2026 Fall Lay Servant Ministries School (Northern District)

Open to all districts! An opportunity for Lay Servant Ministries (LSM) courses is available this fall in the Northern District on five consecutive Sundays (October 4th to November 1st), from 2 PM to 4 PM, at Edinboro UMC (113 High Street, Edinboro, PA 16412). Course offerings include:

• Called to Preach: This course is designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor's absence. Led by Pastor Terry Brown, senior pastor of Wattsburg and Phillipsville UMCs.
• Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation: This course equips participants with tools for deep listening and grows their capacity to care in difficult situations of loss - all within healthy boundaries and a thoughtful awareness of the varying cultural contexts of caring ministry. Led by John Layden, a certified lay speaker and lay leader of Edinboro UMC.
• Sacraments: Means of Grace: This course combines Rev. Beth Galbreath's unique focus in the online Be A Disciple courses on Baptism and Holy Communion with the key insights of two books: By Water and the Spirit and This Holy Mystery, both by the late Gayle Carlton Felton. Led by Pastor Karen Trask, senior pastor of Erie: Lawrence Park UMC.
• While the World Watched: Using Carolyn Maull McKinstry's memoir recounting her survival of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, and her coming of age during the Civil Rights movement, this study focuses on how far we've come and how far we have yet to go in our anti-racism work. Led by Patti Johns, a certified lay servant and member of the former Erie-Meadville District Anti-Racism Team.

Registration closes Sunday, September 20th. Payment of $20 (cash or check payable to WPAUMC) is due to the Northern District Office (P.O. Box 175, Edinboro, PA 16412) before the start of the school.