events
Lay Servant Courses
Please check with your respective district about the status of lay servant courses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Adirondack District
Albany District
Binghamton District
Cornerstone District
Crossroads District
Finger Lakes District
Genesee Valley District
Mohawk District
Mountain View District
Niagara Frontier District
Northern Flow District
Oneonta District
Adirondack District
If you are interested in Certified Lay Ministry, prerequisites are the Basic Course and Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts. It is highly recommended that the five additional courses for Certified Lay Speaker be taken.
Advanced Course 2: Preaching (Called to Preach: From Pew to Pulpit)
Wednesdays: October 6, 13, 20: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: October 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Instructors: Arlene Schmidt and Jacqueline Kim
Advanced Course: Leading Worship
Thursdays: October 14, 21, 28: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: November 6: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Instructors: Arlene Schmidt and Jacqueline Kim
Basic Lay Servant Course
Wednesday: October 27, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesdays: November 3, 10, and 17: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Facilitators: Jamiee Ross & Blessed Sikhosana
If interested in registering for any of these courses, please email Arlene at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
Click here to view the brochure.
The Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries Team will be scheduling the new cycle of courses that will lead to certification as a Lay Servant or Lay Speaker starting with the Basic. Please watch for the updated dates and times.
Albany District
Advanced Lay Servant Course: Imagine No Racism
Wednesdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct. 6 and 13: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Zoom: Course Fee: $10
Facilitator: Thaddeus Pinckney – thaddeusp1@yahoo.com
Advanced Lay Servant Course: Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution
Saturdays, Sept. 11 and 18: 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; 1-3 p.m.
Zoom: Course Fee: $10
Facilitator: Pastor Danyal Mohammadzadeh – pastordanyal@livinghopeumc.org
Basic Lay Servant Course
Saturdays, Sept. 25 (9:00 am - noon); Oct. 2 (9:00 am - noon); Oct. 9 (9:00 am - 1:00 pm)
Hybrid Course offered via Zoom and at Amsterdam UMC, 347 Golf Course Rd, Amsterdam 12010
Course Fee: $10.00
Facilitator: Jann Armer – jarmer38@gmail.com
Advanced Lay Servant Course: Lay Servants as Christian Transformational Leaders
Weekend Retreat: Friday, Oct. 15: 5:00 p.m. – Sunday, Oct. 17: 12:00 p.m.
In person: Fee $65.00 (includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner)
Hotel accommodations $75.00 + taxes/night
Contact: Nancy Goddard – bngoddard@davespc.net
Binghamton District
Puppet Ministry (Class limited to 10 people)
Monday, Sept. 13, 20, 27 & Oct. 4 & 11: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Zoom
Facilitator: Linda Bonney Olin
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 22
Basic Lay Servant Course
Tuesdays, Sept. 28 & Oct. 5
Thursdays, Sept. 30 & Oct. 7: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Owego UMC
261 Main Street
Owego, NY 13827
Facilitator: Pastor Gary Freeland
Cost: $10
Registration deadline: Sept. 22
Spiritual Gifts – Each One a Minister
Tuesdays, Sept. 28 & Oct. 5
Thursdays, Sept. 30 & Oct. 7: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Owego UMC
261 Main Street
Owego, NY 13827
Facilitator: Rev. Bill Prentice
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 22
Ministry with the Forgotten (ministering to dementia)
*Offered via Zoom (same times listed below) and in-person at Owego UMC*
Tuesday, Sept. 28 & Thursday, Sept. 30
Tuesday, Oct. 5 & Thursday, Oct. 7: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Owego UMC
261 Main Street
Owego, NY 13827
Facilitators: Revs. Jamie Stevens & Diane Prentice
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 22
Basic Lay Servant Course
Tuesdays, Oct. 12 & 19
Thursdays, Oct. 14 & 21: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Nimmonsburg UMC
918 Upper Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
Facilitators: Hudda Aswad & Nancy Shaw
Cost: $10
Registration deadline: Oct. 5
Leading Prayer
Tuesdays, Oct. 12 & 19
Thursdays, Oct. 14 & 21: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Nimmonsburg UMC
918 Upper Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
Facilitator: Gena McMyne
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Oct. 5
Conflict Resolution
*Offered via Zoom (same times listed below) and in-person at Nimmonsburg UMC*
Tuesdays, Oct. 12 & 19
Thursdays, Oct. 14 & 21: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Nimmonsburg UMC
918 Upper Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
Facilitators: Revs. Jenni & Dave Piatt
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Oct. 5
Come to the Table
Tuesdays, Oct. 12 & 19
Thursdays, Oct. 14 & 21: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Nimmonsburg UMC
918 Upper Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
Facilitator: Rev. Carolyn Stow
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Oct. 5
Click here for a brochure with additional information and the registration form.
Cornerstone District
Crossroads District
Basic Course: Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry
Meeting in-person and on Zoom
Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, & 25 : 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Marcellus UMC and Zoom
1 Slocombe Ave
Marcellus, NY 13108
Instructor: Robert Mueller
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Basic Course: Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry
Sept. 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, & 12: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hannibal UMC
320 Church St
Hannibal, NY 13074
Instructor: Pastor Sue Acker
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: Afire with God
Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 20, 27, & Nov. 3: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Rev. Susan Ranous
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 7
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: Living our Christian Beliefs (Wesleyan Heritage)
Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 & Oct. 6: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: George Ramseyer
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: Living our Christian Beliefs (Wesleyan Heritage)
Nov. 6, 13, & 20: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Baldwinsville UMC
17 W Genesee St
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Instructor: George Ramseyer
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: Leading Worship
Sept. 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, &19: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Zoom
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: Leading Missional Small Groups
Oct. 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, & 10: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: George Ramseyer
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
Advanced Course: The Method of our Mission United Methodist Polity & Organization
Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2 & 9: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Little Utica UMC
1459 Lamson Road
Phoenix, NY 13135
Instructor: Donald Day
Cost: $15
Click here for more information.
*Please make all checks out to UNYAC and mail them to Robert Mueller, 4432 Lathrop Dr., Marcellus, NY 13108.*
Finger Lakes District
Genessee Valley District
Certified Lay Ministry: First Session
Oct. 2: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hilton UMC
21 West Ave.
Hilton, NY 14468
Facilitators: Rev. Ruthellen Hoyle & Pastor Robert Comstock
Cost: FREE
Registration deadline: Sept. 20
Click here for a brochure with additional information and the registration form.
Fall Training Retreat
Offering: Basic Lay Servant Course, Pastoral Care, Prayer, and United Methodist Heritage
Nov. 5 – 7
Asbury Retreat Center
16 Lakeside Ave.
Silver Lake, NY 14549
Cost: Varies depending on accommodations
**There is a scholarship available to those taking the Basic Course for the first time. See forms below.**
Registration deadline: Oct. 22
Click here for the brochure.
**Scholarship information: Click here for scholarship information and click here for a scholarship application.**
Mohawk District
Basic Course
Beginning Sept. 21 for 5 weeks: 6 – 8 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Jacqueline Kim, CLS
Registration deadline: Sept. 15
Advanced Course: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
Beginning Sept. 4 for 5 weeks: 10 – 12 p.m.
Lowell UMC
5840 Lowell Rd.
Lowell, NY 13490
Instructor: Wendy Grosjean, CLS
Registration deadline: Aug. 27
Advanced Course: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts
Beginning Sept. 15 for 5 weeks: 6 – 8 p.m.
Camden UMC
132 Main St.
Camden, NY 13316
Instructor: Jeff Johnson, CLS
Registration deadline: Sept. 7
Advanced Course: Called To Preach
Beginning Sept. 22 for 5 weeks: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Lairdsville UMC
6925 Rte 5
Clinton, NY 13323
Instructor: Mark Adsit, CLM
Registration deadline: Sept. 15
Advanced Course: Accountable Discipleship
Beginning Oct. 6 for 5 weeks: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Pastor Robin Harris
Registration deadline: Sept. 28
Advanced Course: Living Our Methodist Beliefs
Beginning Oct. 9 for 2 Saturdays: 9 – 3 p.m.
Delta UMC
6285 Hawkins Corner Rd.
Rome, NY 13440-9315
Instructor: Paul Phister, CLS
Registration deadline: Sept. 30
Interested participants should contact Ken Guilfoyle at (315) 254-6673 or by email at kguilf2855@aol.com for information on course registration requirements and obtaining your textbook prior to start of scheduled class.
Mountain View District
Lay Servant Retreat Day: For all Certified Lay Servants
Aug. 21: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Avoca UMC
8593 Jacob’s Ladder Road, Avoca, NY
Pre-registration deadline: Aug. 1 (registrations accepted day of event with $20 fee)
Pre-registration fee: $15 made payable to UNYAC (this fee covers lunch)
Click here to register. Email Larry Crandell with any questions.
Basic Lay Servant Course
Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 6 - Nov. 3: 7 - 9 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Peter O'Neill
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 15
Lay Pastoral Giving
Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 13 - Nov. 10: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Susan Silhan
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 15
Afire with God
Saturdays, beginning Oct. 2 - Nov. 6: 9:30 - 12 p.m.
Zoom
Instructor: Ernest Warren
Cost: $15
Registration deadline: Sept. 15
Soul Reset
TBD for Winter 2022
Instructor: Ann Welch Wood
Click here for a brochure with additional information and a registration form.