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Lay Servant Ministries Current Offerings

There are multiple opportunities to get involved in Lay Servant Ministries (LSM). Check out the upcoming LSM courses on Zoom. Classes are open to laity throughout the Greater Northwest and Mountain Sky Areas.

For each course, participants are required to have purchased the book, read it, complete assignments and be fully engaged in all five sessions with audio and video capability active on Zoom. 

Foundations (Basic) Course

We highly recommend that the Foundations (Basic) course be completed prior to taking advanced courses.

  • BASIC COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the foundational course for Lay Servant Ministries. It is designed to equip church leaders in the UMC. It explores: personal spiritual gifts, servant leadership, each leader’s role in developing future leaders, the importance of consistent spiritual practices, “God’s call to a life of servanthood as a disciple of Jesus Christ and the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating and much more.”
  • COST:  The cost of the book $13
  • BOOK:  Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course By Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson. Participant’s Book • DR626 • 978-0-88177-626-3 • Participants’ books available at Cokesbury and Upper Room.
Fall 2026 Offering 1

WHEN: Tuesdays & Thursdays, starting October 6, 6–8 p.m. PT; 7-9 p.m. MT (Oct. 6, 8, 13, 15, & 20).
INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Abbey, Certified Lay Minister 
OFFERED BY: Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: September 22, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email ekroen@yahoo.com with your Name, Address, Phone #, and your local church where you are a member. Contact Emilie with questions.

Fall 2026 Offering 2

WHEN: Thursdays, starting October 22, 5:30 – 7:30 pm PT; 6:30 – 8:30 pm MT (Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12, & 19).
INSTRUCTORS: Rev Gary & Kim Shockley, Certified Lay Minister & Co-Lay Leader UT-WC District)
OFFERED BY: Mountain Sky Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: October 15, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Clarice Moore at grandmaof2.243@gmail.com. Request to register and provide your name, address, phone #, and your local church, and district. Contact Clarice with questions.

Advanced Courses

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

For those who are seeking how to discern your spiritual gifts, here are three opportunities to learn and understand more about your Spiritual Gift in this Advanced LSM course.

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course helps participants understand spiritual gifts and how the church can use them to fulfill its mission and ministry. Participants will also learn what it means to be a spiritual leader and will be equipped to lead others in exploring and using their spiritual gifts.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $14; (ePub and Kindle, $9.99)
  • BOOK:  Each One a Minister by William J. Carter. Participant Book DR375 • 978-0-88177-375-0• Available at Upper Room
Fall 2026 Offering 1

WHEN: Saturdays, starting September 15, 1–3 p.m. PT; 2-4 p.m. MT (Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, & 10).
INSTRUCTORS: Sharon Pletcher & Tim Rucker
OFFERED BY: Mountain Sky Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: August 29, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Susan Wheeler at ESCOLaySerMin@outlook.com. Provide your Name, home address, email address, phone #, & and your local church. You may also call Susan at 719-487-8750.

Fall 2026 Offering 2

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting September 15, 6:30–8:30 p.m. PT; 7:30–9:30 p.m. MT. (Sept. 15, 17, 22, 24, & 29).
INSTRUCTOR: Shawna Beese, Certified Lay Speaker
OFFERED BY: Pacific Northwest Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: September 1, 2026  
HOW TO REGISTER: Click here to register. If the class is filled, please email Sheila Miranda (smiranda@pnwumc.org) to be added to the waitlist.

Fall 2026 Offering 3

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting November 3, 6–8 p.m. PT; 7–9 p.m. MT (Nov. 3, 5, 10, 12, & 17).
INSTRUCTOR: Virginia Mills, Certified Lay Speaker
OFFERED BY: Oregon-Idaho Conference
REGISTER BY: October 20, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Emilie at ekroen@yahoo.com. Provide your Name, Home Address, email address, phone #, & and the church where your membership is held.

Called to Preach

For those seeking help improving their ability to preach, this Advanced LSM course just might be for you.

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION: Called to Preach is 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.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $11.
  • BOOK: From Pew to Pulpit by Clifton F. Guthrie ISBN 13:9780687066605 • Optional Book Speaking Well by Adam Hamilton ISBN 13:978179 1025052 • Both books are available from Cokesbury, & Upper Room.
  • PREREQUISITE: Participant must have completed the LSM Foundations (Basic) Course.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN:  Thursdays 6–8 p.m. PT; 7–9 p.m. MT; starting October 1, 2026 (Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29) + Oct. 28 for Sermon Presentations.
INSTRUCTORS: Revs. Joanne Colman Campbell & Daniel Miranda
OFFERED BY: Pacific Northwest Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: Sept. 17, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Click here to register. This course fills quickly.

Leading Public Prayer

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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. This course may challenge some of your assumptions, test some of your preconceived ideas, stretch your thinking, and enrich your prayer life. It will, at the very least, present you with an opportunity to grow in the discipline of leading public prayer.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $15.
  • BOOK: Let the Whole World Say Amen by Laurence Hull Stookey. Participant’s Book • AB9077 • 978-0-687-0977-8 • Available at Amazon.
  • PREREQUISITE: Participant must have completed the LSM Foundations (Basic) Course.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN: Mondays and Wednesdays, starting September 10, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. PT / 7 to 9 p.m. MT (Sept. 10, 14, 17, 21, & 24).
INSTRUCTOR: Virginia Mills, Certified Lay Speaker, North Louisiana Conference
OFFERED BY: Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: August 27, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Emilie Kroen at ekroen@yahoo.com with your name, address, email address, phone #, and your local church where you are a member. This course fills quickly. Contact Emilie Kroen with questions.

Leading Worship

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregation in worship. The course is grounded in the classic patterns of Christian worship.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $14.
  • BOOK:Worshiping with United Methodists (Revised) by Hoyt Hickman. Participant’s Book • AB9526 • 978-0-687-33526-8 • Available at Cokesbury.
  • PREREQUISITE: Participant must have completed the LSM Foundations (Basic) Course.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN: Tuesdays, starting September 1, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. PT / 7 to 9 p.m. MT (Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29).
INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Abbey, Certified Lay Minister
OFFERED BY: Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: August 16, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Emilie Kroen at ekroen@yahoo.com with your name, address, email address, phone #, and your local church where you are a member. This course fills quickly. Contact Emilie Kroen with questions.

Life Together in the United Methodist Connection

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION: This accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame – connection – to help readers understand Unite Methodism’s polity and organization as the interrelationship of our beliefs, mission, and practice. The book is organized into four parts – United Methodist beliefs, mission, practice, and organization. Governance practices and organizational structure are famed within a Wesleyan theology of connections.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $23.
  • BOOK: The Method of Our Mission: United Methodist Polity and Organization by Laceye C. Warner. Participant’s Book • AB17.978-1-42676-717-3 • Available at Cokesbury & Upper Room.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN: Mondays & Wednesdays, starting October 5, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. PT / 7 to 9 p.m. MT (Oct 5, 7, 12, 14, & 19).
INSTRUCTOR: Virginia L. Mills, Certified Lay Speaker, North Louisiana AC
OFFERED BY: Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: September 22, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Email Emilie Kroen at ekroen@yahoo.com with your name, address, email address, phone #, and your local church where you are a member. This course fills quickly. Contact Emilie Kroen with questions.

Living Our Beliefs

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will explore the special gifts of theology, witness, and organization that The United Methodist Church brings to the church universal, how we got where we are today, and how our distinctive emphases are still needed in the 21st-century church. This is an Advanced LSM course.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $12.00 (ebook/Kindle $10.00).
  • BOOK: The United Methodist Way Living Our Beliefs by Kenneth Carder Participant’s Book • DR626 • 978-80881775716 • Available at Upper Room & Amazon.
  • PREREQUISITE: Participant must have completed the LSM Foundations (Basic) Course.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN: Mondays, starting October 19, 2026; 6 to 8 pm PT / 7 to 9 pm MT (Oct. 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, & 16).
INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Goddard, Certified Lay Minister
OFFERED BY: Pacific Northwest Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: October 9, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Click here to register. If the course is full, please email Rev. Sheila Miranda (smiranda@pnwumc.org) to be added to the waitlist.

The Millennial Narrative: Sharing a Good Life with the Next Generation 

  • COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Millennial Narrative is written for leaders who want to welcome millennials, both inside and outside their congregation. The book draws on the wisdom of the prophetic Book of Joel as a narrative worth living into.
  • COST:  The cost of the book $22.00
  • BOOK:  The Millennial Narrative: Sharing a Good Life with the Next Generation, by Jaco J. Hamman. Available at Cokesbury & Amazon.
Fall 2026 Offering

WHEN: Wednesdays, starting October 14, 2026, 5 to 7:30 pm PT; 6 to 8:30 pm MT. (Oct. 14, 21, 28, & Nov. 4)
INSTRUCTORS: Sherry Ferriman and Douglas Woolsey
OFFERED BY: Mountain Sky Annual Conference
REGISTER BY: September 30, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER: Contact Susan Wheeler at: ESCOLaySerMin@outlook.com and provide your name, phone number, address, email, and church.  You may also call Susan at 719-487-8750.