Lay Servant Ministry Training

Some districts have postponed in-person LSM courses due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but a variety of advanced courses are available online year-round. Classes will be shared here as we receive the information, contact your District Director of LSM if you have any questions. You can take training at any church, it doesn’t have to be in your district.

BASIC Lay Servant Trainings

February 18 from 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Gilead Trinity UMC, Mt. Gilead, OH
Flyer | Online Registration

March 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. & March 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Garfield Heights UMC, Garfield Heights, OH
Flyer | Online Registration

March 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Collins UMC, Collins, OH
Details and Paper Registration | Online Registration

April 15 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Pleasant Grove UMC, Zanesville, OH
In person on April 15 followed by two online sessions two weeks apart. Contact Linda Morrow by e-mail for details and registration.

April 22 from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Perry UMC, Perry, OH
Registration Form

Advanced Lay Servant Trainings

February 18 from 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Gilead Trinity UMC, Mt. Gilead, OH
Courses: Lay Pastoral Care Giving or Shaping the Prayer of the People (Leading Prayer)
Flyer | Online Registration

March 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. & March 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Garfield Heights UMC, Garfield Heights, OH
Course: Leading Public Prayer: Let the Whole Church Say Amen!
Flyer | Online Registration

March 3 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. & March 4 from 8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Online only
Course: United Methodist Polity.
Details and Registration

March 10 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. & March 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Copley UMC, Akron, OH
Course: Transforming Evangelism. Contact Lydia Stahl by e-mail for details and registration.

March 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Collins UMC, Collins, OH
Course: The Sacraments
Details and Paper Registration | Online Registration

April 15 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Pleasant Grove UMC, Zanesville, OH
Course: See All the People: Developing an Intentional Discipleship System. Contact Linda Morrow by e-mail for details and registration.

April 22 from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Perry UMC, Perry, OH
Two Advanced courses offered: Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (Heritage) and Leading Missional Small Groups.
Registration Form

Anyone may take lay servant training courses for spiritual development, even if you do not intend to serve as a lay servant. Taking a lay servant class does not obligate you to speak publicly. You may enroll in courses offered in any district in the spring and fall or in the online courses. Class participants are not required to take the BASIC course prior to other classes, but persons new to lay servant ministries are strongly encouraged to take the BASIC course first. However, if you do wish to be recognized as a ‘Certified Lay Servant’ by the East Ohio Conference, the BASIC course and one Advanced course is a requirement. The 2016 Book of Discipline no longer uses "Local (Basic) Lay Servant."

2022 Lay Servant Ministries Course Catalog