Lay Servant Ministries, it is a valu
A local church lay servant may become a certified lay
servant after submitting an application in writing and
receiving the approval of the pastor and the church coun
cil or the charge conference of the local church where
they hold membership. To be considered a certified
lay servant one must complete the Basic Course and an
advanced course for Lay Servant Ministries.
AREAS OF SERVICE: Certified lay servants
serve in their local churches and also in the district, the
annual conference, and local churches beyond which
they hold membership. As disciples of Jesus Christ, they
are encouraged to serve in all the areas of their lives. A
certified lay servant may also become a class leader with
able and necessary role. Failure to speak with excellence
from the pulpit can have deleterious effects on the whole
program and it takes extra effort in grooming skills for
this role.
CONTINUED RECOGNITION: recognition is
renewed annually by the conference or district commit
tee on lay servant ministries.
To receive recognition the certified lay servant
must complete the following:
• request for renewal
• submit an annual report to the charge conference and district committee on lay servant
ministries
appropriate training. (See the Lay Ministry Equipping
• have been recommended for renewal by the pas
Resources catalog for a course on Class Leaders)
tor and local church charge conference
• completed an advanced course for lay servants at
Lay Speaker
least once every three years
The role of lay speaker was created at the 2012 session of
General Conference to foster excellence, insure quality,
provide accountability, and retain the heritage of those
laity called to provide pulpit supply. The lay speaker role
falls within lay servant ministries and therefore must
meet the requirements of a certified lay servant: a lay
speaker must be a professing member of a local church
or charge who is ready and desirous to serve the Church
Transfer of Certification
A certified lay servant may transfer their certifica
tion to a new district by having a letter sent from the
previous District Committee on Lay Servant Ministries.
This letter must confirm current certification and the date
of completion of the most recent advanced course taken.
CLASS LEADERS
Class leaders and class meetings were the hallmark of early Methodism. They were an effective means of
providing nurture and oversight of the members of the Methodist societies; Class leaders were assigned
to watch over those in their class meetings (fifteen to twenty members of the Society) with love. They
were to see each person in the class once a week to inquire how their souls “prospered” and provide any
encouragement or instruction that was needed. Class Leaders then met with the minister once a week to
inform him of any who were sick or in need of spiritual guidance.