
District Lay Servant Training

Mountain View District
Lay Servant Ministry Training
Lay Servant Training is for any member of the congregation who wants to grow in their capacity to serve God through the ministries of the church. Laity may take multiple classes and work toward certification but that’s not required! Classes are open to everyone.
Who should attend?
• Anyone who wants to discover what his or her gifts are and how they can use them to serve God.
• Anyone who gets called on to preach.
• Anyone who visits in the hospital, nursing home, prison, or the homebound.
• Anyone who plans worship or wants to learn how.
• Anyone who is serving as Lay Leader.
• Anyone who has a leadership position in the local church.
• Anyone who is serious about growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ and wants to develop their leadership skills.
How much does it cost?
A day of your life, the cost of the book, and a donation for lunch.
When and where will it be held?
Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at Bethlehem UMC, 13586 S Old Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA 24121
Snacks and lunch and plenty of coffee will be served – donations for the meal will be received.
Learn more...
What classes are being offered?
Basic Lay Servant Training
taught by Martha Stokes, Virginia Conference Lay Leader
This is an overview course that provides helpful background for all laypersons in service in the church and community. It is also required for all who pursue recognition in Lay Servant Ministries. The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores:
• personal spiritual gifts;
• servant leadership;
• each leader’s role in developing future leaders;
• the importance of consistent spiritual practices;
• the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating.
From Pew to Pulpit, A Beginners Guide to Preaching
taught by Rev. Sarah Calvert, DS of the Mountain View District
This course 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. Learners will:
• Examine the role of the sermon in the Service of Worship and see it as a proclamation of the Good News;
• Work through the stages in sermon preparation from message topic to final manuscript;
• Learn how to assess the congregation’s profile as it impacts sermon creation and delivery;
• Examine technical issues of grammar, language, word selection, and humor and their impact on delivering the sermon.
Lay Pastoral Care Giving
taught by Rev. Jay Carey, DS of Living Waters District
This course will offer a systemic path for pastoral care using the gifts of the laity in the church. Unique to this course is the ongoing training and accountability meetings outlined for those in this valuable ministry. Participants will be able to:
• Describe and discuss the concepts of lay pastoral care;
• Demonstrate appropriate interactions in a caregiving situation;
• Describe life and faith passages;
• Discuss the relevancy of sensitivity and supportive environments;
• Describe and discuss various situations and conditions they may encounter.
For the Common Good – Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts
taught by Tammy Burdick, Co-Lay Leader of the Mountain View District
This course offers a scriptural understanding of spiritual gifts as always given “for the common good.” By helping participants identify and link their gifts, abilities, and sense of calling, laity will learn the powerful connection between spiritual gifts and vocational discernment in the context of the mission of their local church. They will also learn how to make spiritual gifts discernment a part of their congregation’s culture and commitment to equip mission-focused leaders who make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Participants will:
• Discover the nature of spiritual gifts through Bible study and reflection;
• Relate spiritual gifts to the overall life of the church and to the means of grace;
• Discover one’s own spiritual gifts and examine their definitions;
• Develop a plan to implement the use of spiritual gifts as an element of leader development and deployment in the local church including suggestions for how to build a ministry team or assign people to committees based on the gifts of each individual.
Worshipping with United Methodists
taught by Rev. Leigh Anne Taylor, Director of Coordinating Ministries for the MVD
This course focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group, class, organization, or congregation in worship. The course is grounded in the classic patterns of Christian worship.
Learners will:
• Be able to name the four elements of the Basic Pattern of Worship and describe the history of this pattern;
• Practice leadership through the four elements of the basic pattern;
• Receive and offer supportive feedback on planning and leading worship;
• Explore and practice leading worship in a variety of settings, other patterns of worship, and multiple forms of prayer.
How do I register?
Click Here to register for the Mountain View District Lay Servant Training.
Will there be homework?
Yes. After you register, you’ll get an email with a link to order the book you’ll be reading for the course. Please read it before you come to the class – none of the books are very long. After the course, you may be asked to write a short reflection on your experience.
Where can I learn more about becoming a Certified Lay Servant?
Learn more about becoming a Certified Lay Servant, a Certified Lay Speaker, and a Certified Lay Minister: Click HERE

Mission Rivers District
Lay Servant Ministry Training

Living Waters District
Lay Servant Ministry Training
Lay Servant Ministries – Basic Course
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!
Location: Crenshaw UMC, 200 Church St., Blackstone VA
Date: July 12, 2025 9 AM to 4 PM
(Please arrive by 8:45am for registration)
Cost: $30 plus participants must purchase their own book
Who can attend: Anyone interested in Lay Servant Ministry or Ministry within your local church.
Course Overview
This is an overview course that provides helpful background for all laypersons in service in the church and community. It is also required for all who pursue recognition in Lay Servant Ministries. The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores:
• personal spiritual gifts;
• servant leadership;
• each leader’s role in developing future leaders;
• the importance of consistent spiritual practices;
• the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating.
Course Facilitator: Richard Speirs

Northern Virginia
Lay Servant Ministry Training
Northern Virginia’s next Lay Servant Ministry Training event will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 19-20 at Sudley UMC.
Registration Fee: $35
Classes will be canceled unless they receive a minimum of 5.
Registrants are required to spend 2 hours before class reading the recommended book.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. — Dinner Church and Orientation (Heavy hors d’oeuvres)
7:00-9:00 p.m. — Session #1
SATURDAY
8-8:30 a.m. — Breakfast Church
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. — Session #2
10:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. — Session #3
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. — Lunch (provided)
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. — Session #4
3:30 – 3:45 p.m. — Closing Blessing and presentation of certificates
Classes Offered:
Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course
Instructor: Nick Abate, Sudley UMC
* (required for any certification)
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.
Required Reading: Lay Servant Ministries
Fresh Expressions
Instructor: Rev. Isaiah Park
This course shares insights on engaging people beyond the church walls with the love and welcome of Jesus Christ. Fresh Expressions can be new communities or extensions of current ones that become new forms of life in Jesus Christ through prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit. Participants will grasp how genuine, authentic gatherings meet people where they are and can become means of grace for both those disconnected from church and those who long to see others made whole by grace. This is Fresh Expressions!
Required Reading: Fresh Expressions: A New Kind of Methodist Church For People Not In Church
*This course provides Certification credit and renewal credit for Certified Lay Servants and Certified Lay Speakers.
Note: 2 hours of class time prior to class should be spent on reading the
required materials for the class! *This applies only to those who are working
towards Lay Servant Certifications or CEU’s.
Spiritual Gifts
Instructor: Rev. Deborah Porras
This course helps participants understand spiritual gifts and how the church can use them to fulfill its mission and ministry. Participants will also learn what it means to be a spiritual leader and will be equipped to lead others in exploring and using their spiritual gifts.
Required Reading: For the Common Good – Christine Harman
Need more information? Contact [email protected]