• GBHEM General Secretary Plans to Retire in 2019
    Published On: March 13, 2019

    In a speech to employees on Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Kim Cape announced plans to retire as the general secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) later this year. She has directed GBHEM, the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, since 2011. Cape has served...

  • Can the UMC Sustain 13 Seminaries? A New Study Investigates
    Published On: March 11, 2019

    Are 13 theological schools sustainable by the United Methodist Church (UMC)? A new, independent study found data for that question.   In his “Study of the Thirteen Official Theological Schools of The United Methodist Church,” Daniel O. Aleshire, former executive director of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), identifies characteristics that set the UMC theological schools apart from those of other denominations. These include racial and...

  • Four Steps to Improve Agency Efficiency and Effectiveness
    Published On: March 7, 2019

    In early 2018, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) launched a new strategic process to ensure the greatest return on investment for its work. Its goal is to bolster the efficiency and impact of GBHEM’s many services as the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church...

  • Specially Designed E-Readers Support Students in Africa
    Published On: March 4, 2019

    United Methodist college and university students in Africa will soon have a unique, affordable tool to help them study. After nearly two years of discussions and research, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and the African Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education (AAMIHE) have procured 1,000...

  • Annual Conference Leaders Make Plans for Eight-Year Assessment Process
    Published On: February 23, 2019

    Plenary Session The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) hosted a three-day training, February 19-21, for Annual Conference leaders focused on understanding, developing and implementing the Eight-Year Assessment (EYA) as sanctioned by the 2016 General Conference and described in paragraph 349 of the “Book of Discipline.” The training provided...

  • Three Opportunities for Grace at the Special General Conference
    Published On: February 21, 2019

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, One of e. e. cummings’ poems includes the phrase “even if it’s sunday may i be wrong.” It suggests the humility present in the Christian walk, where being “right” is not always paramount. Rather, we are to look outside of ourselves, to our greater...

  • New Anthology Sparks Theological Discussion of Displacement and Marginalization
    Published On: February 19, 2019

    Readers are called to remember that Jesus was an immigrant in the new book, “Displaced Persons: Theological Reflection on Immigration, Refugees, and Marginalization.” This thoughtful anthology was released by the Publishing Office of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the leadership development agency of The United Methodist...

  • GBHEM Reorganizes Its Deacon Support
    Published On: February 14, 2019

    Deacons and diaconal ministers will receive support in new ways from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), The United Methodist Church’s leadership development agency. Due to the projected reduction in denominational funding from 2021 through 2025, GBHEM is not staffing the position of Director of Deacon Ministry...

  • Deadline Approaching for Ethnic In-Service Training Grant Proposals
    Published On: February 12, 2019

    Applications are now available for the annual Ethnic In-Service Training (EIST) grants administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). As the leadership development agency for The United Methodist Church, GBHEM is committed to raising up new leaders from diverse backgrounds. Funds awarded through the EIST grant...

  • Tackling Clergy Debt: Applications Open for High-Impact Clergy Scholarship
    Published On: February 7, 2019

    Many people preparing for United Methodist ordination are daunted by the high price tag associated with their education, and mounting debt can be a barrier to answering God’s call to serve. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, is...