Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiMinistry and Higher Education Minutes
March 2, 2026
Present: Debra Davis, Bridget Douglas, Brian Ebel, Jane Finley, Leslie Tomlison, Dan Gildner, Bishop Kenneth Levingston, Andy Miller III, Diana Cabauatan, Margarita Todorova, Sherry Powers, Burt Palmer
Absent: Andrea Schadel, Reuben Ososo, Bonface Wanyama, Daniella Massangu Ngoy,
Staff Representative: Teresa Marcus
Meeting Opened in Prayer
Review and Approve Minutes of 2/16/26 meeting: Motion to approve, Jane Finley. Second, Dan Gildner. Motion Carried
Bishop’s Comments-Bishop Levingston calls attention to 3 John 9, encouragement to remain humble, to allow the Holy Spirit to remain first, and to let go of our need to be in control. Christ calls us to serve the Lord, and we must recognize all roles are important.
Updates from Subcommittees:
● Lay Ministry Education–Sherry
○ The CLM-PCC recommends Trinity Conference School of Ministry for a 6 year certification approval. No second needed since this comes from the committee. Motion carried unanimously.
● Committee on Approval–Brian and Bishop Levingston
○ COA would like to move that: Banyam Theological in Nigeria and Kentucky Mountain Bible College in Kentucky be invited to round 2 of the process. Motion Carries
○ COA moves that Kairos University, Christ School of Theology, and Bethel Seminary would be invited to reapply in one year. Motion Carries
○ COA moves to invite the following institutions to reapply after a six month period: Evangelical Seminary of South Africa and South India Biblical Seminary. Motion Carries
○ Proposal from COA and Courses & Curriculum sub committee. Proposal for Course of Study
Developed by a Collaborative Effort: The Committee on Approval, Courses Committee,
and the Approved Institutional Partners of the Global Methodist Church
March 2, 2026
Rationale:
The Global Methodist Church is committed to raising up clergy who are theologically grounded, spiritually mature, and practically equipped for ministry. We have multiple points of delivery for these formational and educational programs which intend to offer quality formation while also
being pragmatically oriented to the ministry candidate. In particular, three exist: degreed (M.Div, M.A., etc), course of study, and in time, the GMC School of Ministry. In order to ensure well-formed and effective clergy, clear and consistent standards for the Course of Study program are essential. Unlike accredited degree programs, whose academic and formational requirements are governed by external accrediting bodies, the Course of Study is a certificate program. While the Course of Study coursework may transfer into a degree program, it does not operate under the same formational accreditation structures. Therefore it is essential that the Global Methodist Church establish and maintain clear standards to ensure that the formation of our clergy will occur across all approved Course of Study programs. Accordingly, in collaboration with the Committee on Approval and Courses Committee of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission, along with the approved institutional partners as of the date above, we respectfully submit this proposal to the Ministry and Higher Education Commission for your consideration.
Course of Study Standards
Implementation Timeline:
Required Measurements Effective Immediately for Newly Applying (Prospective) Schools
Required Measurements Effective 7.1.2027 for Schools Approved prior to March 2026
Academic Framework:
Course of Study Standards are based upon Association of Theological
Schools Metrics
72 Total Required Hours Per Course (1/3 Faculty + 2/3 Student) GMC Stipulated 24 Minimum Faculty Hours (1/3 of Total Time) (In-person) Synchronous Online Class Meetings,
Faculty Led Seminars, Lectures, Discussions
(Asynchronous) Video, Lectures, faculty guided discussions, Synchronous Mentoring or Class Meetings
GMC Stipulated 48 Minimum Student Hours (2/3 of Total Time)s Required Readings, Written Assignments, Papers,
Reflection Journals, Fieldwork, Projects
Group Work, Presentations
Institutional Delivery:
Master Level content shall be required of all courses.
Courses may be Synchronous or Asynchronous.
Graded Courses shall be required including a grade demonstrating competency of content (or better) is
required to be applied toward ordination. Competency shall be determined by each local Board of Ministry.
Courses shall be taught by instructors with a formal tie to the institution - faculty, adjunct, or instructor.
Assessment/Examination as an agreed upon tool for objective examination by Boards of Ordained Ministry.
Seminary Partners have expressed desire to collaborate in developing a standardized content examination that Boards of Ordained Ministry may require ministry candidates. Should a candidate not achieve a satisfactory result, structured remediation may be offered to strengthen that candidate’s preparation for ministry. We wholeheartedly recommend this assessment process be referred to the Board of Ministry Cohort for collaboration with the Ministry and Higher Education Commission.
Vote to approve standards, with the striking of an assessment piece. Motion Passed.
○ Written and oral support offered by Andy Miller, Courses and Curriculum Subcommittee chair: As chair of the Courses Committee, working in coordination with the Committee on Approval, I will be voting in favor of these standards. I want to note for the record that this consensus emerged through a careful and sometimes difficult process.I have ongoing concerns
about a gradual lowering of standards across our denomination,
particularly where these standards result in reduced professor-directed instruction, which I believe can negatively affect pastoral formation. At the same time, through this committee’s work, I came to understand the differing interpretations and diverse applications of the Transitional Leadership Councils standards for Course of Study pathways. Given that context, the standards before us represent the best middle ground available at this time. While I would prefer a more robust, professor-led model if we were starting from a different place, I am satisfied with where we have arrived and support the standards as presented.
● Endorsing Ministries–Leslie
○ An invitation to go to the Endorsing Ministries upcoming meeting was received, with no commission members available to attend.
○ Dan Gildner makes a motion that the MHED pays for a member of the BOM Cohort to attend the Endorsing Ministries meeting, since no one from the MHED is available. Second, Leslie Tomlinson. Motion Carries ● 2026 GC Legislation–Burt
○ The commission continues to consider and connect with others about legislation to move the denomination forward and will remain abreast of this information as much as possible.
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