CANCELLED

West Central Plains District

March 2026 Lay Servant Academy

Saturday, March 28

8:00 am (ET) - 5:00 pm (ET)

Brick Chapel United Methodist Church

3547 N US Highway 231

Greencastle, Indiana

You are invited to join us for the Lay Servant Ministries Academy to begin or continue training for living out the call to make disciples for the transformation of our churches, communities, and world. This is a one day in person Lay Servant Academy. Registrants can attend only one class and must be present the entire day.

Cost: $20.00

Payment Information:  Visa and MasterCard accepted

Please print a copy of your confirmation for your receipt.

Check payments must be mailed within 7 days of registration.  Please include a copy of your invoice with your check.

Make checks payable to INUMC

Mail to:
INUMC
Attn:  Susan Burris
301 Pennsylvania Parkway, #300
Carmel, IN 46280

Registration deadline: March 21, 2026 11:59 pm (ET)

Cancellation policy: cancellations must be received via email to susan.burris@inumc.org by 11:59 pm on March 21, 2026 to be eligible for a refund less processing fee. No refunds after this date.

Classes:

  • Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course - This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship. The course text is Lay Servant Ministries - Basic Course by Sandy Zeigler and Brian Jackson. Available on Amazon and Cokesbury.
  • For the Common Good: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts - This course offers a scriptural understanding of spiritual gifts as always given "for the common good." By helping participants identify and link their gifts, abilities, and sense of calling, laity will learn the powerful connection between spiritual gifts and vocational discernment in the context of the mission of their local church. They will also learn how to make spiritual gifts discernment a part of their congregation's culture and commitment to equip mission-focused leaders who make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The course text is For the Common Good: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman. Available on Amazon and Cokesbury.
  • Leading Worship - This course focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregation in worship. The course text is Worshiping with United Methodists (Revised) by Hoyt Hickman. Available on Amazon and Cokesbury.
  • From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon - Moving beyond the basics of public speaking and the foundations necessary for preparing an engaging sermon, this course also includes types of sermons - from exegetical to topical to children's sermons - as well as how to find a story, how to use the hymnal, and how to move from communication on paper to beyond the paper. The course text is From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon by Tony Franks and David Carroll. Available on Amazon and Cokesbury.
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