West District

Cost: $75 + the purchase or borrowing of three books is also required.

Registration due: April 2, 2024

This course is open to participants from all Cal-Pac districts. A minimum number of participants is required; if the class is canceled because not enough people register, registrants will be notified by email and those who have paid will be refunded. The maximum number of participants is 24.

Students will study the meaning of our Sacraments, worship and Hymnody in the Wesleyan tradition.

All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Minister are invited to participate. This course is a required course for those seeking Certified Lay Minister status. For more about Certified Lay Ministry, visit the CLM web page at www.calpacumc.org/clm.

For Certified Lay Speakers and Certified Lay Servants, this course can be an Advanced LSM Course. The Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries has approved this course as satisfying the requirement for Advanced LSM Leading Worship for those seeking Certified Lay Speaker status.

This course is also open to anyone who would like to attend for self-improvement/edification purposes.

Attendance is required at all sessions for credit, as well as a two-hour assignment beyond the classroom, for a total of 10 hours.
Instructor is the Rev. Dr. Faith Conklin, a retired elder in the California-Pacific Conference. She has previously served as a District Superintendent and is the Director for the Western Jurisdiction Course of Study. She has taught Worship & Sacraments for over 25 years.
Materials: Participants should have a copy of the following books via purchase or borrowing from your local church (recommended):
- Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us by Daniel T. Benedict Jr. (Amazon)
- United Methodist Book of Worship (Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Cokesbury)
- United Methodist Hymnal (Amazon, Cokesbury)

Zoom information will be included in your confirmation email.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

For questions, contact CLM Registrar Denise Serino at deeserino@gmail.com.

Organizer

08apr(apr 8)6:00 PM06may(may 6)8:00 PMLSM Advanced Class: Leading Public Prayer 2024 (Leadership)6:00 PM - (may 6) 8:00 PM PDT

Event Details

Dates:

California: Mondays, April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 PM (PDT)
Hawai`i: Mondays, April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00 PM (HST)
Guam & Saipan: Tuesdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 2024, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

Cost: $15 and the purchase of a book is also required.

Register by: Friday, April 5, 2024

This class is open to participants from all Cal-Pac districts. This class is sponsored by East District Lay Servant Ministries.

This is one of the six classes required to become a Certified Lay Speaker. All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker are invited to attend, as well as those who are seeking to learn more about themselves.

This advanced course offers practical guidelines for avoiding common pitfalls of public prayer. Prayer is something we learn; it is something that can be taught. For many, however, the only teaching about prayer they ever receive is modeled in Sunday worship.

This course may challenge some of your assumptions, test some of your preconceived ideas, stretch your thinking and enrich your prayer life. It will, at the very least, present you with an opportunity to grow in the discipline of leading public prayer.

Attendance is required at all sessions for credit.
The instructor is Rev. Martin Finau Jr., pastor at Temple City First UMC.
All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend.
- The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status.
- If you have taken the Basic Lay Servant Class within the last three years, taking this advanced class will qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant.
  - If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay SPEAKER, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Preaching, Leading or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, UM Heritage or History and UM Polity. To learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
Provide your own book: Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher (Amazon, Cokesbury)

Zoom information will be sent to you later by the instructor.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

For questions, contact Khanh Doan, East District Lay Servant Ministries Director, at iamkdoan@gmail.com.

Organizer

10apr01mayLSM Advanced Class: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts 2024 (Leadership)6:00 PM - (may 1) 8:00 PM PDT

Event Details

Dates:

California: Wednesdays, April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 2024, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (PDT)
Hawai`i: Wednesdays, April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 2024, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (HST)
Guam & Saipan: Thursdays, April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2024, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

Cost: $15 and you must acquire your own book (see below)

Register by: Monday, April 8, 2024

This class is open to participants from all Cal-Pac districts (limited to 24 participants), in an online format. This class is sponsored by East District Lay Servant Ministries.

This advanced course is designed to help you understand, identify, and begin using your special God-given abilities.

This is one of the six classes required to become a Certified Lay Speaker. All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant or a Certified Lay Speaker are invited to attend, as well as those who are seeking to learn more about themselves.

Attendance is required at all sessions for credit.
The instructor is Pat Hogan, former Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.
All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend.
- The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status.
- If you have taken the Basic Lay Servant Class within the last three years, taking this advanced class will qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant.
  - If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay SPEAKER, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Preaching, Leading or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, UM Heritage or History and UM Polity. To learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
Provide your own book: All participants will need a copy of For the Common Good, Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman (Amazon, Cokesbury).

Zoom information will be sent to you later by the instructor.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

For questions, contact Khanh Doan, East District Lay Servant Ministries Director, at iamkdoan@gmail.com.

Organizer

15apr(apr 15)6:30 PM13may(may 13)8:30 PMLSM Advanced Course: AI & ChatGPT 4 Church Leaders (Leadership)6:30 PM - (may 13) 8:30 PM PDT

Event Details

Dates: 5 Mondays, April 15 – May 13, 2024, 6:30 PM PDT (3:30 PM HST/11:30 AM Tuesdays ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

Cost: $39/person, $79 up to 4 persons from the same church

To pay online through the SOUMC website, go to: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1309144 and select the “Lay Servant Course” Fund Designation.

This series is sponsored by North District Lay Servant Ministries in Cal-Pac and open to participants from anyone in the Western Jurisdiction.

AI is more ubiquitous and available than most imagine. The question isn’t if you will use AI in your ministry work but how. The instructors are Kenny Jahng and Jason Moore.

Attendance is required at all sessions for credit. All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend. The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status. This is one of the six classes required to become a Certified Lay Speaker. Other required advanced courses, in addition to the BASIC class for Certified Lay Speaker certification are Preaching, Leading or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, United Methodist Heritage or United Methodist History, and United Methodist Polity.
- About Certified Lay Servant (CLS) status: After you take the Basic Lay Servant Class, you have 3 years to take an advanced class to qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant. If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay Speaker, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, Planning Worship or Leading Worship, United Methodist Heritage, United Methodist Polity and Preaching. For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
Download PDF Guide “Unlock the Power of AI” by Kenny Jahng. Once registered, you will be sent a link to download the PDF Guide.
Topics:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- What is ChatGPT & How do you use it
- 4 Benefits of ChatGPT/AI Tools for Church Leaders
- Practical & Sample Use Cases
- Best Practices & Best Prompts
- Ethical Considerations for Church Leaders

View event flyer (JPG)

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

For questions, contact Jean at soumc@sbcglobal.net or 818.789.0351.

Organizer

20apr10:00 AM3:00 PMWork Party @ Camp Cedar Glen 2024 (Camp & Retreat)10:00 AM - 3:00 PM PDT

23aprAll Day03may[Postponed from 2020] UMC General Conference(All Day) PDT

24apr(apr 24)7:00 PM08may(may 8)9:00 PMLSM Advanced Course: GOD's Mission... Our Journey (Leadership)7:00 PM - (may 8) 9:00 PM PDT

Event Details

Dates: three Wednesdays, April 24 – May 8, 2024, 7 PM PDT (4 PM HST/Noon Thursdays, ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW >>

Cost: $25 for LSM credit; $15 for no LSM credit. The purchase of a book is also required.

To pay online through the SOUMC website, go to: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1309144 and select the “Lay Servant Course” Fund Designation.

This 3-week class is open to participants from all Cal-Pac districts. All are welcome!

This course will provide participants with a better understanding of a holistic approach to participation in God’s mission to the world and equip lay servants for more effective missional engagement in their communities and beyond.

About the Class:

Provide your own book: All participants will need a copy of A Mission Journey: A Handbook for Volunteers (available at The Upper Room).
Attendance is required at all sessions for credit. All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend.
- About Certified Lay Servant (CLS) and Certified Lay Speaker status: All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend. The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status. If you have taken the Basic Lay Servant Class within the last three years, taking this advanced class will qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant. If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay SPEAKER, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Preaching, Leading or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, United Methodist Heritage or History, United Methodist Polity, and GOD’s Mission… Our Journey. For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
Your required participation in the “A Day of Hope” outreach will serve as 4 hours of the 10 contact hours needed for this Advanced LSM Course.

View event flyer (JPG)

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW >>

For questions, contact Jean at soumc@sbcglobal.net or 818.789.0351.

Organizer

27apr1:00 PM3:30 PMREFRESH Annual Spring Open House 2024 @ 580 Café (Wesley Foundation Serving UCLA)1:00 PM - 3:30 PM PDT

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 1 PM – 3:30 PM PDT

Location: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church patio (580 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024)

limited free parking behind the church

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW >>

REFRESH with us and spend a delightful afternoon at 580 Café!

“Let’s Grow Together”

Enjoy dance, poetry, and musical performances by our 580 community.
Art Auction showcasing the creativity of our students, past and present!
Take a tour of our community reflection garden.

Your generous donation is greatly appreciated. Event sponsorships are available!

’24 Roots and Wings Honorees:

Robert Bailey, MS ’75
Carla Bailey, BA ’69, MA ’72
Domenica Castillo, BA ’14 (Executive Director, Museum of Social Justice of LA UM Urban Foundation)

This year our Roots and Wings honorees highlight three incredible people who are part of our legacy of leadership, compassion, courage, and commitment to building beloved community. Each has offered their gifts, graces, and talents to sustain the work and ministry of 580 Café (Wesley Foundation Serving UCLA) from their collegiate days and into their professional lives. Please join us to celebrate their stories and continue their legacy of activism, faith and leadership.

Become a REFRESH Sponsor!

Individual/Family: $100 +
Church/Community: $250 +
Corporate: $500 +

Send donation & sponsorship checks payable to 580 Cafe, 10497 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

or give online via PayPal HERE.

View the full invitation

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW >>

Learn more about 580 Cafe HERE.

Organizer

580 Café/Wesley Foundation Serving UCLA

02may(may 2)8:30 PM30(may 30)10:30 PMLSM Advanced Course: Ministry with the Forgotten 2024 (Leadership)8:30 PM - 10:30 PM (30) PDT

Event Details

Dates: 5 Thursdays, May 2-30, 2024, 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM PDT (5:30 PM HST/1:30 PM Fridays ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

Cost: $15 and you must provide your own book (see below)

Register by: Sunday, April 30, 2024

This course sponsored by Hawai`i District Lay Servant Ministries and is open to participants from all Cal-Pac districts. The class size will max at 25 participants and registration will close if that number is reached.

This an advance course introduced at the Association of Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries (ACDLSM) in January 2022. The author of the textbook is Bishop Kenneth Carder who also wrote “Living Our Beliefs” the text for the Heritage course.

This course will help lay servant ministers understand dementia from a spiritual standpoint and become more comfortable ministering with all people especially those affected by this and similar conditions. Together we will learn about dementia, see people with dementia as disciples of Jesus and discover how to relate to them in a helpful manner. The five sessions will cover:

Session 1: Dementia as a Medical and Theological Challenge (and an Opportunity)
Session 2: We Are More than Our Capacities
Session 3: Incarnation and the Ministry of Presence
Session 4: Dementia, Discipleship, and Grief
Session 5: Toward a Dementia-Friendly Church (to really be the church)

All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker are invited to attend, as well as those who are seeking to learn more about themselves.
- About Certified Lay Servant (CLS) and Certified Lay Speaker status: All those seeking certification as a Certified Lay Servant are invited to attend. The BASIC class and one Advanced Class is required to successfully apply for Certified Lay Servant status. If you have taken the Basic Lay Servant Class within the last three years, taking this advanced class will qualify you as a Certified Lay Servant. If you want to continue on to being a Certified Lay SPEAKER, you will need to take the following advanced classes: Preaching, Leading or Planning Worship, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, United Methodist Heritage or History, and United Methodist Polity. For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here.
Attendance is required at all sessions for credit.
The instructor is Winnie Ching, Hawai`i District Lay Servant Ministries Director.
Provide your own book: All participants will need a copy of “Ministry with the Forgotten, Dementia through a Spiritual Lens” by Kenneth L. Carder (Amazon, Cokesbury). Be sure to get the participant version and not the leader guide.

Zoom information will be sent to you later by the instructor.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

For questions, contact Winnie Ching, Hawai`i District Lay Servant Ministries Director, at wingin322@yahoo.com.

Organizer

08mayAll Day11WJ Quadrennial Event 2024 (United Women in Faith)(All Day) PDT

Event Details

Date: Wednesday-Saturday, May 8-11, 2024 PDT

Location: Hotel Captain Cook (939 W. 5th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501)

Cost: $345

Register by: April 15, 2024

Hotel Room Block closes March 25

All United Women in Faith members are encouraged to attend this event.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34

Come GET TOGETHER! to FEEL the joy when faith-filled women unite. NURTURE our souls through the strength of our sisterhood. DEEPEN our relationship with God EXPLORE the power of love to make a difference. TOGETHER we can do more. TOGETHER we can be more. TOGETHER the power of love in action can change the world.

The main goal for this quadrennial event is to elect our region’s representatives to serve on the national Board of Directors. WJ Board of Nominees >>

Cal-Pac Nominee(s) for national director and PAG members:

Director – Laddie Perez-Galang
PAG – Young Mae Kim, Maxine Wheeler

2024-2028 WJ Leadership Team Installation

from Cal-Pac: Diane Gin (President) & Atina Pascua (Vice President)

Brief Schedule:

May 8 – Legacy Dinner (full)
May 9 – Ubuntu Opportunities / Hidden History Tour / Anchorage Downtown Volksmarch, Nominee Rehearsal, Delegate Orientation, Reception, Community Gathering
May 10 – Community Gathering, Bible Study, Workshops, Balloting, Banquet w/keynote speaker
May 11 – Community Gathering, Installation of WJ Leadership Team 2024-2028

Keynote Speaker: Amy Valdez Barker, PhD (Congregational & Pastoral Formation Curator)

Notable Speakers: Sally Vonner (new General Secretary/CEO), Ainise Isama’u (President, National UWF)

Learn more at wjumw.com.

For more information, contact Julie Asuncion at juleton610@gmail.com

Organizer

United Women in Faith

11may9:00 AM6:00 PMDistrict Conferences 20249:00 AM - 6:00 PM PDT

14may(may 14)6:00 PM11jun(jun 11)8:00 PMTongan LSM Advanced Class: Intro to Congregational Care 2024 (Leadership)(may 14) 6:00 PM - (june 11) 8:00 PM PDT

15may11:00 AM1:00 PMOrientation to Ministry: Discerning Your Call to be a Ministry Leader 2024 (Ordained Ministry)11:00 AM - 1:00 PM PDT

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 11 AM – 1 PM PDT (8 AM HST/4 AM Thursday ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Cost: free

Register by: May 10, 2024

This event is for those discerning a call to certification, licensing, or ordained ministry (not for certified lay ministry).

The Orientation to Ministry (OTM) provides a space for those who are discerning a call to leadership within or through The United Methodist Church to learn about the distinctions between ordination, licensing, and certification for ministry, as well as to meet others who are also beginning this journey in our Conference.

This year, you can expect to share in a time of devotion, meet other candidates for ministry and key members of Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM), learn more about “calling” and how to identify your unique call within a UM framework, as well as to interact with a panel of ministers serving in the roles of Elder, Deacon, Licensed Local Pastor, and Lay Ministry.

If you’re just getting started, we’ll help you identify what steps to take first in your process.

Zoom link will be sent out the day before the event to registered candidates.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

For questions, please contact:

Rev. Darin Arntson, Board of Ordained Ministry Vocational Discernment Coordinator (darin@stmarksumcsd.org) or
Cathy Wilson, Associate Director to the Board of Ordained Ministry & Orders Executive Committee (cwilson@calpacumc.org).

Organizer

Board of Ordained Ministry

16may(may 16)5:30 PM06jun(jun 6)7:30 PMCLM Course: Developing Disciples 2024 (Leadership)(may 16) 5:30 PM - (june 6) 7:30 PM PDT

Event Details

Dates: four Thursdays, May 16 – June 6, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PDT (2:30 PM HST/10:30 AM Fridays ChST)

Location: online (Zoom)

Cost: $75 + the purchase of a book is also required.

Registration due: Monday, May 13, 2024

The purpose of this course is to explore the definition, models and paths of discipleship to help participants become deeper disciples of Jesus and equip them to cultivate disciples within the local church and beyond.

For Certified Lay Speakers and Certified Lay Servants, this course can be an Advanced LSM Course, but it is not one of the six required courses for Certified Lay Speaker.

This course is also open to anyone who would like to attend for self-improvement/edification purposes.

Attendance is required at all sessions for credit, as well as a two-hour assignment beyond the classroom, for a total of 10 hours.
Instructors are Dr. Erin Hawkins, Executive Director of Cal-Pac Connectional Ministries, and Denise Serino, attorney and CLM Registrar.
Materials: Participants should have a copy of Discipleship in the New Expedition by Phil Maynard (Cokesbury, Amazon).

Zoom information will be sent to you closer to the start date.

Technical requirements: To participate in Zoom meetings, participants must have a reliable Internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone device that can download and install the Zoom app. A web or phone camera and a microphone are highly recommended, although some users may call in via phone if a mic is not available.