Lay Servant Ministry Training

Lay servant classes may be taken by anyone: member of a congregation, local church leader, or lay servant. All class offerings except Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course may be used as a re-certification class for lay servants.

You may attend classes in any district, based on your own needs. Full class listing.

Lay Servant Academy courses are now available:

Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course

This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship. Class will be held in person. Participants must attend all sessions of the class. Please read the book before class. To pass the class, participants must attend each session and complete all required assignments in the requested timeframe.

• Dates and Time: Saturday, August 29, 8:30-4:30 pm, Sunday, August 30, 3:00-5:00 pm
• Goshen United Methodist Church 19615 Goshen Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Instructor:CLS Carol Travis
• Required Text: Lay Servant Ministries – Basic Course by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson, Participant’s Book
• Online Registration Only: $40

• Registration Deadline: August 26, 2026

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Loving People and Planet in God’s Name - Advanced Course

This course empowers lay participants to engage local churches in creation care and environmental justice. Lay participants will see this work as the appropriate response of disciples of Jesus Christ to the realities of climate change. Using the new, revised second edition of Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action, this course helps communities grow deeper in their faith through the caring creation of practical and context-specific spiritual practices that mitigate the effects of reckless human consumption. Class will be held in person. Participants must attend all sessions of the class. Please read the book prior to class. To pass the class, participants must attend each session and complete all required assignments in the requested timeframe.

• Dates and Time: Saturday, August 29, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday, August 30, 3:00 pm to 5 pm
• Goshen United Methodist Church 19615 Goshen Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Instructor: Rev. Carmen Collette
• Required Text: Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action, Second Edition,Edited by Pat Watkins, Participant’s Book Class Assignments:
• Online Registration Only: $40
• Registration Deadline: August 26, 2026

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Public Prayer-Advanced Course

Praying in public can be daunting, but prayer is something one learns. This course on praying in public will help the participant grow in confidence and skill in public prayer and enrich their personal prayer life. Class will be held via Zoom. Information for joining the class will be provided 24 hours before the start date.  Participants must remain on the screen throughout the class. Zoom link: Will not be posted but will be sent to all registrants after registration closes, one business day before the start date. Please read the book before class. To pass the class, participants must attend each session and complete all required assignments in the requested timeframe.

• Dates and Time: Thursdays, August 13-September 17, 7:00 PM-9:30 PM
• Zoom Meeting
• Instructor: Rev. Loretta Johnson
• Required Text: Shaping the Prayers of the People:  The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher, Participant’s Book 
• Online Registration Only: $40
• Registration Deadline: August 10, 2026

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Called To Preach-Advanced Course

Called to Preach is designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence. Called to Preach is the required preaching course in the lay speaker track of study. A major requirement of this class is for students to write and deliver a mini-sermon. To meet this end, the class schedule includes time for instruction via Zoom and time for an in-person, live session as a practicum to deliver the sermon. Three class sessions will be held via Zoom. Information for joining the class will be provided ON THE start date.  Participants must remain on the screen throughout the class. Zoom link: Will not be posted but will be sent to all registrants ON THE start date. Please read the book before class. To pass the class, participants must attend each session and complete all required assignments in the requested timeframe. In-person Meeting: ONLY Saturday, August 29, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM, at Lanham UMC, 5512 Whitfield Chapel Road, Lanham, MD 20706

• Dates and Time: Mondays, August 17, 24 and 31, 6:00-8:00 PM via Zoom, and Saturday, August 29, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM in person
• Instructor: Pastor Nona Manning Colbert
• Required Text: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie, Participant’s Book
• Online Registration Only: $40
• Registration Deadline: Sunday August 16, 2026

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Leading Worship-Advanced Course

This course focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregation in worship. Class will be held via Zoom. Information for joining the class will be provided 24 hours before the start date.  Participants must remain on the screen throughout the class. Zoom link: Will not be posted but will be sent to all registrants after registration closes, one business day before the start date. Please read the book before class. To pass the class, participants must attend each session and complete all required assignments in the requested timeframe.

• Dates and Time: Monday and Tuesday, August. 24 & 25 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 26 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Instructor: CLM Linda Flanagan
• Required Text: Worshiping with United Methodists (REVISED) by Hoyt Hickman, Participant’s Book
• Online Registration Only: $40
• Registration Deadline: August 20, 2026

 

Register