Every layperson is called to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20); every layperson is called to be missional.
The witness of the laity, their Christ-like examples of everyday living as well as the sharing of their own faith experiences of the gospel, is the primary evangelistic ministry through which all people will come to know Christ and The United Methodist Church will fulfill its mission. (Book of Discipline 2016). ¶ 127 The Ministry of the Laity
The WV Conference has two lay leadership teams:
Lay Ministries Team comprised of District and Conference Lay Leaders.
See the the contact info below for the District Directors of Lay Speaker Ministries Team.
Lay servants can serve in their local churches and beyond the local church. The lay servant and lay speaker courses are provided by your district. The Certified Lay Minister (CLM) courses are provided by the Conference. You can receive information by contacting the conference director of Lay Speaking Ministries or your conference lay leader. Your pastor can get this information for you or you can check your annual conference web site.
If you choose to commit to the development of your leadership and ministry skills by becoming a lay servant, you will be enriched and encouraged by the network of other lay servants. If you choose to take the courses but not complete the requirements for lay servant status, you will still develop your skills for leadership, mission and ministry in order to serve God both in the church and beyond to the community around you and the world.
Thank you for your desire to improve your skills and may God bless your ministry!
Contact information for District Directors of Lay Ministry:
Greenbrier Wesleyan Jim Minutelli
Little Kanawha Pam Braden
Mon Valley Mary Bane
Nine Rivers Fred Herr
Northern Carol Miller
Potomac Highlands Betty Rizer
Southern Gary Hartsog
Interested in taking a class to learn more about The United Methodist Church?
You can take any class you'd like - from any district.
It is not necessary to be working toward certification to be active in lay servant ministries at your local church. Read more. . .
Lay Servants and Lay Speakers are to serve the local church or charge in any way in which their witness or leadership and service inspires the laity to deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship.
Learn more here: Lay Servant and Lay Speaker Ministries
Certified Lay Ministers serve to enhance the quality of ministry much like a class leader did in earth Methodism through service in the local church, circuit, cooperative parish or specialized ministry.
Learn more here: Certified Lay Ministry
For more information contact your District Superintendent or District Director of Lay Ministry.
Follow this link to connect to the Lay Servant Ministries catalog of courses. Click Here.
While not every course in the catalog is offered every year, the Lay Ministries Team provides all courses required for certification at least once a year
Download Lay Servant Ministry Annual Report forms:
These forms should be completed every year and submitted to your pastor to include with the Charge Conference Report. Be sure to include copies of the certificates showing completion of new courses.
Follow this link to learn more about Certified Lay Ministers from the General Board of Discipleship. Click Here.
