Certified Advocate Development Program
The Certified Advocate Development Program equips United Methodists to conduct faith-based legislative and policy advocacy in the public square.
The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is offering the Certified Advocate Development Program, a cohort-based initiative designed to equip United Methodists to engage in faith-based legislative and policy advocacy in the public square.
Through the program, Certified Advocates will work closely with advocacy staff to communicate Social Principle concerns with policymakers and leaders around the world.
In an effort to be contextually relevant, each cohort will be based by region. Each year, we will facilitate a new cohort for a different region of our United Methodist connection. Registration for the U.S. region is now open to all who are interested and will close at the end of on August 21.
Program Overview
The Certified Advocate Development Program is a three-course training experience over three months. The program consists of self-paced, on-demand course content released ahead of each monthly live session, paired with live trainings focused on reflection, discussion, and application. Following the training period, participants will continue in ongoing advocate development with Church and Society.
Introductory Courses
Orientation – Thursday, September 3, 2026
Session #1 – Thursday, October 1, 2026
Session #2 – Thursday, November 5, 2026
Session #3 – Thursday December 3, 2026
Note: Sessions are to be held on the first Thursday of the month.
Certified Advocate Frequently Asked Questions
Enrollment & Eligibility
Is there any cost to participate in the advocacy training? No. The program is completely free to join and participate in.
Who is eligible to participate? Everyone is welcome! The program encourages participation across all life stages and ministry backgrounds.
Are there specific selection criteria or geographic limits for registration? Yes. To keep the training contextually relevant, the program is facilitated one region at a time. This inaugural cohort is intended specifically for participants within the U.S. Region and will be offered in a different region each year.
Does this program grant Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for clergy? CEU accreditation is currently pending. More information regarding CEU eligibility will be shared during the orientation session on September 3rd.
Schedule & Location
When and where are the live sessions held? Live sessions take place virtually on Zoom at 4:00 - 5:30 PM EST on the first Thursday of each month (including the orientation session on September 3rd).
What is the time commitment for each segment of the course?
- Live Sessions: Each monthly session lasts 1.5 hours.
- Self-Paced Content: Expect about 1 hour of pre-recorded content to review in between each live session.
What happens if I have to miss a live session or the orientation? Full completion of the program requires attendance at 2 out of the 3 course sessions.
- If you miss orientation: If you can attend at least two course sessions, email the team to request a recording of the orientation session for review.
- If you miss a course session: The opening comments of live sessions will be recorded and sent out to participants afterward. Note that interactive breakout groups will most likely not be included in the recordings.
Program Expectations & Advocacy
What are the expectations for participants during and after the program?
- During the program: Participate in monthly live sessions, complete self-paced coursework, and join policymaker meetings as needed.
- Following completion: Advocates are expected to participate in quarterly advocate briefings and join legislative advocacy staff on congressional visits as needed.
How can participants stay involved with GBCS advocacy after the program ends? Post-cohort advocates are encouraged to stay connected through quarterly virtual sessions, legislative updates, and joint advocacy efforts.
Don’t see your question? Contact us at advocacy@umcjustice.org
