Certified Lay Ministers

The Certified Lay Minister (CLM) is a position that was created by the 2004 session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. This position was designed to enhance the quality of ministry and ability of small membership churches and team ministry in larger membership churches to meet the spiritual and temporal needs of a constantly changing world (¶ 271 in the 2012 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church).

Certified Lay Ministers preach the Word, provide care ministry to the congregation, assist in program leadership, and are a witness in the community as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergyperson. The Certified Lay Minister can be assigned by a District Superintendent to provide lay servant leadership in a ministry or in a church.

Perhaps you have considered being more involved in mission and ministry in the past, but wanted to remain in the community where you live as a faithful servant. Perhaps you are the one others look toward for leadership, perhaps you are comfortable sharing your faith story, or you could be discerning the service to which God is calling you.  Have you ever asked yourself, “Could God be calling me to be a leader in mission and ministry?” Have you read “The Christian as Minister”? Have you had a conversation your pastor? Certified Lay Ministry may be an appropriate response for you at this time.

You need to commit to and complete the following requirements:

1. Meet with your pastor.
2. Meet with your local SPRC.
3. Meet with your District Superintendent.
4. Complete the Certified Lay Ministry application and submit it by July 1.
5. Requirements for making application to enter into the Certified Lay Ministry course of study:
   • Completed the Basic Lay Servant Ministry course.
   • Completed one Advanced Lay Servant course.
6. Must be a Certified Lay Servant.
7. Complete a background screening for criminal records search, sex offender records search, credit report search and driver’s license report prior to the completion of Module 1.
8. Successfully complete the two-year learning experience, consisting of four seven-week modules and a separate demonstration project (practicum).
9. Demonstrate through service in the local church an appreciation for the history, polity, doctrine, worship and liturgy of The United Methodist Church.
10. Upon successful completion of Modules1-4, a Certificate of Completion for the required coursework will be issued to the candidate for CLM.
11. The candidate for Certified Lay Ministry needs to request an interview with the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM). It is the CLM’s responsibility to contact the chair or registrar of their DCOM to request this interview.
12. The DCOM will make their recommendation to the Conference Committee on Lay Ministry, who will provide written documentation of approval of the Certified Lay Minister.

A CLM needs to recertify biennially (every 2 years) and be re-approved by the Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministry after interview with their District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) to continue as a Certified Lay Minister. This requires:

• Satisfactory completion of the approved continuing education course (10 hours) for CLM. The CLM recertification class is offered annually during the months of May-August. It is the CLM’s responsibility to know when they need to recertify.
• Annual written recommendation with a ministry review by the church council or charge conference from the congregation of which he/she is a member and if different, the congregation where assigned. This is on the annual Charge Conference Form. The original is to be turned in to your church for vote and approval at your charge conference. A copy is to be sent to Linda Flanagan, at 236 Barksdale Avenue, Waldorf, MD 20602  with application fee by July 20.
• It is the CLM’s responsibility to contact the chair or registrar of their DCOM to request an interview for recertification.
• After the interview, the District Superintendent and the DCOM will provide their recommendations to the Conference Committee on Lay Ministry, who will then issue the documentation for re-certification.

• If it has been in the past 2 years, please contact your District Director of Lay Servant Ministries for assistance in locating a new certificate of completion.
• If the course was from BEADISCIPLE.COM, check old emails.
• If the course was more than 2years ago enter the date and information you remember into the appropriate fields.

CLS and CLSp are required to take an Advanced LSM Course every three years to be recertified. CLMs are required to take a course every 2 years. These courses must be completed by Charge Conference the year they are due.

Special note:  The 2016 Book of Discipline added an application process to CLS and CLSp. Completing a course does not make you certified or recertified. When you have completed the course you are to fill out an application and submit it to your District Director of Lay Servant Ministry. This process has not been fully implemented yet across the BWC. For the 2017 Church Conference season the completion of the course will be accepted. In the 2018 Church Conference season the application process will be required. This means classes should be completed weeks, if not months, before your charge conference so the district can complete your application and you will have a certificate for charge conference.

The 2016 BOD made it a requirement for CLMs to be a Certified Lay Servant. If you have not completed the Basic LSM course or an Advanced course please type NONE in the fields for these courses. The BWC Committee on Lay Servant Ministry will be working this year to make sure all of our CLMs meet the new requirements.