All laity are invited to participate in Lay Servant Ministries courses, not just persons seeking to become a Certified Lay Servant.
Advanced courses equip the laity for service in many facets of lay ministry and congregational leadership. Completion of one Advanced Course after the Basic Course is required to become a Certified Lay Servant. Specified Advanced Courses are required to achieve the designation of Lay Speaker.
# Core Advanced Courses are recommended as your first advanced LSM courses after the Basic Course is completed.
* Meets a requirement for Lay Speaker designation
♦ Meets a requirement for course instructor accreditation
The North Texas Lay Servant Ministries Committee and District Directors arrange to make advanced courses available based partially on need. Please submit this for to notify the LSM Directors of which Advanced Course(s) you are interested in.
Upcoming Classes
| What | When | Details |
| TBA |
Texts can be ordered through Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com (use ISBN order #) or Upper Room Bookstore (use DR item #)
Accountable Discipleship #
| About: This course focuses on the concept of the household of God, the importance of scripture as divine revelation, Wesleyan understandings of grace, and the importance of the office of class leader in the development of the Methodist movement. | ||
| Participant's text: Becoming Accountable Disciples, revised by Steven W. Manskar DRPDF440 |
Leader's text: Accountable Discipleship by Steven W. Manskar DR339 • 978-0-88177-339-2 |
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Afire with God
| About: This course helps participants develop a holistic understanding of stewardship. | ||
| Participant's text: Afire with God by Betsy Schwarzentraub DR520 • 978-0-88177-520-4 |
Leader's text: Lead in Stewardship DRPDF12 (Available only as a PDF download at Upper Room Bookstore.) |
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Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century
| About: This course provides thought-provoking questions about aging and promotes an understanding of the processes that we all will experience if we live long enough. Recommended for all who live within an aging community or congregation. | ||
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Participant's text: Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century |
Leader's text: In Ministry with Boomers and Beyond |
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Biblical Storytelling
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I: This is a two-week online course which introduces the ancient-future art and spiritual discipline of telling the sacred stories of Scripture. Participants will learn to prepare, learn, and tell a Biblical text by heart (not “memory”) using the methods of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International, as well as understand how this completely non-technological art fits into a digital-communications world. There is a daily assignment (except Sundays), usually involving a short document to read and online discussion. There is also online exploration and creative work. II: This three-week online workshop explores a number of storytelling genres as well as telling the Biblical text, including midrash, chancel drama, first-person storytelling, puppetry, and more. The workshop also offers specific ideas for learning tough passages, using and not abusing voice and body, and enhancing tellings with props, digital media and more, with children and adults. It also suggests ways to deepen your practice of this art as a personal spiritual discipline. Anyone who is already practicing the art of storytelling, Biblical or secular, is welcome; Biblical Storytelling I is an excellent starting place for those new to the art but is not required. In this three-week workshop you will dive deeper into developing your unique storytelling “voice,” expand your technique and polish your art. |
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| Text: Provided by online instructor |
Called to Preach
| About: Called to Preach and You Can Preach! are courses designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence. | ||
| Participant's text: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie ISBN 978-0-88177-375-0 (Cokesbury) |
Leader's text: Called to Preach! by Dawn Chesser DRPDF876 |
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Campus Ministry
| About: Empowering congregations to support students at colleges and universities This course helps lay servants understand and communicate the key role played by local churches in nourishing the spiritual lives of college students through campus ministries. | ||
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Participant's text: Campus Ministry: Empowering Congregations to Support Students at Colleges and Universities DR935 • 978-0-88177-935-6
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Leader's text: Campus Ministry: Empowering Congregations to Support Students at Colleges and Universities by Colleen Hallagan Preuninger DRPDF938 • 978-0-88177-938-7 |
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Caring for the End of Life
| About: This course equips laity to minister in end-of-life situations, including hospice. (Offered in cooperation with the American Hospice Association; Course developed by North Texas Conference Lay Servant Ministries) | ||
| Text: Provided by online instructor |
Caring for Those Who Grieve
| About: This course extends the Lay Pastoral Care course to focus on caring for those who experience grief from various losses, including death of loved ones, employment loss, family changes, and relocation. (Course developed by North Texas Conference Lay Servant Ministries) | ||
| Text: Provided by online instructor |
Children of Abraham
| About: This online class is a beginning, an opportunity to explore the mutual roots in story of the three “Abrahamic religions.” It will focus on what we have in common, how each faith’s wisdom can enrich our own, and how to begin having interfaith conversations. This 5-week pre-Advent spiritual journey finishes before Thanksgiving (instead of taking up Advent time). | ||
| Text: The Faith Club by Ranya Idilby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner ISBN 978-07432-9048-7 |
Class Leaders
| About: This study explains what the recovery of this tradition can mean for congregations, and offers some guidelines for the revitalized office of class leader. Adapting the later Methodist class meeting as a pastoral subdivision of the congregation, Watson shows how class leaders, under the supervision of the pastor, can nurture the discipline of other church members in light of a “General Rule of Discipline” derived from the early Methodist societies: “To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”xxx | ||
| Participant's text: Class Leaders: Recovering a Tradition by David Lowes Watson ISBN 978-15791-0954-7 |
Leader's text: Class Leaders by Steven W. Manskar DRPDF624 (Available only as a PDF download at Upper Room Bookstore.) |
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Come to the Table
| About: “Come to the Table” is a course that can deepen your experience of Holy Communion through this wide-ranging study of This Holy Mystery, Scripture, Church history and United Methodist theology and practice of the sacrament. This course will reference, but go beyond, the official U.M. documents to include art, music, film and video resources to enrich our understanding and participation in the holy meal. | ||
| Text: This Holy Mystery by Gayle Carlton Fenton DR457 • 978-0-88177-457-3 |
Come to the Waters
| About: This course will reference, but go beyond, the official United Methodist teaching document on baptism. The class considers preparation of adults for baptism and the unique challenges of the digital age. | ||
| Text: By Water and the Spirit by Gayle Carlton Fenton DR201 • 978-0-88177-201-2 |
Connectional Living and Connectional Giving
| About: This course helps lay servants understand and share the world-transforming power of connectional giving rooted in the biblical/Wesleyan tradition. | ||
| Text: Wesley's Simple Rules for Money by James A. Harnish 978-1-630-88392-8 Available at Cokesbury.com |
Leader's text: Connectional Living and Connectional Giving by Rogers Curless and Ken Sloane DRPDF933 • 978-0-88177-933-2 |
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Dancing with Words
| About: You will learn what constitutes a good story, discover your storytelling styles, learn the techniques of effective storytelling and practice creating stories from your own experiences. | ||
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Participant's text: Tell Stories |
Leader's text: Dancing with Words |
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Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition #
| About: This course delves into major features in John Wesley’s devotional life, and how you can apply his ministry to your own life. Structured around Wesley’s “Means of Grace,” this study covers, among other topics, prayer, scripture, the Lord’s Supper, and fasting. | ||
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Participant 's text: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition |
Leader's text: Grow Spiritually Through Daily Disciplines* |
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Discipleship Begins with Relationship
| About: This course helps lay servant leaders understand and adapt an intentional discipleship plan for their church context using resources from the See All The People movement. | ||
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Participant's text: Discipleship Begins with Relationships: Creating A Spiritual Growth Plan to see All The People by David C. Teel |
Leader's texts: |
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Discover Your Spiritual Gifts #*
| About: This course helps participants understand spiritual gifts and how the church can use them to fulfill its mission and ministry. Participants will identify their own spiritual gifts and also learn what it means to be a spiritual leader who is equipped to lead others in exploring and using their own spiritual gifts. | ||
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Participant's text: Each One a Minister |
Leader's texts: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, rev. by Charles V. Bryant DR633 • 978-0-8358-0633-6 |
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Embracing Personal Pray
| About: At the end of this course, you will be able to establish a daily practice for communicating with God and listening for God's answers. You will find ways to come to the Lord in prayer (singing, fasting, praying the Scriptures, praying for others, and using intercessory prayer). You will explore the many names of Jesus and God you can use for adoration in your prayer. You will identify your need to overcome the barriers you may now be experiencing in your prayer life. Finally, you will be provided useful tools for structuring your prayer life and focusing on the Lord. | ||
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Participant's text: Lord, Teach Us to Pray |
Leader's text: Enhancing Personal Prayer |
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From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon *
| About: This course moves beyond the basics of public speaking to address the foundations necessary for preparing an engaging sermon. The 5 parts of this helpful experiential guide include: types of sermons – from exegetical to topical to children’s sermons; finding the story and using the hymnal; reading the Bible aloud; communication on paper and moving beyond the paper; and presentation and practice. | ||
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Participant's text: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon |
Leader's text: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon |
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God’s Mission … Our Journey
| About: This course will provide participants with a better understanding of a holistic approach to participation in God’s mission to the world and equip lay servants for more effective missional engagement in their communities and beyond. | ||
| Participant's text: A Mission Journey: A Handbook for Volunteers DR669 • 978-08817-7669-0 (Available as an EPub) |
Leader's text: God’s Mission … Our Journey by Jody Cataldo DRPDF750 |
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Half Truths, God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say
| About: This study, based on the book Half Truths by Adam Hamilton, allows participants to search for the whole truth by comparing common Christian clichés such as “everything happens for a reason” with the wisdom found in Scripture. | ||
| Participant's text: Half Truths, God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say by Adam Hamilton ISBN 978-1-5018-1387-0 |
Leader's text: Half Truths: Leader Guide ISBN 978-1-5018-1390-0 |
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Holy Spirit Here and Now
| About: This course focuses on understanding how the Holy Spirit works in our everyday lives, and on recognizing that the Holy Spirit is continually with us — 24/7. An understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work is foundational for many other advanced Lay Servant Ministries courses, including Leading and Planning Worship, Communion, Baptism, Theology, Prayer, Organization of the United Methodist Church (polity), and Storytelling. | ||
| Text: Holy Spirit Here and Now by Trevor Hudson ISBN 978-0-83581-220-7 • $10.88 |
Justice in Everyday Life
| About: This course takes an in-depth look at the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church— the church’s attempt to speak on contemporary issues with which it is confronted today. | ||
| Participant's text: Social Principles of The United Methodist Church 2017-2020 ISBN 9781501835773 • Cokesbury |
Leader's text: Justice in Everyday Life: A Look at the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church by Rev. Neal Christie ISBN 9780881776522 • $6.80 Item #: DR652 |
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Lay Pastoral Care Giving
| About: How do you learn to care for others in the community — whether the community of faith or the extended community? Some people seem to have natural gifts, but most of you can learn to improve your caring skills. This course offers insights into the life span and the dynamics of contemporary life to help your church leaders reach out with God’s love and care to others. | ||
| Participant's text: Lay Pastoral Care Giving by Tim Farabaugh DR554 • 978-0-88177-554-9 |
Leader's text: Leading in Lay Pastoral Care by Brian Jackson DRPDF596 (Available only as a PDF download at Upper Room Bookstore). |
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Lay Servants as Christian Transformational Leaders
| About: This course will guide lay servants seeking to be more empowered to lead their congregations toward vitality. | ||
| Participant's text: Lay Servants as Christian Transformational Leaders by Marc Brown, Kathy Merry and John Briggs Participant’s Book • DR881 • 978-0-88177-881-6 |
Leader's text: Lay Servants as Christian Transformational Leaders by Marc Brown, Kathy Merry and John Briggs |
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Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution
| About: Every church deals with conflict, both healthy and unhealthy, and lay servants can be equipped and empowered to help lead through those times of conflict as a time of transformation. | ||
| Participant's text: The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation by Thomas Porter 1026 • 978-0-8358-1026-1 |
Leader's text: Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution by Regina Allen DRPDF789 |
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Leading Bible Study
| About: This course opens a new world for many lay servants who have not had professional training in biblical interpretation. It reminds us as United Methodists that Bible study and biblical interpretation are a core part of our spiritual journey. | ||
| Participant's text: Biblical Interpretation: A Roadmap by Sharon Ringe and Frederick Tiffany ISBN 9780687016082 |
Leader's text: Leading Bible Study by Dana Bunn |
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Leading Missional Small Groups
| About: This course teaches the Wesleyan way to form missional communities and congregations. It is based on the conviction that just as holiness of heart leads to holiness of life, it is communities of holy love that participate in God’s mission in the world. | ||
| Participant's text: Transforming Community by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr. DR754 • 978-0-8817-7754-3 |
Leader's text: Leading Missional Small Groups by by M. Scott Hughes and Jodi L. Cataldo DRPDF875 |
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Leading Worship *
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Leading Worship: (ON-SITE COURSE) focuses on the ministry of the Lay Servant who either regularly or occasionally leads (or assists in leading) a group or congregation in worship. Learning includes both content and practice in basic worship leadership roles and skills. Particular attention is paid to understanding the energy and flow of leading the Basic Pattern of Christian worship, understanding the Christian Year, the use of the Revised Common Lectionary and basic dos and don’ts of effective worship leadership. Your Ministry of Leading Worship 101: (ONLINE COURSE) focuses on basic understandings of worship and on gaining insights into skills for lay persons (“liturgists” or “lay readers”) who assist the pastor in Christian worship. If you currently help with leading worship in your congregation or would like to prepare for such leadership, this course is designed for you. Particular emphasis will be given to your role in relation to other leaders and the congregation. We will explore reading Scripture, leading prayer, distribution of the elements at the Lord’s Supper, and basic do’s and don’ts of effective worship leadership. Deacons, elders/presbyters, and lay worship leader coordinators are also welcome to enroll, particularly with an eye to doing local training and providing support to lay readers/assisting ministers in their local church settings. |
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Scheduled: TBD Online – materials will be provided through the course instructor. On-site course – Worshiping with United Methodists, rev. ed. |
Leader's text: Leading Worship by Taylor Burton-Edwards ISBN 978-0-88177-685-0 • DR685 |
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Life Together in the United Methodist Connection *
| About: Why does The United Methodist Church do things the way it does? Why is our pastor being reassigned? Why don’t we get to vote on our new pastor? How do we get things done, like renovating our building or starting a new ministry? What are the rules – and why are they the rules? And what does any of this have to do with trying to be a place and a people that embody the Kingdom of God? | ||
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Participant texts: United Methodist Book of Discipline 2016 |
Leader's text: Life Together in the United Methodist Connection by Beth Galbreath DR701 |
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Liturgies for Healing & Transformation
| About: This course provides a basic understanding of the purpose and creative use of liturgies, and how they merge into our lives today. | ||
| Participant's text: Gathered Together: Creating Personal Liturgies for Healing and Transformation by Tilda Norberg ISBN 978-0835899161 (Available from Amazon.com) |
Leader's text: Contact Susan Grant for curriculum information. | |
Living Our United Methodist Beliefs *
| About: Explore a basic explanation of the beliefs and practices of The United Methodist Church as defined in Part II of The Book of Discipline. Uncover a deeper understanding and experience of Christian faith as you embrace the United Methodist way. | ||
| Participant's texts: Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carder DR571 • 978-0-88177-571-6 AND A Brief History of The United Methodist Church available as a free PDF download |
Leader's text: A Leader’s Guide for Living Our Beliefs and A Brief History of The United Methodist Church by George Hovaness Donigan DRPDF606 DR715 |
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Multimedia in Worship
| About: In this online course, students will be introduced to the hardware and software in worship technology and discover their ability to plan, create and implement technology in a worship setting. The workshop will also help the student learn about worship itself and the role of technology in design, appropriateness and excellence. Special consideration will be given to budget and a low-cost approach to technology implementation. This workshop is designed for the church volunteer or pastor who would classify themselves as “beginners” in multi-media experience. (Please note: the workshop utilizes some software that is windows-based.) | ||
| Materials will be provided through the online course instructor. |
Planning Worship
| About: This course builds on the course Leading Worship (encouraged, but not a pre-requisite for enrollment in this course), and focuses on the principles and practices of designing, evaluating and strengthening vital United Methodist worship. Worship teams are encouraged to attend so that they can learn together about creating more meaningful and memorable worship for their congregations. | ||
| Participant's texts: The Worship Workshop by Marcia McFee ISBN 978-0-687-04634-8 AND The United Methodist Book of Worship ISBN 978-0-687-03572-4 |
Leader's text: Planning Worship by Taylor Burton-Edwards ISBN 978-0-88177-682-9 DR682 |
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Prepare to Teach ♦
| About: This is the second of two courses (other course: Teach Adults) for those who want to become an Accredited Lay Servant Ministries Course Instructor in the NTC, or for anyone who teaches adults in a church setting. Participants will improve their skills as facilitators of adult learning by recognizing traits of master teachers, adjusting for different levels of experience in learners, managing difficult classroom situations, exploring ways to ask questions, enhancing the physical environment, and coordinating with team members for training events. (NOTE: This is a one-day-only class – NOT for “Advanced Course” credit) | ||
| Materials are provided in class by the instructors. | Leader: Contact: Susan Anderson for curriculum materials. | |
Public Prayer #*
| About: Prayer is something we learn; it is something that can be taught. For many, however, the only teaching about prayer they ever receive is modeled in Sunday worship. As a church leader, you may find yourself the one leading prayer in worship services, as well as in other settings. It is vital then that you are knowledgeable and lead well. | ||
| Participant's text: Let the Whole Church Say Amen! by Laurence Hull Stookey ISBN 978-06870-9077-8 (Order from Cokesbury or Amazon. Also available as an e-book.) |
Leader's text: Leading in Prayer by Mary O. Benedict DR492 •978-0-88177-492-4 |
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Teach Adults ♦
| About: This course is designed to help provide you, as church leaders, with a basic understanding of the ways in which adults learn and grow. This is one of two courses needed to become an Accredited Lay Servant Ministries Course Instructor for the North Texas Conference. | ||
| Participant's text: Start Here by Barbara Bruce DR303 • 978-0-88177-303-3 |
Leader's text: Teach Adults by Diana L. Hynson DRPDF10 (Available only by PDF download from Upper Room Bookstore.) |
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Theology
| About: This course explores some of the basic ideas and vocabulary of Christian theology. This course also addresses The Apostle’s Creed, 2000 years of key debates that have influenced Christian thinking, who has shaped Christian theology through the centuries, and why Christian theology is important to church laity. | ||
| Participant's text: Theology: The Basics, 3rd ed. by Alister E. McGrath ISBN 9780470656754 |
Leader's text: Contact John Barham for curriculum information. | |
Transforming Evangelism
| About: This course leads participants to learn from John Wesley how to practice relational evangelism. They will discover that evangelism involves not only sharing our faith with others but also welcoming people into a community where they can grow in faith. | ||
| Participant's text: Transforming Evangelism by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr. DR485 • 978-0-88177-485-6 |
Leader's text: Lead in Evangelism DRPDF11 (Available only by PDF download from Upper Room Bookstore.) |
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You Can Preach! *
| About: This course is designed for lay leaders, pastors, student pastors who have not completed formal preaching training, pastors seeking a basic refresher course and others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence. | ||
| Participant's text: Go Preach! by John P. Gilbert DR384 • 978-0-88177-384-2 |
Leader's text: You Can Preach! by John P. Gilbert DR387 • 978-0-88177-387-3 |
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