Global Methodist Church Announces First Approved Seminaries

The Ministry and Higher Education Commission, in collaboration with its Committee on Approval, is pleased to announce the completion of the approval process for our previously recommended institutions of higher learning. The following have been approved with the status of Six Years, Three Year Provisional and Temporary Status.

Six Year Approval
Asbury Theological Seminary
Beeson Divinity School at Samford University
Oklahoma Wesleyan (for International Students Only)
Truett Theological Seminary, at Baylor University
Wesley Biblical Seminary
West Africa Theological Seminary

Three Year Provisional Approval

Ashland Theological Seminary
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Temporary Status/Approval Process to begin July 31, 2026

*United Theological Seminary

*The Committee on Approval and Ministry & Higher Education Commission looks forward to

revisiting the approval process with United Theological Seminary leadership once a new

president has been secured.

The institutions that received provisional status will be able to apply for passage of their full status at any time once the conditions needed to satisfy their full approval are met. All institutions shall be required to be reviewed after their sixth year of approval status or every seven years, in accordance with Paragraph 810.3 of the Book of Doctrines and Discipline.

We are very grateful for the patience and valuable feedback of these recommended partners through the process, and we look forward to working with each of them as approved partners given they form one of the vital formational components to the training of our clergy in the Global Methodist Church.

Clergy candidates beginning their education January 1, 2026, shall be required to utilize the invaluable partnerships of our following fully or provisionally approved educational partners. Clergy candidates may select from either a degreed program or course of study if the approved partner has one. The course requirements for deacon and elder may be found in 507.3 and 507.4 (BDD), and our educational partners have demonstrated their proficiency in having the necessary courses to meet these educational requirements.

Clergy candidates who enrolled prior to January 1, 2026 and remain enrolled may complete their education at their current institution. Beginning January 1, 2026, unenrolled clergy candidates will be required to utilize one of our approved educational partners.

The Ministry and Higher Education Commission, as well as the Committee on Approval, looks forward to working with new institutions who desire to seek approval via our process. Those institutions interested in applying may do so through the website at globalmethodist.org.