Lay Servant Academy
More training coming soon– find opportunities for Lay Servant classes on different districts below.
VALLEY RIDGE DISTRICT
Lay Servant Training
September 19, 2026
The next Valley Ridge District Lay Servant Ministry Training will be held September 19 at Greenville UMC. The training will be held from 8:30am-4:30pm. Each course requires 2-4 hours of advanced reading. This opportunity allows lay persons to fulfill the Book of Discipline requirements for certification as a Certified Lay Servant, work toward becoming a Certified Lay Speaker, or maintain their certification by completing a required advanced course.
The cost is $15, which covers snacks and lunch. Payment can be made in advance either virtually or by check mailed to the Valley Ridge District Office (26 Orr Drive, Fishersville VA 22939), or on the day of the event with exact cash only.
Please complete the registration form below to secure your spot.
For registration questions: contact Rev. Tim Gearheart at timgearheart@vaumc.org.
For questions about the training: contact Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley at paigeswaim@vaumc.org.
COURSES OFFERED
SHENANDOAH RIVER DISTRICT
Lay Servant Training (In Person)
September 26, 2026
The next Shenandoah River District Lay Servant Ministry Training will be held September 26th at Strasburg UMC (114 W. Washington Street, Strasburg, VA 22657). The training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley will be teaching and serve as our keynote speaker. Pastors, we would love your help in encouraging the youth and young adults to take the Basic Course.
Read below each course description and requirements beforehand. The cost for each class is $20. Please note the Basic Class is free! Lunch will be provided and a free will offering taken for the meal. Payment can be made in advance below with your credit card or on the day of the event with exact cash only. Scholarships are available, if needed. Contact Raini Newman at the email address below.
Please complete the registration form below to secure your spot.
For registration questions contact the district office at shenandoahriverdistrict@vaumc.org
For training questions please contact Pastor Raini Newman at raini.newman0210@gmail.com
COURSES OFFERED
- Basic Course $0.00
- Leading Worship $20.00
- Leading Preaching $20.00
- Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century $20.00
MISSION RIVERS DISTRICT
Lay Servant Training (In Person)
Mission Rivers is pleased to offer this in person Lay Servant training opportunity. Participants are expected to obtain their own course materials and complete the assigned reading according to the schedule provided by the instructor prior to the training day.
DATE: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
LOCATION: Ebenezer UMC, Stafford
TIMES: 8:00 – check in; 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Class
COST: $30.00 (Lunch and light snacks included)
If you need assistance filling this out, please reach out to either Lynn or Lisa at missionriversdistrict@
COURSES OFFERED
- Basic Course
- Advanced Course: God’s Mission…Our Journey
- Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
- Advanced Course: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an effective Sermon
SAVE THE DATE!
Summer Lay Servant Academy: August 14th-15th, 2026.
Please direct questions to Tianna Durbin and Richard Speirs.
Course options:
• Basic Course
• Called To Preach
• Spiritual Gifts
• Climate Justice
• Connectional Living and Connectional Giving
• Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century
• The Millennial Narrative
• CLM Orientation
more details coming soon…
Lay Servant Academy VIRTUAL Fall Training
August 14th & 15th, 2026
*This is the kick off weekend for the Conference Training.
Courses will be offered in different modalities and schedules based on the Instructor Schedule.
Virtual Only
Registration Fee per course: $30.00/$15.00
LSA Schedule (August 14th & 15th)
Friday, August 14th
6:00-6:30PM Welcome & Worship Zoom
7:00-9:00PM Class Session 1
Saturday, August 15th
9AM-12:00PM Class Session 2
12:00-1:00PM LUNCH
1:00-4:00PM Class Session 3
Registration coming soon
August 14th & 15th Course Offerings
You may sign up for only one course on August 14th & 15th
Basic Course
(10-hour course)
Instructor: Nick Abate
Course Description: This foundational course introduces the core practices of lay leadership. Participants explore their spiritual gifts, servant leadership, spiritual disciplines, and the value of accountable discipleship. Together, we’ll look at simple, practical ways to lead and serve both in the church and in daily life.
Required Reading: Lay Servant Ministries – Basic Course by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson
Participant’s Book • DR626 • 978-0-88177-626-3 • $12.00 available in ePub and Kindle ($9.99)
*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 CEUs.
For the Common Good – Spiritual Gifts.
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Jenn Robinson O’Brien
Course Description: 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.
Required Reading: For the Common Good: Discovering and Using
Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman Participant’s Book • DR958 • 978-0-88177-958-5 $15 (ePub, $9.99) Available at Cokesbury.com
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.
Loving People and Planet In God’s Name
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Karen Mcelfish & Ellen Comstock
Course Description: 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.
Required Reading: Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action edited by Pat Watkins Participant’s Book • 978-1-952501-23-4 • $24.99 (Kindle, $5.95) • Available at UWFaithResources.org
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.
Connectional Living and Connectional Giving
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Donna Taylor
Course Description: This course helps lay servants understand and share the world-transforming power of connectional giving rooted in the biblical/Wesleyan tradition.
Required Reading: Earn. Save. Give. Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money by James A. Harnish Participant’s Book • 978-1-630-88392-8 • 13.99 (Large Print, $16.99 and ePub, $10.79) Available at Cokesbury.com
*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.
Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Rev. RJ Jun
Course Description: This course offers a rich learning experience that includes knowing more about the aging process and the developmental stages of midlife and older adulthood and how we can best shape our ministry. It uses the Gentzler texts above.
Required Reading: Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.
https://store.upperroom.org/product/aging-and-ministry-in-the-21st-century
Participant’s Book • DR540 • 978-0-88177-540-2 • $13.00
*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.
The Millennial Narrative
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Dwayne Stinson
Course Description: Participants in this new LSM course will: rediscover the book of Joel as a script that resonates with the lives of young people; learn to tell a life-giving story; lead differently in partnership with young people; join with young people who are already making a difference in the world; and help their churches focus on the ‘why’ of Jesus’ love by sharing abundant life with the next generation of witnesses.
Required Reading: The Millennial Narrative: Sharing a Good Life with the Next Generation by Jaco J. Hamman
Participant Book • 978-1-501839-13-9 • $14.79 (eBook $14.79) Available at Cokesbury.com.
*This course provides Certification credit and renewal credit for Certified Lay Servants and Certified Lay Speakers.
Participant’s Book • DR540 • 978-0-88177-540-2 • $13.00
*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.
Certified Lay Minister (CLM) Orientation
(2-hour course) Friday 7:00-9:00 PM
INSTRUCTORS: Joanna Dietz
Course Description: This 2-hour orientation is designed to provide information about the two year CLM training for those who are considering a path toward CLM. We will spend time learning expectations of becoming a CLM while creating a network of peers who are also considering certification. If the participants discern that they are indeed called to become CLMs, this cohort will continue to support one another throughout the educational process (2 years) while learning how CLMs are functioning in the Virginia Conference.
Additional LSA Course Offerings
*Please note dates and times. *Additional fees apply!
Registration Fee per course: $30.00
Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation
(10-hour course)
Course Instructor: Richard Speirs
Meets on Thursdays 7:00-9:00PM
August 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th
Course Description: Pastors and church leaders genuinely want to care for people in their congregations and communities. But pastors cannot care for an entire church, and most laypersons don’t have the training to do it. The Caring Congregation Ministry offers a proven, laity-centered model of person-to-person care that equips congregations of every size to extend compassion in meaningful ways. This course introduces the model and its Five Essentials, providing a foundation for understanding how Congregational Care Ministers are trained, commissioned, and supported in offering care within their congregations and communities.
Learners will learn:
- Deep listening techniques for meaningful connections.
- How to provide care during times of loss and crisis.
- How to maintain healthy boundaries in caring relationships.
- How to understand cultural differences in care ministry approaches.
Required Reading: The Caring Congregation Ministry: Implementation Guide, by Karen Lampe and Melissa Gepford
Note: 2 hours of class time prior to class should be spent on reading the required materials for the class! *This course will not provide CLM specialization certifications, it is only an Advanced Lay Servant Ministries course.
Called to Preach
(10-hour course)
Instructor: Rev. Nathan Decker
**Meets on TWO Saturdays! 8:30-12:30
August 8th and 15th
Course Description: 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.
Required Reading: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie
Participant’s Book • AB6660 • 978-0-687-06660-5 • $18.99 (Available in Kindle, $9.99) Available at Cokesbury.com
*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.
Save the dates!
Contact Tianna Durbin tiannad@arcolachurch.org, Director of Lay Servant Academy with questions!