The Leadership and Ministry Program (LAMP) is the lay leadership formation program of the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ. LAMP exists to support adults who are discerning a call to deeper lay leadership and ministry within the life of the church, while honoring the realities of adult life, vocation, and community commitments.
LAMP is rooted in the life and theology of the United Church of Christ and is shaped by the United Church of Christ, Marks of Ministry, emphasizing faith formation, theological depth, leadership development, ethical practice, and service in the church and the world.
At its core, LAMP is committed to providing accessible, affordable, and relevant theological and leadership formation. The program is intentionally designed to remove unnecessary barriers to learning while maintaining thoughtful, faithful, and practical formation that serves individuals, congregations, and the wider church.
LAMP is designed specifically for adult learners and can be completed in partnership with a supervisor in either a traditional classroom setting or a one-on-one learning environment. This dual approach allows for individualized mentoring alongside shared conversation and communal learning. Participants may engage in learning through synchronous or asynchronous formats, depending on their context and availability.
Synchronous learning includes real-time engagement such as live classes, group discussions, or guided conversations with a supervisor. These experiences foster community, shared discernment, and immediate interaction around theology, leadership, and ministry practice.
Asynchronous learning offers flexibility, allowing learners to engage with readings, videos, written reflections, and applied exercises on their own schedule. This format supports personal pacing and creates space for deeper reflection, discernment, and integration of learning into daily life and ministry settings.
This blended model allows participants to benefit from direct engagement in group settings while also progressing through individual work at a pace that respects their responsibilities and lived experience.
LAMP includes multiple formation pathways, including Sacramental Servant, Servant of the Word, and the Certificate of Theological Education and Leadership (CTEL). Each pathway builds on previous learning and is designed to deepen theological understanding, strengthen leadership skills, and support faithful service in a variety of ministry contexts.
These pathways may also serve as part of a broader discernment process toward authorized ministry within the United Church of Christ, depending on the requirements and approval of an individual’s Association and Conference.
LAMP is offered in conjunction with our ministry partners at Faith+Lead, drawing on select Faith+Lead coursework as part of a broader, integrated formation experience. These resources are thoughtfully incorporated alongside local mentoring, contextual learning, and supervised practice to provide a well-rounded approach to theological education and leadership development.
By combining conference-based formation with trusted denominational learning resources, LAMP offers participants a complete and connected formation experience that is both grounded and adaptable.
In addition to its core formation pathways, LAMP offers Continuing Education for All, providing ongoing learning opportunities for lay leaders, authorized ministers, and those simply seeking to grow in faith, knowledge, and leadership. These offerings support lifelong learning and renewal for individuals and congregations across the Nebraska Conference and beyond.
The mission of LAMP is to provide accessible, affordable, and relevant theological and leadership formation for adults in the United Church of Christ, equipping faithful leaders for service through learning, reflection, discernment, and practice.
LAMP is for:
Lay leaders seeking deeper theological grounding and leadership development
Individuals discerning a call to authorized ministry within the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ
Congregational leaders preparing for expanded roles in worship, teaching, or service
Those serving or preparing to serve as Sacramental Servants or Servants of the Word
Lifelong learners seeking continuing education rooted in the life of the church
LAMP meets learners where they are and walks with them as they grow in confidence, clarity, and faithful leadership for the church and the world.
The Leadership and Ministry Preparation (LAMP) Program has been developed to provide accessible, practical, and theologically grounded preparation for individuals discerning a call to ministry within the life of the church. The program seeks to respond to the evolving needs of congregations and Associations by offering a structured yet flexible pathway for ministry formation.
At its core, LAMP is a formation program. While it includes academic learning, its primary purpose is not simply the transfer of information, but the shaping of individuals for faithful service in the life of the church. The program seeks to nurture theological understanding, spiritual maturity, practical ministry skills, and a deep awareness of the responsibilities of leadership within Christian community.
Formation in this context includes:
The study of scripture and theology
Reflection on the traditions and practices of the church
Development of practical ministry skills
Spiritual growth and discernment
Mentoring relationships within the life of the church
LAMP is therefore designed to prepare individuals not only to know about ministry, but to practice ministry responsibly, faithfully, and collaboratively within the wider body of Christ.
The program is built with several guiding principles in mind: sustainability, accessibility, adaptability, and shared leadership across the church. The intention is not simply to create a set of courses, but to build a durable formation system capable of preparing leaders for the present and future needs of the church.
One of the foundational commitments of the LAMP program is that it must not rely on a single individual or personality in order to function. Ministry formation within the church must be stable, sustainable, and capable of continuing across generations of leadership.
To achieve this goal, the program is designed so that:
Curriculum materials are documented and structured
Instructional resources can be delivered through multiple formats
Leadership responsibilities are shared across Associations
Learning materials remain available regardless of personnel changes
By designing the program in this way, LAMP becomes an institutional resource rather than a personality-driven initiative. This ensures that formation continues even as leadership within the church evolves.
Another essential goal of the LAMP program is to make ministry formation financially accessible.
Traditional ministry preparation pathways can create barriers due to cost, travel, and time commitments. LAMP seeks to reduce these barriers by offering a cost-effective alternative that still maintains strong theological and practical formation.
Cost effectiveness is achieved through several approaches:
Digital and downloadable learning materials
Hybrid and self-paced learning options
Local mentorship and supervision
Shared teaching resources across Associations
These strategies allow participants to receive meaningful formation without placing unnecessary financial burdens on individuals or congregations.
The LAMP program recognizes that ministry within the United Church of Christ and within local congregations takes many forms. Not every individual discerning a call to ministry is preparing for the same role or level of responsibility.
For this reason, the program is intentionally designed to prepare individuals for multiple possible pathways of authorized ministry, allowing formation to meet the needs of a wide variety of ministry settings.
These pathways may include preparation for:
Lay ministerial standing
Licensed ministry
Authorized sacramental leadership within a local congregation
Specialized ministry roles within the life of the church
Formation that may support continued discernment toward ordained ministry
Rather than assuming a single destination, the LAMP program provides foundational theological and practical formation that can support several different forms of ministry authorization.
Importantly, the program does not itself grant ministerial standing or authorization. Those decisions remain the responsibility of the appropriate local Association or Committee on Ministry, according to their established policies and discernment processes.
The goal of the program is therefore to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and theological grounding needed to serve faithfully, while allowing Associations to determine how that formation is recognized and applied within their own contexts.
Ministry needs rarely emerge on a predictable schedule. Congregations often encounter situations where leadership formation is needed quickly or at unexpected times.
For this reason, the LAMP program is structured so that formation can be accessed on demand.
Participants will be able to begin learning when they are ready rather than waiting for a scheduled cohort. This allows the church to respond more effectively when individuals step forward with a call to serve.
On-demand accessibility is supported through:
Self-paced learning modules
Recorded lectures and instructional materials
Downloadable study resources
Guided reflection and mentorship components
This format ensures that formation can begin when discernment begins.
Because the number of participants pursuing ministry formation at any given time may be relatively small and spread across multiple stages of the program, the LAMP program intentionally emphasizes individualized learning supported by mentorship.
Rather than relying primarily on large classroom cohorts, much of the coursework is designed to be completed individually and on demand, allowing participants to progress according to their stage of discernment and readiness for ministry.
In this model:
Participants complete structured learning modules at their own pace
Coursework and reflection are reviewed through guided mentorship
Each participant is paired with a mentor provided or approved by their local Association
Mentors help interpret learning within the context of real ministry practice
Formation remains connected to the life and discernment of the church
This mentorship-centered approach ensures that formation remains relational, contextual, and attentive to the individual calling of each participant.
It also allows the program to function effectively even when only a small number of participants are engaged at any given level of study.
Ministry formation does not end once a person receives authorization for service. The church benefits when leaders continue to learn, grow, and reflect on their ministry practice.
The LAMP program therefore includes opportunities for continuing education for those already serving in ministry roles.
These continuing education opportunities may include:
Advanced theological study
Ministry skill development
Leadership and administration training
Spiritual formation resources
Periodic learning acknowledgements or certificates
By providing continuing education within the same framework, the program supports lifelong formation for ministry leaders.
A defining feature of the LAMP program is the use of a stackable curriculum structure.
Rather than requiring participants to complete a single large program before recognition, the curriculum is divided into progressive stages of formation.
Each stage builds on the previous one and provides recognition for the learning completed.
Examples of stackable formation may include:
Introductory ministry formation
Servant of the Word formation
Sacramental Servant preparation
Certificate-level theological education and leadership
Advanced ministry preparation
Because the curriculum is stackable, participants can:
Enter the program at an appropriate level
Progress gradually over time
Build upon previous learning
Pause and resume formation as life circumstances allow
This structure respects the realities of bi-vocational ministry and lay leadership.
The LAMP program is intended to serve the church broadly while remaining connected to the discernment and authority of local Associations.
To maintain this connection, each local Association will have representation within the program’s structure. This ensures that:
The voice of the wider church is present in program development
Local ministry contexts are reflected in the curriculum
Associations remain engaged in formation and discernment
Accountability and collaboration remain central to the process
Association representation strengthens the relationship between formation and authorization for ministry.
The LAMP program represents a collaborative effort to strengthen ministry formation within the church while remaining accessible, adaptable, and sustainable.
As a formation-based program, LAMP seeks to nurture faithful, thoughtful, and capable leaders who are prepared to serve the church in a variety of ways. Through theological learning, spiritual reflection, practical ministry development, and mentorship, participants are equipped to respond to the needs of their congregations and communities.
By focusing on sustainability, affordability, stackable learning, mentorship, and shared leadership, the program provides a framework that can serve congregations and Associations for years to come.
LAMP is not simply a course of study. It is a formation system designed to prepare individuals for meaningful service in the life of the church while supporting the ongoing discernment and leadership of the wider body of Christ.