We are going to hold a charge conference on April 12th at 12:30 pm to approve James Bernstein as a Certified Lay Minister. All are welcome to attend; only Church Council (CC) may vote.

Certified Lay Ministers (CLM) are persons who feel a calling to engage in more intentional ministry as a lay person.  In the North Carolina Conference, CLMs undergo 7 months of training, assessments, and interviews before being assigned by the District Superintendent to a ministry area.  James has felt for many years a call to care through hospital and home visits, shared meals, and coffee.  He now wishes to dedicate more time to that call as a volunteer within the Soapstone UMC community.  His assignment at Soapstone will be with the support of Rev. George Freeman, Pastor of Visitation and Congregational Care.