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 last week's blog posts, we hear their stories of calling and service. Today, let's meet Barbara Atkinson. When did you hear a call to become a Certified Lay Minister? What was that call like? Around 2011, I had recently emerged from a season of significant life changes and healing from loss. I felt God saying to me, “Can’t you walk a little closer with me?” It was palpable in my heart, but I wasn’t sure what it would look like and what I was supposed to be doing. I made a commitment to become more aware of his presence in daily life and spend more time in prayer. Then, in 2012, I became a part of that same first-ever Certified Lay Minister class that John Hall was in. We had not previously discussed the program, and we didn't know we were both being drawn to this until we both showed up to class. I entered the process still not sure this was where I was supposed to be. There was no map. God was just asking me to take the next faithful step, and that’s what I did. Talk about your experience in the training & certification process. How was it? The months of training in the the CLM program provided a way for me to understand and trust God’s plan for my life and my place in the United Methodist Church. It became an opportunity for me learn about the history of the UMC and to hone my personal skills of leading worship, praying in public and offering care to others within the church. It’s a great program. I learned that the more involved we have our laity, the stronger the church is. We all have different gifts and we’re called to use them as God intends. I think it’s important for each person to spend time figuring that out and not try to be a clone of someone else. I learned to look for people who have some of the gifts that are needed in ministry that maybe they’re unaware of and opening up a conversation about where God might be leading them. In Lay Servant Ministry, the United Methodist Church is saying, we want to equip you. We know how valuable you are. Part of the CLM program is that you’re charged with forming a Mutual Ministry Team. That team guides and holds me accountable to the covenant I have with the church. That’s the unique part of being a CLM: this is not just some volunteer position. This is a covenant relationship I hold with the church, and I take that very seriously. Since becoming a Certified Lay Minister, what have you learned about God? What have you learned about the Church? God is always doing something new to draw us ever closer to himself and will stop at nothing to make that happen. And t he Church is an amazing, vibrant entity. It will always, always exist. I believe that in my very core. The Church in the future may look different than it does now, but it will continue to thrive and be a place where people experience love and compassion and acceptance. It will continue because of Emmanuel, God with us, and our response to that truth. What is the most challenging part and the most rewarding part of being a Certified Lay Minister? The challenging part of being a CLM is discerning God’s voice about whether I’m going to be his faithful servant. Sometimes, to be true to my calling, I have to say no to a request. Sometimes I’m led to be a voice to others who feel like they are on the margins or left out by the church. But both of those callings can be unpopular! Staying true to my desire to walk closer to my Savior each and every day is the challenging part for me. And sometimes it involves tough decisions to make that happen. The rewarding part? The opportunity to live out my call to ministry in the framework of a supportive and caring church. I feel honored when I can provide safe and sacred space for people to explore their relationship with God. This happens sometimes during spiritual direction, sometimes when I’m teaching Sunday School, and sometimes during times of visitation and caring for others. The real reward for me is providing opportunities for others to peel back the layers of their relationship with God. You mentioned that you are a spiritual director. Can you say more about that? Within a couple weeks after completing the CLM certification, I felt God once again bidding me to walk closer to him. I thought, “Really? Did I not just come through this?” But it was a very profound feeling. After a lot of prayer, I entered a two-year program to become a spiritual director. I learned the value of spiritual disciplines in my life and learned how to live each day knowing I am God’s beloved. I have been a spiritual director for a little over ten years now, and this is truly the sweet spot in my life. I feel so honored and privileged to accompany others on their faith journey. Read this previous blog post to learn more about lay ministry in the United Methodist Church.

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.