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BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Nearly 1,100 people filled the sanctuary and two overflow rooms of Metropolitan Memorial UMC to celebrate with 98 lay men and women as they received certification as lay ministers Nov. 15. They made up the first class of the Certified Lay Ministry (CLM) program to graduate.

The long procession, of 52 women and 46 men, their pastors from 67 churches, conference staff and Bishop John R. Schol danced down the center aisle to the beat of the music, singing "I just want to praise you forever and ever."

The new CLM position was created by the General Conference in 2004. It requires a year of study in addition to meeting the Certified Lay Speakers criteria. Certified Lay Ministers must also meet requirements of their District Committee on Ordained Ministry, be approved by their pastor, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, the district superintendent or Guide and the church council.

The Rev. Helen Fleming, who led the year-long effort, said the CLM course of study is a step to live out the mission and vision of the conference "to call, equip, send and support spiritual leaders to make disciples and grow Acts 2 congregations."

"We celebrate what God is doing through us," the bishop said. "The church will do better as we equip people to serve."

He told of his growing-up experience of fighting with his siblings to ride "shotgun," in the front favored seat next to his father when his mother was absent. It represented the place of honor, of being singled out, chosen.

But, he said, "Jesus isn't looking for people to ride shotgun, but for those willing to go on the streets and say ‘these, these are my people.'"

A newly certified lay minister from each region responded to the bishop's address. Their remarks captured many of the feelings of the wide variety of candidates.

"I expected to learn about the church," said Steven Burke from the Western Region, but "I was transformed. God got me to the place where I can serve."

The wide diversity of people in the group enriched the learning experience, said Saleem Gauhar from the Baltimore Region.

"Our group came together - young and old, black, white, brown - and we found ourselves in a circle of love," he said.

"We're committed to writing a new chapter in the history of lay ministry," Gauhar said. "What would happen if each one of us would bring one person - just one person - to Christ?"

Millicent Franklin, a member of Cooper's UMC, will use her certification to "do what I've already started doing," she said, such as the women's ministry she started about a year ago. Certification provides a layperson with the training, support, supervision and accountability needed to lead a congregation that either does not have a traditional clergy appointment or one that is developing team ministry. CLM positions on church staffs are unpaid.

For more information on the certification program, contact the Rev. George DeFord at