Hello Gateway South District,
The information for Fall CLS classes for the District is available on the Conference web site. Please visit http://www.gnjumc.org/641/ to register or for more information.
Lay Speakers Schools - Advanced Course, Fall 2011
Leading Bible Study Course Text by William Barclay
The text for this study is "Introducing the Bible" by William Barclay. Barclay testifies to the Bible's unique value as an inspired book and gives clear advice on the best way to read it. He tells how the Biblical writings came into being and finally gained acceptance as Scripture.

We are the Lay Staffing Committee of the Church. All Lay people serve as leaders of the Church who are approved by our Charge Conference, considered for their positions, and nominated to them via this Committee. We also evaluate each leaders effectiveness and resource them so they may do the job God has called them to do.Our goals are to discover/discern individuals’ gifts for the ministry and match them with the needs of the Church. We want to help the Church to be as faithful and effective as possible in all we do.

We meet the 4^th Monday of every even month beginning in February. Occasional meetings are necessary to complete our work for the Charge Conference in October. There are nine members plus the Pastor on the Committee. This is the only Committee of the Church which the Pastor chairs.

A Lay Speaker is a member of a local church or charge who is ready and desirous to serve the Church and who is well informed on the scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization and the life of the United Methodist Church and who has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communication, church and community leadership and care-giving ministries. An applicant must be active in the support of his/her church.

It is required by the Book of Discipline that a Certified Lay Speaker completes both basic and one advanced training course for lay speaking and be recertified by taking an approved class once every three years. It is also required that a Certified Lay Speaker request in writing renewal of certification and file a report with their local Charge Conference every year to maintain a certified status.