Lay Servant Ministries is a leadership development program in the United Methodist Church focused on educating and empowering people who have responded to the call of God to serve in mission and ministry.
There are three main areas of focus:
Leading- Lay servants are the leaders of the church. Lay servant training will help them facilitate small groups, prayer meetings, mission events, committees and teams.
Caring- Lay servants provide care and support both for the congregation and the church staff. They can be trained in assisting with hospital visits, welcoming guests, new member care, establishing local mercy ministries, prison ministry and other caring ministries both in the church and the community.
Communicating- Lay servants are called to share the Good News of Christ, as are all believers, and this can occur through presenting the Gospel through preaching, teaching or speaking. It can also be done by encouraging others who are suffering, speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, and most importantly, displaying the life of Christ in all areas of their lives.
What is a Certified Lay Servant?
¶ 266. Certified Lay Servant—1. A certified lay servant is a professing member of a local church or charge, or a baptized participant of a recognized United Methodist collegiate ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting, who desires to serve the Church and who knows and is committed to Scripture and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church and who has received specific training to witness to the Christian faith through spoken communication, to lead within a church and community and to provide caring ministry. For more details, see the Certified Lay Servant Guidesheet.
Click here for Certified Lay Servant Guidesheet
Initial Application Forms
Certified Lay Servant Online Application
https://awf-reg.brtapp.com/CertifiedLayServantApplication
Click here for Certified Lay Servant Application Request
Certification Online Request (to be done after BASIC and Advanced courses are complete)
https://awf-reg.brtapp.com/CertificationRequestbyCommitteeonLayServantMinistries
Renewal Forms
Certified Lay Servant Online Renewal Request
https://awf-reg.brtapp.com/CertifiedLayServantRenewalApplication
Click here for Certified Lay Servant Annual Report
Certification Online Request (to be done after an Advanced course is complete)
https://awf-reg.brtapp.com/CertificationRequestbyCommitteeonLayServantMinistries
*Email all applications to Heather Howell, Director of Lay Servant Ministries AWFUMC, hhowellclc@gmail.com