Specialized Theological Education
Specialized Theological Education
GBHEM’s Division of Ordained Ministry provides specialized theological education programs that train pastors who serve The United Methodist Church in specific environments. The goals of these programs are to help foster diversity within the church and to equip pastors to best serve the communities around them.
Training Opportunities for Hispanic and Latino Pastors
There are two training centers available for Hispanic and Latino Pastors in the United States: Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois and Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. Through these sites, resources are concentrated to prepare, equip and form our clergy to work with a diverse community. Both schools offer English and Spanish licensing schools for pastors who are limited in English.
In conjunction with the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry, the Division of Ordained Ministry offers seven Spanish-language Module III workshops for Hispanic and Latino pastors:
- Brief History of the Methodist Movement
- Political Structure and Mission of The United Methodist Church
- Methodist Theology and Doctrine
- Liturgy and The Sacraments
- Orientation for Hispanic-Latino/a Immigrant Pastors
- Pastoral Care and Attention
- Mentoring Hispanic-Latino/a Leadership
Additional Specialized Education Available Through Ethnic Centers
There are four United Methodist Ethnic Centers that offer specialized theological training:
- The Center for Pacific and Asian-American Ministries at Claremont School of Theology
- The Hispanic/Latin@ Program at the Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
- The Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry
- The National UM Native American Center in California (currently under development)
These centers are designed for the recruitment, training and retention of diverse United Methodist people, both male and female, in leadership positions at every level of the church and its ministry.
The Specialized Theological Education program also provides support for Hispanic-Latino/a pastors who need to complete higher education and/or continue on to graduate school. This is done in partnership with Universidad Biblica Latinoamericana (UBL) de Costa Rica.
We also provide training in Latin America for the formation of clergy. We are collaborating with General Board of Global Ministries and Duke Divinity School to offer Course of Study in El Salvador.
Additionally, GBHEM works with the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional Metodista Primitiva de Guatemala and in Honduras to provide advance course of study programs to equip local pastors. Training is available in Colombia and Nicaragua as well.
