Yellowstone Annual Conference

YELLOWSTONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Lay Servant Ministry Development

Certificate Issuance

February 28, 2015

Table of Contents

PurposePage 3

ResponsibilitiesPage 3

ProcessPage 3

Purpose:

These instructions provide the guidance for production, approval, and issuance of Training Certificates and Recognition Certificates in the Lay Servant Ministries program.

Responsible individuals are:

District Superintendents for the approval of Recognition Certificates (Local Church, Certified, and Lay Speaker)

Course Instructors for the approval of Course Completion Certificates

Course Registrars/Instructors for the reproduction and issuance of Course Completion Certificates and Local Church Lay Servant Certificates.

The Director of Lay Servant Ministries will be the focal point for working with Class registrars/Instructors and District Superintendents to insure that Course Completion Certificates and Recognition Certificates are issued to individuals who have earned those certificates.

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Process:

1. All certificates will be prepared on certificate paper from approved PDF’s.

2. The Director of Lay Servant Ministries will provide a PDF of the Course Completion Certificate to the course registrar for reproduction and presentation to students. This certificate will have the student name, course title, and date entered and will be signed by the course instructor. All participants in Lay Servant Ministries approved classes (Basic and Advanced) will receive a Course Completion Certificate.

3. Basic Courses Participants.The Director of Lay Servant Ministries will prepare a PDF (Local Church Lay Servant) with the appropriate District Superintend name and Director name entered. The PDF will be reproduced and have the recipient’s name and the date of issuance entered. Presentation will be at the completion of the Basic Course. Recipients will be informed that they must complete an Annual Lay Servant Ministry report requesting recognition of their Local Status at their next Church Charge Conference.

4. For Advanced Courses

a.individuals will be issued a Course Completion Certificate at the end of the class.

5. ForIndividuals completing their first advanced courseaCertified Lay Servant Certificate will be issued after the following occurs:

a, Receipt of the class registration form by the Director Lay Servant Ministries

b. Director send a letter or e-mail to the student requesting that they, through Letter or Annual Lay Servant Ministry report, petition their church council and pastor for approval of their request to be recognized as a Certified Lay Servant. After approval the requesting individual sends or emails a copy of the approval to the Director of Lay Servant Ministry and a certificate is issued.

6,Individuals taking advanced courses for renewal of certifications will be:

a. issued a Certified Lay Servant certificate upon request.

7. Certified Lay Speaker:

a. Certificates for certified lay speaker will be issued by District Superintends upon receipt of information regarding the applicant’s completion of requirements and approval by appropriate conference committees.

b. The Director will complete the Lay Speaker Certificate PDF and forward it to the appropriate District Superintendent for reproduction, signature, and issuance with a cover letter.

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