Conference Boards of Higher Education

Honor an Outstanding Collegiate Minister

Named for early American Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, this award honors his call to establish a school in the vicinity of every church. “We must,” he said, “ … give the key of knowledge to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages.”

Today, the award recognizes United Methodist individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education at the local, district or annual conference level. It is awarded annually to one honoree per annual conference.

Francis Asbury Award Frequently Asked Questions:

  • United Methodist clergy or lay people, employed or volunteer, who support and encourage United Methodist collegiate ministries.
  • The honoree must:
    • Be United Methodist
    • Actively support, strengthen and promote the United Methodist church’s work in higher education ministries (schools, colleges, campus ministries, scholarships, Black College Fund, Africa University) at the annual conference, district or local church level.
    • Offer outstanding leadership, above and beyond basic responsibilities, to help bring heightened awareness to the significance of the church’s higher education ministries.
    • Participate in efforts to expand and advocate for collegiate ministry in the annual conference.

Fill the nomination form here by May 1.

No. The annual conference may honor only one United Methodist person per year.

Honorees are chosen by the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry and reported to GBHEM.

A digital copy of the certificate will be sent to the Annual Conference for printing and awarding during annual conference session. A Francis Asbury Award pin will be mailed to the person presenting the award to give to the honoree at the annual conference session.