Lay Servant Ministries

Lay Servants - VMT

Vermont District
Director of Lay Servant Ministries: 
Ms. Marie MacDougall
802-461-4452, macdome@juno.com

 

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Request and Recommendation Form

To register for a course, please submit a completed and signed Request and Recommendation Form. The mailing address and costs for each course are included in the class announcements.

Click here for the Form. Return forms to the Vermont District Director, Marie MacDougall, 19 Eastern Ave Apt 1, Barre VT 05641. 

2013 Lay Servant Ministries Courses

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Courses Offered: 

  • Brenda Bennett will facilitate this course at Grace UMC in Bradford VT on Thursdays June 20 & 27, and July 11, 18, & 25, from 6:30 - 8:30PM.
  • Tom Adkins will facilitate the Basic Course at Rupert UMC in Rupert VT on the weekend of August 17-18. The day will start at 10AM and end at 4PM on Saturday and Sunday. Participants are invited to worship at 9AM the Rupert UMC.
  • The Basic Course is also being planned for the Bristol VT area. Details will be published as soon as they are known.

The cost for the Basic Course is $20 including the book.  This course is required for anyone wishing to be a Local or Certified Lay Servant and is also helpful in preparation for church leadership.

To register please complete the Request and Recommendation Form and return it to Marie MacDougall, 19 Eastern Ave Apt 1, Barre VT 05641.  If you have any questions please contact Marie at 802-461-4452, macdome@juno.com.

**Please be aware that to get credit as a Certified Lay Servant you must have completed the Basic course.

Contact Marie MacDougall (see above) if you would like a course offered in your geographic area.

On-line courses are available
BeADisciple.com offers several on-line courses each year that have been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as advanced courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Go to http://www.beadisciple.com/layspeakingministries.html and be sure to scroll down to view them all. Approval from the District Director is required for these courses. (see above) 
 
Lay Speaking/Servant Ministries Catalog

Click here for the on-line Lay Speaking/Servant Ministries catalog which includes basic and advanced courses as well as some new and refresher courses.  

Annual Report

Lay Speakers must complete an annual report. Click here for a form that you can download and complete on your computer.

Lay Speaking/Servant Ministries

General Board of Discipleship Lay Servant Ministries web pages

New Name!

Lay Speaking Ministries are now Lay Servant Ministries! General Conference 2012 agreed to a name change from Lay Speaking Ministries to Lay SERVANT Ministries. During the legislative process a section was added to maintain the role of lay SPEAKER as pulpit supply and set requirements for persons desiring to fill that role.   Click here to read the more about the change.

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About Lay Servant Ministries

There are two types of Lay Servants:

  1. Local Church Lay Servant serve in and through their local churches. To be recognized as a local church lay servant, one must be recommended by his/her pastor and church council or charge conference and complete the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course. Each participant must reapply annually, reporting on service rendered and learning achieved during the year. Every three years the lay servant must complete a refresher course or continuing education course relating to his/her ministry
  2. Certified Lay Servants serve in their own churches, in other churches, and through district or conference projects and programs. This offers them the opportunity to expand their outreach and to enrich their ministry through the various advanced courses. To be recognized as a certified lay servant, one must be recommended by his/her pastor and church council or charge conference and complete the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course as well as one Lay Servant Advanced Course. Each lay servant must report and be renewed annually, and he/she must complete at least one Advanced Course every three years.

 Important Reminder: A refresher course is required every three years to remain a Local Church Lay Servant. To become a Certified Lay Servant and serve outside your local congregation, you must take one advanced course and continue by taking at least one advanced course every three years. All Local Church and Certified Lay Servants must submit an annual report of activities to their respective charge conference.

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