What is a Lay Speaker?... and How to Become One

A LAY SPEAKER is a member of a local church or charge who is ready and desirous to serve the Church and who is well informed on the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization and the life of the United Methodist Church and who has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership and care-giving ministries.  An applicant must be active in the support of his/her local church or charge. To maintain status, a report and reapplication with recommendations must be submitted annually and a refresher course approved by the Conference Committee on Lay Speaking Ministries must be completed once in every three years. (The Book of Discipline pp 268.3)

It is required by the Book of Discipline that a Certified Lay Speaker completes both basic and one advanced training course for lay speaking and be recertified by taking an approved class once every three years. It is also required that a Certified Lay Speaker request in writing renewal of certification and file a report with their local Charge Conference every year to maintain a certified status.

Since the Church entered the 21st century, emphasis has been put on a clergy/laity partnership in ministry. These courses are designed to train the laity to be a vital and exciting part of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Preaching or sharing with a congregation is not the goal of this course, but it is designed to assist all church leadership in carrying out their ministries more effectively.