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Our Certified Lay Ministers: John Hall
May 26, 2025
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"The life and work of the Church belong to us all." -John Hall
Aldersgate UMC's two Certified Lay Ministers, John Hall and Barbara Atkinson, serve and bless our church in many ways. In this week's and next week's blog posts, we will hear their stories of calling and service.
When did you hear a call to become a Certified Lay Minister? What was that call like?
My calling to lay ministry occurred in 2012 . One of our longtime members at Aldersgate asked me to help him with rebuilding some of the sound equipment in our sanctuary. He was all about "removing distractions"—providing clear, clean sound with no clicks or buzz or hum. While working on this project, I sensed a nudge, a restlessness. Around that time, I was invited to a breakfast meeting with our District Superintendent. He told me he saw gifts in me and asked me to join a discernment group. This group became the first Certified Lay Ministry cohort for what was then the Durham District, now the Corridor District, of the NC Conference.
It was exciting to explore ministry possibilities as a group and have a safe place to openly talk about the role of laity in the United Methodist Church. Through our discussions, we came to understand that Certified Lay Ministry was just one of the many ways that laypeople could serve in important, vital roles in ministry in the local church.
Talk about your experience in the training & certification process. How was it?
Our formal training was an eight-month group training experience led by a pastor from a neighboring church. We discussed sensing and responding to our call to ministry, the organization and administration of the church, the history of our church, and practical aspects of ministry like preaching, leading worship, and congregational care. Part of the training process was to establish an accountability group, also called a Mutual Ministry Team. This group was made up of three members of Aldersgate, our pastor (who served as my mentor), and our District Superintendent. Together we developed a ministry covenant that described the expectations and responsibilities of our shared ministry for both me and Aldersgate.
Following the formal training, I interviewed with our District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM), who affirmed my calling to ministry and provided useful guidance on living into a covenant relationship. I continue to regularly meet with my ministry team to review and make updates to our ministry covenant as needed. Every two years, there’s a formal review process that includes another interview with the dCOM to be sure this ministry is still relevant and useful for all of us.
Since becoming a Certified Lay Minister, what have you learned about God? What have you learned about the Church?
I’ve learned that God equips the called. God is always busy continuing the creation story, and God prepares, shapes, and empowers us to be a part of what God is doing. I’ve learned we need each other in our journey. I’ve learned that God has expectations of me.
Our church embraces the "priesthood of all believers." We believe everyone has a place, everyone is gifted, and everyone is called to use their gifts in the building of God’s Kingdom. There are some specific callings, like Certified Lay Ministry, but there’s a place for every person to explore, discover, and use their gifts.
What is the most challenging part and the most rewarding part of being a Certified Lay Minister?
Most challenging? The word "Minister" in Certified Lay Minister can be confusing, so I spend a fair amount of time explaining it. That’s not a bad thing, as it usually leads to a more engaging discussion and a better understanding of the role of lay folks in our church.
Most rewarding? Being a part of a ministry team that equips and supports me and our ministry. The partnership between clergy and laity takes a lot of work and it’s really important. When it works well, it’s amazing. My ministry team is really good at encouraging me and asking me the right questions to provide guidance and feedback. Creating spaces and places where folks can explore and discover their calling and live it out is deeply rewarding to me.
Together, we celebrate the many ways laity serve in important, vital roles in ministry in the local church. The United Methodist Church is somewhat unique in this aspect, providing both formal ways (such as Certified Lay Servant/Speaker/Minister, Deaconess/Home Missioner) as well as less formal ways (such as local church leadership - Church Council, Finance, Missions) and those who labor without recognition or fanfare - like altar guild and choir. All of these, and more, are needed and necessary, and are important in building up the body of the church. The life and work of the Church belong to us all.
Read last week's blog post
to learn more about lay ministry in the United Methodist Church.