Lay Opportunities for Ministry

Opportunities for Laity

Are you a lay person feeling a call to serve God as a disciple of Jesus Christ in ways other than as a clergy person? There are a variety of formal ways of being in ministry as a lay person in the United Methodist Church. 

Local Church Opportunities

Laity serve many functions at the local church level and may chair and serve on a wide variety of teams and committees. 

The local church Lay Leader is a vital person in the congregation. The Lay Leader works with the pastor to help guide the local congregation into healthy and holy ways of being the Body of Christ. 

The local church Lay Member of Conference serves the congregation by attending Annual Conference and helping to interpret matters beyond the local church to the congregation.

Beyond the local church, there are District Lay Leaders and Associate Lay Leaders, as well as a Conference Lay Leader. The Vermont District Lay Leader is Evie Doyon and there soon will be several Associate Lay Leaders around the District.

For an interesting and informative PowerPoint presentation about lay leaders and lay members, click here. 

Lay Speaking Ministries

Lay Speaking Ministries is about more than speaking--it's about ministry! Members of local churches take courses that help them develop leadership skills and ministry gifts. Local lay speakers complete the Basic Lay Speaking course and serve in their local church. Certified Lay Speakers take advanced lay speaking courses and can serve beyond the local church. There is more information on the New England Conference website and the Board of Discipleship website.

Certified Lay Minister

The Certified Lay Minister serves in a leadership capacity as part of a ministerial team led by a clergyperson. The District Superintendent assigns the Certified Lay Minister to a particular ministry based on the person's gifts. To become a Certified Lay Minister, a person works through the District Board of Ministry and must complete 4 courses for certification. To find out more about this ministry, visit the General Board of Discipleship website, Certified Lay Minister. If after you have prayed about this ministry and you discern that this might be a path for you to follow, be in touch with your pastor or your District Superintendent, the Rev. Brigid Farrell. 

Deaconess or Home Missioner

Deaconesses and Home Missioners are lay women and men who are called by God to a full-time vocation in service to those who are marginalized or in need. They are commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries to ministries of love, justice, and service. Deaconesses and Home Missioners find their own positions (paid or volunteer) in helping professions or church-related vocations.

Church and Community Workers

Church and Community Workers are commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries for service to the poor and disenfranchised in both rural and urban settings in the United States. They are generally assigned to projects for 6 to 10 years and are expected to itinerate.