YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Lay Servant Ministry Path
Lay Speaker Requirements
And Process
April 24, 2014
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Page 3
Certified Lay Speakers
Page 4
Yellowstone Annual Conference
Transition Plan
Page 5
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INTRODUCTION
THE LAY SERVANT MINISTRY PATH - LAY SPEAKERS
“All God’s children have a place in the choir.” Most have heard that before but it is true, and
another truth is all God’s children have a place in the church. Each one has been given “Gifts by
the Spirit.” Two readings from 1 Corinthians, Chapter12: 7-11 and 12: 27-30 begin to show the
gifts that have been given. Not all receive the same gifts and many will go through life not using
their gifts to the fullest.
The Lay Servant Ministry (LSM) program can and does help those who enter the program to
discovery Spiritual Gifts and to develop those gifts. The Lay Servant Ministry Program provides
the opportunity to grow in Christian life and to share that Christian life with others.
Until the 2012 General Conference, Laity were called Lay Speakers, a name used to describe
lay people who were engaged in work in the local church and beyond. These were people who
desired to enhance their abilities and strengthen their gifts through education and then
certification. This is still the case but in 2012 the name changed to Lay Servant. The name
change better reflects the service of the laity. Not everyone was a speaker, but all were Lay
Servants. The name Servant was chosen because it best describes what Jesus told his
disciples in John 13 after he himself had performed the duties of the lowliest servant. “After he
had washed their feet, he put on his robe, and returned to the table, he said to them, ‛Do you
know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that I am.
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet you also ought to wash one another’s
feet. For I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Very truly I tell
you that servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one
who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them’” (vv. 12-17).
Requirements to become a Local Church Lay Servant and Certified Lay Servant remain as in
the past. And as information those requirements follow:
Local Church Lay Servant
Serve primarily in the local Congregation
Requirements
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Completes the Basic Course in LSM
3. Files an annual report
4. Takes a refresher course every three years
Certified Lay Servant
Local Church Lay Servants who have taken an advanced course in LSM, and serve in the local
congregation and beyond.
Requirements
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference
2. Takes an Advanced course after the Basic course
3. Files an annual report
4. Completes 1 advanced course every 3 years
The reminder of this document addresses the requirements for individuals to become Certified
Lay Speakers.
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CERTIFIED LAY SPEAKERS
Lay Speaker Requirements:
The requirement to be a Lay Speaker (Provide Pulpit Supply beyond the local church) in the
Yellowstone Annual Conference (YAC) is more stringent than the requirements for Local or
Certified Lay Servant. Those requirements follow:
Is a Certified Lay Servant and applies to begin or continue as a Lay Speaker and is:
1. Approved by Pastor and Charge Conference and District Superintendent
2. Is taking required classes or has completed the required courses for Lay Speaker
3. Interviews with District Committee on LSM (after taking all courses)
4. Approved by Annual Conference Committee on LSM
5. Files an annual Lay Servant report and Lay Speaker report
6. Every 3 years completes at least 1 advanced course and re-interviews with the
District Committee on LSM
7. Exclusion – Within the YAC at a single church charge or a multi-point charge the Pastor and
Charge Conference determines who may (from within the congregants) perform pulpit supply. In
a multi-point charge a congregant who performs pulpit supply may perform pulpit supply in all
churches of the charge if approved by the Pastor and the congregations.
Educational Requirements:
Following the completion of the Basic Lay Servant Ministry course and at least one advanced
course Certified Lay Servants who are pursuing the Lay Speaker Certificate must complete
course in six subject areas. Those areas are:
Worship
Prayer
Discovering Spiritual Gifts
Preaching
United Methodist Heritage
United Methodist Polity
And/or other courses as determined by the Conference Lay Servant Ministry Committee
Course Availability:
Currently (2014) there are courses available from the Upper Room or Cokesbury that provides
the opportunity to complete the Lay Speaker program. All of these courses except the course(s)
on Preaching are available on line at beadisciple.com.
Reporting, Tracking and Approval of Lay Speakers:
Individuals who are applying for, in pursuit of or continuing as a Lay Speaker must file a
application and or annual reports when filing the Lay Servant Ministry Annual report to the
Charge Conference.
The initial Application and the Annual Lay Speaker report are both attached. Additionally and as
long as an individual applies for continued approval as a Lay Speaker they are required to
submit evaluations of their speaking engagements (also attached).
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YELLOWSTONE CONFERENCE TRANSITION TO LAY SPEAKER
Requirement:
As a Conference we have the responsibility and requirement to within the Guideline of the
Discipline and of the Association of Conference Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries establish a
program within the YAC for the position of Lay Speaker. Finally and according to the Book of
Discipline if the Lay Servant desires to serve as “pulpit supply,” the lay servant must complete
the lay speaker track through lay servant ministries. The track is that listed above for Lay
Speakers.
Restrictions:
Because of the intent to improve the quality and qualifications of the new role of Lay Speaker, it
is not intended that Lay Speakers be “grandfathered,” however conferences may establish
transitions to the new role. Additionally it is recommended that course work beyond three years
past not be included in the certification process for Lay Speakers. See the YAC Committee on
Lay Servant Ministry position on these restrictions below.
Current Lay Speakers (Those who currently provide pulpit supply)
Current Lay Servants who conduct pulpit supply and request to be approved as Lay Speakers:
Apply to the Pastor and Charge Conference for continuation as a Lay Speaker and have four
years starting in January, 2014 to complete all requirements for the Lay Speaker position.
Approval by the District and Conference Committees on LSM must concur and individuals must
show progress over the four years in education and maintain an accurate record of instances of
pulpit supply. Additionally upon initial application the individual requesting entry into or
continuation in the Lay Speaking program must be approved by their Pastor, Charge, and
District Superintendent. The District Committee on LSM will review and approve applicants and
recommend applicants to the Conference Committee on Lay Speaking ministries. Finally
applicants must provide a history of pulpit supply over the past three years that documents their
participation in pulpit supply. The documentation can include pulpit supply in their local church,
within the Circuit, District, or Conference and can include the conduct of pulpit supply at other
functions such as church camps, etc. This does not include the function of worship leader,
prayer leader or liturgist it applies only to the delivery of a scriptural based message a “sermon.”
New Applicants with no previous Lay Speaker qualifications:
Apply to the Pastor and Charge Conference to begin the Lay Speaker qualification process.
These individuals must have completed the Basic Lay Servant Ministry course and at least one
Conference approved Advanced Lay Servant course and be a Certified Lay Servant before
applying. Final approval of these applicants as a Lay Speaker will occur when all requirements
have been met.
Yellowstone Annual Conference position “Grandfathering” individuals as Lay Speakers
The Conferences Committee on Lay Servant Ministry will not automatically “grandfather”
individuals into the Lay Speaker position unless all requirements for education and pulpit
evaluation can be met at initial application.
Yellowstone Annual Conference position on course acceptance
Where the recommendation is no courses beyond three years past, the Conference Committee
on Lay Servant Ministry has determined that it will accept all current GBOD courses and any
previously approved GBOD courses that meet the required course(s) criteria. When listing
courses applicants must include the course name and the year the course was completed and
should include a copy of the Course Certificate if available. Additionally, courses that have
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been taken through seminary or other college/university that show completion of courses related
to preaching and sermon delivery will be accepted as a suitable substitute for the GBOD
approved preaching courses. This does not include courses that address public speaking. Upon
request for acceptance of these courses applicants must provide documentation of successful
completion with their submitted annual Lay Servant Ministry reports.
Records Maintenance:
The Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministry will be provided copies of all Annual Reports
and documentation to support the Application of and progression of Lay Speakers. The Director
will maintain these records and information within the Conference database. Additionally the
Director will provide this information to the District for final approval of an individual’s request for
Lay Speaker status.
Approval of Lay Speakers: This process will be used until a District and Conference
Committee on Lay Speaking Ministries is established.
Once a candidate for Lay Speaker has completed all requirements, their Annual Report and
supporting paper work will be provided to the District Superintendent, the District Lay Leader,
and the Appropriate Circuit Lay Leader for review and approval. Individual applicants will
interview with this group either in person or by phone before final approval as a Lay Speaker.
Once approved by the District, names will be forwarded to the Conference Lay Leader and
Director of Lay Speaking Ministries and the Conference Director of Education for final approval
and records maintenance.
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Application to begin as a Lay Speaker
2. Lay Servant Speaking Record
3. Congregational Evaluation of a Lay Speaker
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APPLICATION TO BEGIN AS A LAY SPEAKER IN THE
YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NAME:
_______________________________________________
ADDRESS:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
PHONE:
_______________________________________________
EMAIL:
_______________________________________________
CHURCH:
_______________________________________________
DISTRUCT:
_______________________________________________
I understand that in applying for the position of a LAY SPEAKER in the Yellowstone Annual
Conference that I must have completed the Basic Lay Servant Ministry Course and at least one
Advance Lay Servant Ministry Course. I also understand that I must complete prescribed course
work before my final approval as a Lay Speaker. I understand that I must submit an Annual Lay
Servant Ministry Report and a Lay Servant/Speaker Record and required evaluations of my
speaking engagements. Finally I understand that I will interview with the District Committee on
Lay Servant Ministry and following their approval be approved by the Conference Lay Servant
Ministry Committee.
SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________ DATE: ____________
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LAY SERVANT/SPEAKER RECORD
YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NAME:
_____________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________
PHONE
: ____________________________________________________
EMAIL: _____________________________________________________
CHURCH: ___________________________________________________
Circuit: ____________________ District: _________________________
Approved as:
Local Church Lay Servant - Year: __________________________________
Certified Lay Speaker – Year:
___________________________________
Required Lay Speaking Courses Taken:
Course Title:
Date Completed:
Lay Speaking engagements: Pulpit Supply
Date:
Church:
Date Submitted ________________________
Evaluations Submitted
Use additional paper as necessary
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YAC CONGREGATIONAL EVALATION OF A LAY SPEAKER
We prayerfully request your comments concerning the sermon delivered by one of our district’s
lay speakers. Your comments will aid in training and maintaining quality speakers. Your identity
will be kept confidential.
NAME OF LAY SPEAKER: _______________________________________________
DATE: _______________________________________________
Was the sermon well developed and delivered?
Other Comments:
Would you recommend this lay speaker
Yes No
Name of Church or Location: ____________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Your Name: _________________________________________________________________
Position in your church: _________________________________________________________
Please send this form to:
YAC Director of Lay Servant Ministries
407 Crescent Drive
Sheridan, WY 82801
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