Certified Lay Ministry Training
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The Academy's two-course sequence helps laypersons discover their call to ministry and focus on the area they are called to serve. It is recognized as a Certified Lay Ministry (CLM) training program by United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and has trained over 400 laypersons in 15 states.
It is also approved by the Great Plains Conference and the West Virginia Conference as equivalent to the Four Modules for Certified Lay Ministry published by Discipleship Ministries. After completing The Academy's Discovering Your Call to Ministry and Foundations for Ministry courses, the CLM candidate would also be required to complete conference-approved courses on the New Testament, Old Testament, and Preaching.
How the courses work
Students work online, completing assignments each week.
Learning activities include reading and reflecting on resources in key areas of leadership in the church and participating in forums to share and discuss perspectives with colleagues.
The 4-6 week Discovering Your Call to Ministry includes preparation for and meetings with the student's District Superintendent. The nine-month Foundations for Ministry course includes monthly online meetings where students and facilitators work on 11 key areas for leadership in the church.
The web-based program allows students freedom to study and write at times that work into their schedule, while also providing the opportunity for interaction with facilitators and colleagues.
