Meet the Scholars: Expanding Education to Protect At-Risk Widows
April 2, 2020
As an expert in pastoral care and counseling, Rev. Mwepu Dikonzo said he felt an “obligation” to continue his education so that he might be better equipped to help his community. Where he lives in the Kamina region of the Democratic Republic of Congo – and throughout many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa – dangerous widow
GBHEM Loans & Scholarships to Offer Financial Relief Measures
March 26, 2020
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) recognizes that the coronavirus pandemic will cause financial hardship for many graduate and undergraduate students. In response to the economic impact of the global pandemic, the GBHEM Office of Loans and Scholarships has made some important updates to its policies. New 2020 guidelines – including a
University Senate Approves Distance Learning as Virus-Prevention Measure
March 18, 2020
Last week, the United Methodist University Senate executive committee met in an emergency session to address the unique strain placed on higher education institutions by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The committee voted to create official senate support for the nationwide efforts to clear campuses and slow the spread of the virus by limiting
Burundi Celebrates Unity with First Course of Study Graduation
March 13, 2020
Joyful singing filled the air in Gitega, Burundi on Saturday, Feb. 29 as 192 pastors graduated from the country’s first Course of Study program. It was a day of celebration, not only for the pastors, but for the entire Burundi Annual Conference, which is recovering after more than a decade of strife. “Within the past
GBHEM Moves to Remote Work in Response to COVID-19
March 12, 2020
Update March 30, 2020: In accordance with the revised federal guidelines for social distancing, GBHEM will remain on a remote-work model through May 1, 2020. There may still be limited exceptions for essential functions. Connect with GBHEM staff here and explore our E-Resources page for additional online tools and guidance. Update March 22, 2020: GBHEM
Remembering Africa University Visionary John Wesley Z. Kurewa
February 25, 2020
Rev. Dr. John Wesley Z. Kurewa was a champion for Africa University and a leading voice in its founding. With his passing on Feb. 15, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) has lost a valued member of our higher education family. Many GBHEM staff worked closely with Kurewa on the planning and
College Credit Now Available for Local Pastors’ Course of Study
February 18, 2020
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is excited to announce a series of new partnerships that will allow licensed local pastors to earn college credit for the Course of Study training program. Beginning this spring, GBHEM and Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, will collaborate to provide Course of Study credit for women
In Memoriam: Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Scott-Joiner
February 12, 2020
On Jan. 11, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) said goodbye to board member and friend, Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Scott-Joiner. She passed away at the age of 57 in St. Louis, Missouri. Scott-Joiner was appointed to the GBHEM Board of Directors in 2017 and served as chair of the Administrative Matters
Conferences May Contract GBHEM for Educational Fund Management
February 6, 2020
In an effort to further serve students and higher education partners, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) Office of Loans and Scholarships now offers fund administration services to annual conferences. This includes oversight of the scholarship application and allocation processes for conference-based scholarships. The North Carolina Conference of the UMC (NCCUMC) was
Finding a Halo of Possibility
January 23, 2020
Friends, A halo of possibility is always right beside us. Dr. Stuart Kauffman, a theoretical biologist and complex systems researcher, believes that alongside the other general laws of physics should be something he calls the “Adjacent Possible Theory.” The idea of the “adjacent possible” suggests that at any given moment there is a space around