• Preaching the Word.
• Providing a care ministry program for a congregation.
• Assisting in program leadership.
• Providing stability in a small church that has experienced frequent turnover in pastoral leadership.
• Being from the specific culture or ethnic group an existing congregation is trying to reach as a new faith community. Indigenous leadership can be essential in this situation!
• Leading as part of a pastoral team in circuits, parishes or clusters (each church could have a dedicated CLM).
• Joining a team of 2-4 CLMs to serve a congregation previously served by a full-time elder. The CLMs can help transition to a new form of leadership or time commitment.
• Developing CLMs for specialized ministry as part of church staff in larger churches.
• Serving smaller churches around a larger "hub" church that does not have consistent pastoral leadership, rotating the clergyperson for sacramental life in each place and covering each pulpit.
• Deploying qualified CLMs for missional leadership in new church starts or redevelopments.
• Forming a ministry team for regional mission.
• Removing a congregation from a multi-point charge that is not thriving to have its own pastoral leader.
• Providing a break for a congregation that has been hurt by clergy misconduct or crisis.
• Developing indigenous or residential leaders in ethnic, cultural or socioeconomic communities distinct from the majority population.
• Restarting an urban mission.
• Beginning new ministries in partnership with organizations beyond the church (nursing homes, jails, rehabilitation centers, YMCA, etc.).

Complete information available at:  http://www.gbod.org/laity/clm/default.html

After reading through the process, you probably want to know if the effort is worth it. Clearly, it is time consuming and the candidate bears most of the cost. If you have read this far, it is a good bet that you are already serving in your church. You may feel that the process will not add to your ability to serve. These are questions that each of us have to answer. For me, the effort and expense was well worth it. I enjoyed the challenge of studying again. I certainly enjoyed the reading material. As I worked through the process, I began seeing myself in a different way—as more of a minister to those around me. I surely came to a new appreciation of the work that our clergy do. I am more comfortable in my work at the church and in the community, and I am better able to see the fruit produced by our church as we “reach, teach and serve”. When we sing “Is it I Lord?” I raise my hand with more confidence, knowing that I have the training and education to do the work where I might be sent. When I counsel with friends and clients who need a word of comfort, I have a better understanding of what I might say.

 The best thing about lay ministry is that I really do not know where it will lead me. There are so many possibilities that are opening up. I just have faith that wherever I serve, whatever I am called to do, I think that God will be pleased with my effort.

 I am more than happy to talk with you about lay speaking or lay ministry. Just call or e-mail.

 Joy!

 Bill Knobles