LOCAL PREACHERS

Becoming a Local Preacher

Could God be calling you to preach?

Have you ever felt a stirring to share God's Word, lead others in worship or help people discover the good news of Jesus? Perhaps God is calling you to explore Local Preaching.

From its earliest days, the Methodist Church has recognised and valued the calling of lay people to lead worship and preach the Gospel. Being a Local Preacher is both a privilege and a responsibility, offering an opportunity to share your faith, encourage others and make a difference in the life of the Church and beyond.

Recognising God's call is a journey of prayer, reflection and discernment, and you don't have to take that journey alone. The Methodist Church offers guidance, encouragement and a structured programme of training, alongside opportunities for continued learning and growth.

Could this be the next step in your journey of faith? We'd love to help you explore where God might be leading you.

Exploring your call to be a Local Preacher

Exploring a call to Local Preaching is not about already being confident or having all the answers, but about being open to discovering what God might be inviting you to do.

Recognising God's call isn't always a sudden moment of certainty. Often, it is something that grows gradually through prayer, reflection, conversation and experience.

If you feel that God might be calling you to become a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church in Ireland, we encourage you to take some time to explore that calling.

Could this be where God is leading you?

Exploring a call to Local Preaching is a journey of discovering how God might use your gifts to serve the Church and share the good news of Jesus.

And remember, you don't need to have all the answers before you begin.

If you would like to explore Local Preaching further, please speak with your Local Minister or Lay Worker, who can help you understand the next steps in the discernment and application process.

Here are five simple ways to help you listen, reflect and discover where God might be leading you.

Give yourself time to listen for God's voice.
Begin by setting aside regular time for prayer. This isn't just about talking to God, but also creating space to listen.
Bring your thoughts and feelings honestly before God, whether that's excitement, uncertainty, questions or even doubts. You don't need to have all the answers.
As you pray, notice whether your sense of calling grows stronger, becomes clearer or begins to change.
Think about how God has already been working in your life.
Take some time to reflect on your faith journey, your experiences and the gifts God has given you.
Perhaps you enjoy sharing Scripture, helping others understand their faith, leading prayers or encouraging people in their relationship with God.
You might find it helpful to write down your thoughts or keep a simple journal as you explore your calling.
Share your thoughts and listen to encouragement, you don’t have to explore your calling alone.
In the Methodist Church, discerning a call to ministry is something we do together.
Talk with people you trust. This might be your minister, lay pastor, youth worker, mentor or someone in your congregation who knows you well.
Share what you have been thinking and feeling. Listen to their encouragement, questions and insights.
Sometimes others recognise gifts in us that we haven't yet recognised ourselves.
Sometimes the best way to explore a calling is to take a small step and explore opportunities.
Look for opportunities to become more involved in worship and the life of your church.
You might offer to lead prayers, read Scripture, share a short reflection or help plan a service.
These experiences can help you discover more about your gifts, grow in confidence and begin to understand whether Local Preaching might be where God is leading you.
Remember, this isn't about proving that you can do everything. It's about being willing to learn, grow and explore.
Allow your sense of calling to grow and develop. Discernment is a journey, not a race.
You don't need to rush into making a decision.
Allow yourself time to pray, reflect, ask questions and explore different opportunities. It is natural to feel uncertain, and you don't need to have everything worked out before taking the next step.
As you continue on this journey, you may find that your sense of calling becomes clearer and that you feel increasingly ready to explore what becoming a Local Preacher might involve.

The Methodist’s Local Preacher Course

The Diploma in Preaching is an exciting opportunity for those exploring God’s call to lead worship and preach within the Methodist family of churches.

Over 18 months, you’ll be encouraged and supported as you develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead worship and share the good news of Jesus in a variety of settings. Through learning, reflection and practical experience, the course will help you grow in your calling and equip you to share God’s love and message of hope with others.

Our Diploma in Preaching has been thoughtfully designed to help you grow in both your knowledge and practice of preaching and worship leading. Throughout the course, you’ll explore the call to preach and develop the craft of sharing God’s Word with confidence and creativity. You’ll deepen your understanding of the text of Scripture, discover the richness of the Methodist theological tradition, and develop the skills to plan and lead meaningful worship. Along the way, you’ll be encouraged and equipped to share the joyful good news of Jesus in ways that connect with people and the world around us today.

This Diploma combines flexible, independent study and opportunities for learning and growing together with others through three ways of learning:

An 18-month online learning programme, packed with short, engaging tutorial videos and guided online resources and activities. You’ll complete this in four blocks, taking roughly four months for each block.
Monthly online tutorials with Cliff College tutors. These evening drop-in sessions are a regular opportunity to ask questions, get support and deepen your learning with others.
Four Saturday Diploma Gatherings that mark the end of each block. In these Gatherings you can expect to practise elements of leading worship and preaching in a supportive environment, and get constructive feedback from the team.

Everyone learns in different ways, and the Diploma has been designed with a variety of learning preferences in mind. It is recommended that you set aside five hours per week to get the most from this Diploma.

There will be different assessment tasks throughout your study, which will include multiple-choice quizzes, short written responses, creative activities and observations of practice. Successful completion of the Diploma results in the awarding of a Cliff College Diploma.

COURSE CONTENT

The Diploma has four blocks - A, B, C and D - that take roughly four months each to complete. Each block includes learning in the six key areas of knowledge and practice, so that students gain an understanding of how these elements fit together and build on one another.

Course Content

How to Apply – the process

There are steps to follow at local level involving the Superintendent Minister and the Circuit Executive.

1. Speak to your local minister/lay worker about your sense of call to this ministry.
Please read the ‘Exploring Your Call to Be a Local Preacher’ section above if you need help with that discernment.
2. Your local minister/lay worker will speak to the Circuit Superintendent about your attendance at the Circuit Executive Meeting, where you will be asked 4 questions. The purpose is to provide a supportive opportunity to explore and discern your sense of calling to preach, while considering your readiness and potential to grow and develop through the training programme.

Circuit Executive Applicant Questions

3. If the Circuit Executive recommends that you should be received as a ‘Local Preacher in Training,’ your Superintendent will send the completed interview form to the Connexional Local Preachers’ Co-ordinator.
4. You will then be asked you to complete an online application form for the Ministries Team of MCI, a link to this form will be emailed to you.
5. Once your application is reviewed you will be contacted by the Ministries Team about next steps.
6. The applicant will then receive a link to the Cliff College application form, this needs to be completed and then reviewed by Cliff College before the applicant will be offered a place on the course and they can begin as a Local Preacher in Training.

Circuit Executive Accreditation Questions

7. The Superintendent will then forward the completed interview form to the Connexional Local Preachers’ Co-ordinator, who will review it in consultation with the Connexional Local Preachers Committee.
8. Following this review, a recommendation for full accreditation as a Local Preacher will be made, where appropriate.