Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Lay Ministry

The certified lay minister is a new form of leadership in The United Methodist Church, authorized by the 2004 General Conference. E-mail your CLM questions or comments to clm@gbod.org. Thanks!

LEADERSHIP

1. What is a certified lay minister (CLM)?
2. What does certification mean?
3. 3. Where do I find this position in the Book of Discipline?
4. How is a CLM different from other recognized ministers?
5. When is a person actually certified?
6. What attire is appropriate for the CLM to wear during worship?
7. Why do we need CLMs? Are they really necessary?

PROCESS

1. How does a CLM become certified?
2. What is the role of the conference boards, such as the board of ordained ministry or board of laity?

ACCOUNTABILITY

1. How is the CLM placed for service?
2. How are the sacraments celebrated in a congregation served by a CLM?
3. Who is the CLM accountable to for their leadership?

TRAINING

1. What is the coursework required?
2. Where can I get the training to become a certified lay minister?

SUPPORT

1. Whom should I contact regarding my interest in this role?
2. What are some creative ways to utilize the CLM?
3. How are CLM's compensated?

3. Where do I find this position in the Book of Discipline?
Paragraph 272 explains Certified Lay Minister, requirements and service distinction.

4. How is a CLM different from other recognized ministers?
A CLM is a unique, recognized lay servant in the UMC. A CLM is intended for the missional leadership of smaller churches as part of a team ministry under the supervision of a clergyperson. As part of the historic continuation of lay leadership in our church, CLM resembles earlier Exhorters, Class Leaders, Lay Preachers, and Missioners.

Specific distinctions are offered below to explain (not compare) leadership. A CLM is different from…

• An Elder?
  An Elder is a clergy member of the Annual Conference ordained for Word, Order and Sacrament. Under the guaranteed appointment (placement) of a Bishop, they usually have completed seminary training. Their sole livelihood comes from a church.


• A Licensed Local Pastor?
  A Licensed Local Pastor is a clergy member of the Annual Conference providing pastoral leadership in a local congregation. They are appointed (placed) by the Bishop for non-itinerant ministry in a local congregation. Their training includes attending a Conference Licensing (or Pastor’s) School and completing the Course of Study Program available from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.


• A Certified Lay Speaker?
  A Certified Lay Speaker is a layperson that has completed the basic course in lay speaking ministries and an additional advanced course. Their certification is renewed every three years upon completing another course.
  
  While Lay Speakers are intended to serve in the ministry and mission within the local congregation where they are a member in good standing, Certified Lay Speakers may serve beyond their local church. They may provide temporary pulpit supply for pastors who are away from their church on vacation, mission project or a family crisis. Traditionally, these individuals also speak on Laity Sunday.
  
  

5. When is a person actually certified?
When the CLM completes the process and appears before the DCOM, they will be issued a certificate after a successful review. Remaining certified is dependent on continuing the process: being active in competent service and completing additional courses for recertification.

In those cases where a CLM no longer has an assignment due to church discontinuance or merging, the District Superintendent is encouraged to assign them to another congregation. This may be his or her own local church or another needing missional leadership as part of ministry team.

6. What attire is appropriate for the CLM to wear during worship?
Since the position of certified lay minister is not a clergy position, the Lay Minister does not have sacramental authority at any time. Appropriate attire would be regular ordinary "go to church" clothes, an alb or sash/praise garment. This person leads a congregation in the work of ministry but is not considered clergy and should not try to appear as such. Therefore, clergy robe, stole or collar should never be worn.

The CLM should not assume the title "Pastor," or be addressed as a Reverend.

7. Why do we need CLMs? Are they really necessary?
Rather than using deficit thinking (we have a clergy shortage, lack of funds for traditional pastoral leadership in our small church, use certified lay speakers already...), it is helpful to see CLMs as an asset (an extension of clergy/lay leadership) in missional settings such as our smaller congregations, faith communities, ethnic/culturally diverse ministries and other places where team ministry is valued.

While Certified Lay Speakers have previously been placed in a similar role before the 2004 General Conference, it is now the intent of the church that a CLM be utilized in these situations. Their certification process prepares them to be an intentional, holistic congregational leader assigned under the supervision of an equipping clergyperson in a team ministry. The CLM is not intended simply for occasional pulpit supply.

PROCESS

1. How does a CLM become certified?
There are certain requirements that must be met for a layperson to become certified. (Note: Being completely certified is not, however, a prerequisite for serving as part of a ministry team or being assigned to lead a congregation. In fact, being active in leadership is one way to demonstrate the gifts and graces someone has for the ministry!)

To become certified, a person must:

• Be recommended by the pastor and charge conference.
  • Review the literature available and begin discernment with trusted spiritual friends to test the call.
  • Talk with their pastor about this call to ministry.
    • Pastor writes a letter explaining whether or not they recommend this person as certification lay minister. (This recommendation must be taken seriously! It is the first level of recommending process. The letter should state the person is a member in good standing in the local church and highlight their service and abilities which are seen locally as fruit of ministry.)
    • If Pastor is in agreement with individual’s desire to explore certification as a Lay Minister, he/she refers the recommendation for certification to the Administrative Council (or main church leadership group).
  • Meet with the Administrative Council with the Pastor present to discuss CLM and their ministry call.
    • The Administrative group makes a decision to support or not to support the call. (Vote or consensus process).
    • A letter is sent to the District Superintendent with their decision


• Be in active service in the church and demonstrate and understanding of United Methodist history and doctrine. It is recommended that they are a certified Lay Speaker or the equivalent.
  • Meet with your District Superintendent to discuss certification and ministry opportunities on the District.
    • Have copies of local church recommendations.
  • Lay Speaker Certification (or equivalent preparation such as attending Licensing School, Seminary coursework, Conference Lay Institute or Leadership Academy, etc.).
  • District Superintendent notifies the District Committee on Ministry of the individual's entry as a potential CLM when all previous training and recommendations are in order.
  • District Superintendent (or designated person) initiates any screening process required by the annual conference or District Committee on Ministry The Discipline does not require psychological assessment or background checks for Certified Lay Ministry. They are done only when required by action of an annual conference, board or district committee on ordained ministry. The policies governing tests or credit checks are determined by the annual conference.
    
    Note: The cost for any screening process should be clearly understood by the potential certified lay minister at the beginning of the process. Suggestions for financial assistance are that fees may be covered by the individual and returned when certification is completed, sponsored by a local congregation, partially or fully met by the Conference Board of Ministry, or other sources.
• DS meets with the congregation under consideration for the CLM assignment to introduce mutual ministry and ensure their readiness for this form of ministry.
  • Congregation workshop conducted
  • Mutual Ministry Team (MMT) is formed
  • Plans are made for the development of the Ministry Covenant.
• CLM is placed as pastoral leader in the local church as part of a ministry team (MMT) and assigned a supervising clergyperson.
• The CLM is placed as the pastoral leader in the local church as part of a mutual ministry team (MMT) and is assigned a supervising clergyperson.

2. What is the role of the Conference Boards such as Board of Ordained Ministry or Board of Laity?
These groups have a vital supportive role in the training and recognition of CLMs by collaborating in developing a Conference Policy and practice. They are not responsible for certification.

ACCOUNTABILITY

1. How is the CLM placed for service?
The CLM can be assigned by the Bishop in consultation with the Cabinet (205.4) or by DS (¶) to a congregation to providing preaching, care ministry, program leadership, and witness to the community as part of a mutual ministry team.

2. How are the sacraments celebrated in a congregation served by a CLM?
Only clergy have sacramental authority in the UMC. Baptism and Holy Communion are the 2 sacraments celebrated by our Denomination. CLMs do not have sacramental authority but may conduct weddings and funerals according to the laws of their state with permission of their Conference Policy.

3. Who is the CLM accountable to for their leadership?
A supervising clergyperson with equipping gifts is essential to the CLM’s effectiveness. The Mutual Ministry Team, from the local congregation served, is also part of the accountability process.

A local church served by a CLM still has a Pastor Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) and Charge Conference to communicate the CLM’s effectiveness and support.

TRAINING

1. What is the coursework required?
The General Board of Discipleship and The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry has worked together to prepare a basic coursework to prepare leaders for this form of ministry.

The required coursework has four modules:

• Call and Covenant for Ministry
  Description: Understanding of theology and call for ministry, exploring spiritual gifts, and developing a ministry covenant.
  Minimum Time: 10 hours


• The Practice of Ministry (Four Sections)
  Description: Leading Worship, Preaching/Sharing Faith, Discipleship Ministries, and Caring for a Congregation.
  Minimum Time: 8 hours per section


• Organization of Ministry
  Description: focus on the leader’s task of organizing a congregation for mission and ministry and provides specific guidance on topics central to a congregation’s health.
  Minimum Time: 8 hours


• Connection for Ministry
  Description: United Methodist Theology, Practice and Polity are explained with the roles of the local congregation district, conference and general church.
  Minimum Time: 8 hours


• Please carefully preview each PDF product description. These products are available only as PDF downloads and are non-discountable, non-refundable and non-returnable.

*Actual time given may vary according to the ministry setting/context and format chosen to complete the material (local church small group, District peer group, or Conference Academy). The point is to take an adequate amount of time to complete the coursework so it can be used effectively in ministry.

Please Note: This Coursework is not intended to compare with traditional training such Certified Lay Speaking Schools/Courses, Licensing School, Course of Study, or even Seminary. It is designed to prepare a CLM for effective pastoral service as part of a ministry team that should include leaders who have completed traditional training or theological education.

2. Where can I get the training to become a certified lay minister?
Training may be offered by your conference or district – check with your District Superintendent for available opportunities. The Coursework (4 Modules) provided by the General Board of Discipleship as downloads can also be used as a group-study with the supervision of a clergy person and the support of a mutual ministry team (key leaders) of the congregation being served by the CLM.

We believe that whatever format chosen it should include work/interaction with people in the local congregation being served.

SUPPORT

1. Whom should I contact regarding my interest in this role?
Talk with your Pastor and District Superintendent. Our e-mail contact is clm@gbod.org.

2. What are some creative ways to utilize the CLM?
There are many ways that the service of a CLM can enhance the mission of the church. Specifically:

• Assigned as a congregational leader in a small church that needs consistent, affordable pastoral care.
• Serving as part of a pastoral ministry team on a larger circuit or parish under the supervision of a lead pastor (appointed Elder or Licensed Local Pastor) to increase the pastoral care in the area.
• Being from the specific culture or ethnic group an existing congregation is trying to reach as a new faith community. Indigenous leadership can be essential in this situation!
• Extending the reach of clergy into an area experiencing decline or shrinking resources.
• Larger churches forming a pastoral ministry team to provide adequate services to members.
  

3. How are CLM’s compensated?
Remember a CLM is a layperson serving out of their Baptism as a disciple of Jesus Christ. They are not intended to be reimbursed as of full/part time clergy. Therefore salary, health care or other clergy benefits are not appropriate. The CLM is encouraged to have their main source of livelihood beyond the local church. Most will serve in the church they grew up in or one nearby their home. The assigned congregation may offer stipendiary support (mileage, resources, training, and other items deemed vital for ministry) after negotiation that includes the CLM and DS.

(Important: consult your federal and state tax codes to learn the impact of reimbursement or other support provided to a CLM, including living in a parsonage. These items may need to be declared legally as income!)