YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Lay Servant Ministry Path
Lay Speaker Requirements
And Process
April 24, 2014
Table of Contents
IntroductionPage 3
Certified Lay SpeakersPage 4
Yellowstone Annual Conference
Transition PlanPage 5
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.
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 bythe 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).
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 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.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Application to begin as a Lay Speaker
2. Lay Servant Speaking Record
3. Congregational Evaluation of a Lay Speaker
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: ______
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: / Evaluations SubmittedDate Submitted ______Use additional paper as necessary
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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