Garrett’s Global Partnership Reimagines Theological Education Through MEF Support

September 24, 2025  | By Wendy R. Cromwell

EVANSTON, Ill. — A pioneering partnership between Garrett Evangelical-Theological Seminary and Africa University is reshaping how theological education is delivered globally, thanks to a $400,000 grant from the Ministerial Education Fund (MEF) administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).

“Investing in our United Methodist seminaries is critical to ‘develop transformational leaders for the ministry of the church’ which is one of the goals of GBHEM,” said Roland Fernandes, GBHEM’s general secretary. “I am really glad to see how Garrett Seminary was able to use this grant to create innovative programs for theological education in a global context. “

The program, which brings Africa University graduates to Garrett for advanced theological training, is designed to foster public ministry rooted in justice, contextual theology and community leadership. Through hybrid learning and cross-cultural collaboration, the initiative is challenging traditional models of theological education.

Moving Beyond Extractive Models for Seminary Education

“U.S. seminaries have long operated on an extractive model,” said Scott Ostlund, Garrett’s vice president for enrollment management. “We’re asking: how do we offer resources without assuming we hold all the wisdom?”

The partnership is built on mutual learning and respect, with African voices shaping the curriculum and direction of the program.

“Our African partners have helped us see where U.S.-centric assumptions creep in — and how to refine the program to truly serve the African church,” Ostlund said. “Why assume the U.S. church should teach African students when the churches they left are often healthier than the ones they find here?”

“Moving beyond extractive models, this exchange amplifies both institutions’ unique gifts to meet the world’s pressing needs,” said Javier A. Viera, Garrett’s president. ‘From collaborations in religion and public health to training clergy who will serve rapidly growing African parishes, we are shaping servant leaders and strengthening communities.”

Ministerial Education Fund Granting by GBHEM

Jeanette Dadzie, director of advancement and public affairs at Africa University, sees the collaboration as a strategic investment in the continent’s future.

“This collaboration is an investment in Africa University’s mission of developing leaders who are deeply rooted in their contexts yet globally equipped,” she said. “It has expanded opportunities for our scholars who, after graduating, are able to access top-notch theological training while remaining connected to Africa’s realities, which is so critical.”

The MEF funding has been instrumental in launching and sustaining the initiative.

“GBHEM didn’t just collect stories — they put over $300,000 into a project they believe could reimagine global partnership and student support,” Ostlund said. “The United Methodist Church is saying: we want to put our money where our values are.”

Dadzie echoed the significance of MEF’s role in empowering African seminary students. “The GBHEM MEF grant has been catalytic,” she said. “It ensures that African seminary students are not only supported financially but are also exposed to training that is both globally informed and contextually relevant. This investment equips future church leaders to respond faithfully to Africa’s challenges and opportunities, empowering them to serve with excellence and a deep commitment to the continent’s growth.”

Bridge Between Faith and Service

One of the program’s first-year students, Julie Sithole of Mutare, Zimbabwe, is pursuing a master of arts in public ministry at Garrett after earning degrees in international relations from Africa University. She sees the program as a bridge between faith and public service.

“The definition of my call to theological study is acutely rooted in my aspiration to address the spiritual and socio-economic glitches the African continent and the world at large are facing today through ministry,” Sithole said.

Sithole is passionate about using her education to advocate for marginalized communities and promote collaboration between governments and NGOs.

“I will not necessarily fight for Africans only but will also fight for humanity at large,” she said. “Private organizations and the government are expected to correlate since they are both serving the interests of the citizens.”

In her first month at Garrett, Sithole has already found inspiration in courses like Liberative Listening and Nurturing Faith: Ministry with Children in Uncertain Times, which she says are helping her minister effectively within African contexts.

“Garrett’s emphasis on contextual theology is equipping me to critically analyze the unique dynamics of African spirituality and societal challenges,” she said.

The United Methodist Church’s Global Mission

Dadzie emphasized the partnership is more than academic — it’s a living embodiment of The United Methodist Church’s global mission.

“This program is a living expression of the connectional spirit of The United Methodist Church,” she said. “By linking Africa University and Garrett in a shared mission, it reflects John Wesley’s vision of ‘the world as our parish.’ It models how global partnerships can work hand in hand — strengthening local contexts while fostering unity, mutual learning and a shared calling to transform the world.”

“I am deeply grateful for Africa University’s vision, and to GBHEM for the grant funding that enables our work — we are already witnessing the fruits of this investment, and the best is yet to come,” Viera said.

Ostlund says the success of the Africa University partnership could serve as a blueprint for future global collaborations.

“This grant gave us a model we could replicate in other places. That’s what feels really rich,” he said. “Our AU partners challenge us in ways that help us live into our values. Their voices are essential to the story.”