News

Laity Day with the Bishop's programming focused on the goal of the Iowa Annual Conference to become an anti-racist conference. Hosted by Aldersgate United Methodist Church and held on April 15, 2023, this was the first time since 2019 that the annual event has been held. Bishop Kenntha led the morning worship and started off by asking those gathered to raise their hands if they had served communion before. "I want you to imagine being at your church or in a gathering like this and serving ...

The School for Lay Ministry (SLM) is more than a 12-course program to inspire, equip and encourage lay people; it is an education in worship planning, congregational care, doctrine and history, that will benefit not only you and your local church but will impact your life.   You can enroll in the complete SLM program or take only classes that interest you.   SLM is the basis to become Certified Lay Speaker, Certified Lay Servant, and Certified Lay Minister, and by completing SLM classes, you can...

By: Marsha Gerot, chair of the School for Lay Ministry Kate Kitzman, a recent School for Lay Ministry (SLM) graduate, has been appointed Associate Dean to SLM. Kate has over fifteen years of experience serving in ministry and church leadership. She specializes in vocational discernment and development through a theological lens. She has held this position for the past year and has proven to be effective and to be a blessing to SLM. Kate will serve as Dean starting in January of 2023. John ...

This has been an extremely challenging time for the church and for each one of us. There has been loss, change, and challenges for each one and for our churches.   We are the people of Good News! We have learned how to be more creative with our time and our gifts than we ever would have assumed. We can be part of the healing and return to joy. One of the ways is to become informed, encouraged, and inspired laity through School for Lay Ministry (SLM). Now, more than ever, we need people who ...

The School for Lay Ministry of the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is a three-year program to facilitate the growth of Iowa United Methodist Churches and their Christian ministry by providing an alternative, supplemental source of educated leadership to local congregations and communities.   The School for Lay Ministry identifies, trains, and nurtures laypersons who meet entrance criteria and desires to serve in, through, and beyond the church in various ministries. These ...

School for Lay Ministry is being re-organized to better meet the needs of laity throughout the Iowa Conference.  We believe because laity minister every day in every place, education and training is vital.  We will continue to offer a three-year program.  The classes will be on-line, one day, and throughout the year.  Specific dates are not available at this time, but the first class will be offered in January of 2021. Each year will include the Basic Lay Servant class in Jan.  Year one will ...

On Saturday, March 14, 2020, the School for Lay Ministry is offering a one-day Advanced Class on prayer at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. This class is intended to empower and equip laypeople and clergy alike to offer heartfelt, informed, thoughtful, and appropriate prayers on behalf of the people of God. The required text book, Shaping the Prayers of the People by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher is available at Cokesbury or Barnes and Noble.  As Wells says, Interceding in public worship ...