Published on March 17, 2023 by Kristen Padilla  
Global Methodist Church Logo Stacked

The Global Methodist Church (GMC) announced on March 15 that Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School is among the first group of schools to be approved as one of its recommended educational institutions for the completion of educational requirements by candidates for ordination.

“We are honored to be serving our brothers and sisters in the Global Methodist Church in this way, and we pledge to do all we can to support the future of its pastoral and congregational ministries,” said Douglas A. Sweeney, dean of Beeson Divinity.

According to Keith Boyette, the Global Methodist's transitional connectional officer, "The GMC was formed in 2022 after efforts to resolve decades of conflict in The United Methodist Church failed.” The six seminaries it approved had to demonstrate institutional integrity, financial health and alignment with the theological and ethical principles of the GMC.

In 2021, Beeson added a Certificate of Wesleyan Studies as an option for Wesleyan students in the Master of Divinity program. This program satisfies educational requirements stipulated by the GMC and prepares Methodist students for life and ministry in their churches.

Michael Pasquarello III, Beeson’s Methodist Chair of Divinity and director of the Wesleyan Studies certificate program, said this recognition was good for Beeson.

“Beeson Divinity School is committed to welcoming students from churches of the Wesleyan tradition,” Pasquarello said. “We are thankful at this time for the privilege of partnering with the Global Methodist Church in preparing women and men for the joy of spreading scriptural holiness throughout the world.”

Read GMC’s full release.

Learn more about preparing for ministry as a Methodist.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.