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Lay Speaking Ministries

How often and in how many ways are you called? We, as United Methodists, believe our faith must be lived out in our lives and in the life of the world if it is to have any validity. Consequently, our faith must be a living, vital, acting faith that seeks to transform the world or, to use a phrase of Wesley's, "to spread Scriptural holiness over the land." (Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course)

Each district usually has two training events a year. They offer a Basic Course for those just beginning in the Lay Speaking Ministries. The Basic Course prepares one to be aLay Speaker or Lay Servant only in his/her local church. Remember all the ways you can serve besides just pulpit speaking. After the Basic Course, you must complete an Advanced Course to become a Certified Lay Speaker. Certified Lay Speakers must complete an Advanced Course every three years in order to remain certified. This certification enables one to be a speaker or servant minister outside of his/her local church. (Click here for a current listing of class topics available for Advanced Certification Training.)

Following is a directory of District Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries. These persons, or your District Superintendent, will be happy to talk with you about training to become a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

Ashland District - Ed Shytle

Bowling Green District - Nancy D. Wetzel

Columbia District - Jayne Squires

Corbin District - Patricia Colwell

Covington District - Rev. Brian Wilson

Elizabethtown District - Ken Vowels

Frankfort District - J. Henry Duncan

Lexington District - Sheila Price

Louisville District - Bob Boutell

Madisonville District - Jeri Parish

Owensboro District - Fred Goodwin

Prestonsburg District - Linda Gayheart

The 2008 Book of Discipline is a good source for learning more about the requirements and the structure of Lay Speaking Ministries. You are encouraged to read paragraphs 266 - 269 to assist you in making a decision to become a lay speaker.

We invite you and encourage you to become a part of this wonderful ministry of the United Methodist Church.