Baltimore-Washington Conference: Lay Planter Training (Advanced)
The goal of this course is to equip lay people to make disciples in the formation of new faith communities.
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The Lay Planter Training course begins with an orientation to prospective participants. On October 10, 2020, we gathered together virtually with 25 persons from the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference as well as several people from neighboring Virginia Annual Conference. During the hour-long meeting we introduced the compelling reasons for releasing laity into the field of mission to start new faith communities. We gave an overview of the course content with examples from the course. We were able to respond to questions from the Zoom audience. We ended with an invitation to participants to register for the course. You can access the meeting by clicking on the following link.
The Lay Planter Training trains laity to create new faith communities and new churches!
Get Your Certification in Just 4 steps!
1. Take the Pre-Course Assessment - Each lay person who registers for the course will be sent an online Pre-course assessment that will help to measure the gifts for planting new faith communities as well as their personal expectations for the course.
2. Attend Orientation - All registered students for LPT will attend an orientation that will explain the course content and explain how to access the online classes. It will serve to help each student discern whether this course is appropriate.
3. Complete Ten Online Classes: Thought provoking topics with in-depth study guides and reading assignments. As well as a designated mentor to provide helpful course feedback.
(For Advance Course, students must complete all responses in the course workbooks that accompany each of the 10 classes.)
Class Topics:
4. Present Your Plan of Action - Each student will be sent instructions on how to complete an executive summary of their plan of action.
Once completed it’s time to celebrate!
The final class includes a celebration for completing the course and breakout sessions.
As an added bonus for registering for the course, you’ll receive a Digital Bundle of Resources to enrich you and your ministry! You’ll have access to several books, booklets, valuable articles and other online courses!
Learn more about the steps in the Lay Planter Training
CEU Accredited Course Offering
Discipleship Ministries eLearning offers continuing education units (CEU) upon successful course completion. Available to clergy and lay leadership of all denominations, you receive high-quality information that will enrich your faith life and ministry. This course is a CEU accredited course offering. Learn more about CEU offerings
CEUs: 5.0
Your Instructors
Rev. Doug Ruffle was born in New York and grew up in New Jersey, Doug served churches in New Jersey and Argentina, where he worked with the Methodist Church of that country as a missionary of The United Methodist Church. For ten years he served as Director of Congregational Development for the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Currently, he works at Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, as Director of Community Engagement and Church Planting Resources. He also serves as liaison with The Upper Room and Discipleship Resources International.
Rev. Dr. Bener Baysa Agtarap is Executive Director, Community Engagement & Church Planting / Path1, and Director, Connectional Mobilization. His life and ministry began in the Philippines, continuing to the United States in the upper midwest, the deep south, and on to the west coast. Bener has church planting in his blood and plants some kind of new faith community everywhere he moves. Bener is a pastor, church planter, and a disciple-making movement multiplier that makes him uniquely qualified to lead our denomination’s efforts to create new places for new people in Jesus’ name.
Bener is an ordained elder of the California Nevada Annual Conference. He graduated from Philippines School of Business & Administration (PSBA) with a B.S. in Business Administration, Management & Accounting, received a Master’s in Business Administration & Organizational Behavior from PSBA, an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary (cum laude), and a Doctorate of Philosophy & Development Administration from Philippines Christian University.
Course Moderators
Rev. Bill Brown - Bill is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has served rural, city, and suburban churches in his 29 years of ministry. He is currently the Director of New Faith Expressions for the Baltimore Washington Conference. He has a Master’s of Divinity from Wesley Theological, a Doctor of Ministry focused in Organizational Leadership from Drew University and is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation.
Linda Flanagan - Linda is a Certified Lay Minister who serves as Baltimore-Washington Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University in journalism and secondary English education, she earned her master’s degree in cognitive psychology and English composition at Vermont College. Linda is a retired newspaper journalist and teacher/supervisor of secondary English in two Maryland public school systems. She serves her local church as Minister of Connection, working with ministries of prayer, adult studies, worship design, community and ecumenical outreach, and UMC connectional programs.
CEU Accredited Course Offering
Discipleship Ministries eLearning offers continuing education units (CEU) upon successful course completion. Available to clergy and lay leadership of all denominations, you receive high-quality information that will enrich your faith life and ministry. This course is a CEU accredited course offering. Learn more about CEU offerings
CEUs: 5.0