Ministerial Education Fund FAQ

Students study in the library at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in Nanjing, China.
Students study in the library at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in Nanjing, China.

What is the Ministerial Education Fund?
The Ministerial Education Fund is one of seven apportioned funds of The United Methodist Church. The Ministerial Education Fund is at the heart of preparing people for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The 13 United Methodist seminaries help students to discover their calling through challenging curriculum. The Ministerial Education Fund enables the church to increase financial support for recruiting and educating ordained and diaconal ministers and equipping annual conferences to meet increased demands.

How does The United Methodist Church distribute the Ministerial Education Fund receipts?
Of the total money raised in each annual conference, the annual conference retains 25 percent to use in its program of ministerial education as approved by the annual conference and administered through its Board of Ordained Ministry.

The conference treasurer remits the remaining 75 percent to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). The GCFA treasurer distributes that portion to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry for ministerial education and fund administration. It is distributed as follows:

  • At least 75 percent of the receipts goes to the theological schools of The United Methodist Church on a formula established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Ministerial Education Funds allocated to United Methodist theological schools support United Methodist scholarships and faculty/staff salaries and benefits for those who prepare United Methodist students.
  • The remaining portion of the receipts provides supplemental distributions to the theological schools and assists the board in ministerial enlistment and development.

What theological schools does the Ministerial Education Fund support?

Boston University School of Theology
Boston, MA
www.bu.edu/sth

Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Atlanta, GA
candler.emory.edu

Claremont School of Theology
Claremont, CA
www.cst.edu

Drew Theological School
Madison, NJ
www.drew.edu/theological

Duke Divinity School 
Durham, NC
divinity.duke.edu

Gammon Theological Seminary
Atlanta, GA
www.gammon-itc.org/

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Evanston, IL 
www.garrett.edu

Iliff School of Theology
Denver, CO
www.iliff.edu

Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Delaware, OH
www.mtso.edu

Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
www.smu.edu/perkins

Saint Paul School of Theology
Kansas City, MO
www.spst.edu

United Theological Seminary
Dayton, OH
www.united.edu

Wesley Theological Seminary
Washington, DC
www.wesleysem.edu

Can I give to the Ministerial Education Fund online?
You cannot give online to the Ministerial Education Fund. We hope to offer online giving to the apportioned funds in the future. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment at 100%.

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