Lay Speaking Ministries

If you ...

... are ready to share God's love and your faith
... sense God's calling and you are willing to explore it 
... are willing to go wherever and whenever God calls you 
... will commit your time and energy to the service of God and your neighbor

you are ready to become a Lay Speaker

What is a Lay Speaker?

A Lay Speaker is an active, supportive member of a United Methodist congregation who is eager to be in ministry through the church. He/she is well-informed on scripture, doctrine, heritage, organization and life of the United Methodist Church and is committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care giving ministries and spoken communication. A Lay Speaker is willing to initiate ministry in partnership with clergy and other Lay Speakers and willing to improve his/her skills for service.

How Do Lay Speakers Serve?

There are two ways to serve as a Lay Speaker:

Lay Speakers care, lead, and communicate, they encourage, equip, and support others for deeper commitment to Christ and to faithful discipleship

A Lay Speaker is a person who chooses to take part in training on the Basic level, then perhaps on the Advanced level to become a Lay Speaker. This person receives the recommendation of the Church Council and/or the Annual Meeting and the pastor; and the approval of the District and Conference Board of Lay Ministry to serve as a Lay Speaker.

Those in the Lay Speaking Ministry serve in many ways: visitation, leading a study, singing in the choir, serving at a lunch program, teaching Sunday School, sending out church or personal prayers, volunteering to clean, go on a mission project, or to lead or preach at a worship service. The types of ministry are too numerous to list.

For more information on Lay Speaking Ministries, contact your local church Lay Speaker, your pastor or your district director of lay speakers, or contact the conference director of lay speakers.

Download the 2008 Lay Speaker Report Form.

Download the course Request and Recommendation Form .

2008 Lay Speaker Journal

Questions and Answers on lay speaker certification:

         Taking Courses:

Q. Can I take an applicable lay speaker course before the end of the three-year certification period?

A. Yes; if the needed documentation is received (see forms), the three-year eligible period for certification would restart.

Q. Do I have to take a course only in my own District?

A. You can take a course in any District.  In fact, you can take a course in any Conference within the United Methodist Church.  However, have your Request and Recommendation Form filled out and submitted before taking the course.

Q.  Are there any acceptable courses I can take on-line?

A.  The General Board of Discipleship approved the first such on-line lay speaking course "Leading Worship 101 for Lay People" for August 31 - September 25, 2009.  Watch Be A Disciple website for later lay speaking course offerings. 

NOTE - Some other online training - such as workshops and Disciple Bible Study - are also offered through the website.  If in doubt whether it will count for lay speaking, check.

          Reporting:

Q. When is my Annual Report form due?

A.  Your Annual Report form is due after your church's Annual Church/Charge Conference.  It doesn't matter if it is in January, June or any other month.  Have your report approved and signed and then send it in as directed on the form.

Q.  What do I do if the signed annual report is not mailed and received as needed?

A. The Conference Committee of Lay Speaking Ministries urges each individual Lay Speaker to take the responsibility for making the necessary copies of his/her completed and signed form and then mailing it to his/her own District Director and the Conference Director of Lay Speaking.

         Over three-year limit / re-certification:

Q.  Can I get an extension to the three-year period if I cannot get a course done during the three-year period?

A. You can request a one-time, one year extension in writing (or email) from the Conference Director of Lay Speaking.  This will give you an additional year in which to become re-certified.

Q. What happens if my name is placed on the inactive list because I could not get a course in?

A. You will then need to start over by taking the Basic Course again.  Since the Basic Course is rewritten every four years, it will almost be like taking a new course.

        (More questions and answers will come later.)

For other information and resources, see the other pages in this section and the national Lay Speaking Ministries web site.