Standards & Guidelines for Use of CEUs

Task and Theology of Continuing Education

Education has been characteristic of the Methodist movement form the beginning and continues to be vital for effective ministry. The experiences of God’s love give us impetus to explore new information, to gain a better understanding, and to communicate more skillfully with the world. The image of the church that demonstrates this is that of a pilgrim who both experiences and yet continually searches for the mysteries of God. In fear and trembling we strive to learn, discover, and experience the appropriate style, information, experience, and skills for sharing the good news of God. For clergy, continuing education is to discover one’s God-given potential and develop and enjoy it to its fullest for empowering the awareness and development of the God-given potential of others.

Clergy are learners first (discipline), then teachers (sharing wisdom), and ongoing decision makers (exercising freedom and power). This is a circular reality rather than a linear model. Clergy are lifelong learners and adult educators.

The United Methodist Guidelines: The Board of Ordained Ministry Handbook Guidelines for Continuing Education: Chapter 21 (, 209KB).

Standards and Guidelines for Use of CEUs in Church Systems

The Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry (SACEM), an ecumenical organization working for the promotion and support of continuing education for ministry, provides these guidelines for awarding Continuing Education Units. The United Methodist Church is a member of SACEM.

The Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry Guidelines(, 133KB).

Sample CEU Certificate

This is an example of what a certificate can look like and the objects that need to be on a certificate.

 Sample certificate (, 40KB).