United Methodist Leaders Launch Global Six-Week
Emphasis to Strengthen Theological Education WorldwideLeaders of the United Methodist Church have announced a global six-week
initiative aimed at strengthening clergy formation and leadership development
across Africa, Europe, and the Philippines. The campaign, titled Love
Boldly, Serve Joyfully, Lead Courageously – Miracle Sunday Initiative,
places renewed focus on United Methodist theological education as a cornerstone
for the church’s future.
The effort is being led by the Endowment for Theological Education in
Africa, Europe and the Philippines, an initiative approved by the Council of
Bishops and supported across the denomination. Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of
Zimbabwe and Barbara Boigegrain, former general secretary of Wespath, have been
named co-chairs of the global emphasis.
Patrick Streiff, president of the Endowment, praised both leaders for
their long service to the church when he announced their appointments. He
talked about Bishop Nhiwatiwa's experience as a leader in the region and around
the world, and he also talked about Boigegrain's role in raising more than $20
million for the Central Conference Pension Fund while she was at Wespath.
Church leaders say the initiative reflects a growing recognition that
United Methodist theological education must be strengthened outside the United
States to meet the realities faced by congregations in diverse and often
challenging contexts.
Around 30,000 United Methodist churches around the world will take part
in a planned season of worship, learning, service, and giving from April 12 to
May 17, 2026. The six-week focus will end with a global Miracle Sunday offering
on May 17, 2026.
During the campaign, congregations will receive worship resources,
small-group studies, and mission tools designed to deepen discipleship and
explore what it means to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
Church leaders say this shared experience is intended to unite United
Methodists across continents around a common purpose rooted in United Methodist
theological education.
At the heart of the initiative is an ambitious goal: to endow 500
theological scholarships in perpetuity for emerging clergy leaders in Africa,
Europe, and the Philippines. The need is significant. Church data shows that
fewer than 5% of pastors outside the United States hold a master’s degree in
theology, compared with more than 71% of pastors in the U.S.
By investing in scholarships, the denomination aims to equip a new
generation of pastors with rigorous academic training and practical leadership
skills. Supporters say expanding access to United Methodist theological
education will strengthen churches serving in areas affected by poverty,
conflict, and social upheaval.
Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and Barbara Boigegrain wrote a message together
about a terrible event that happened in December 2024, when three United
Methodists were killed in Munga Dosa, Nigeria. Local leaders like Bishop Ande
Emmanuel and Rev. Eli Sule Yakku stepped up to help families who were grieving
and keep the community stable.
Both leaders were formed at the United Methodist Banyam Theological
Seminary in Nigeria, where theological study is closely integrated with
leadership training. According to the co-chairs, this preparation demonstrates
how United Methodist theological education can shape leaders capable of guiding
communities through moments of profound crisis.
The project fits with the church's bigger goal of making disciples of
Jesus Christ who are filled with the Holy Spirit and able to love boldly, serve
joyfully, and lead bravely. The six-week focus, according to the organizers,
encourages everyone in the church to live out that vision through prayer,
learning, and giving.
On Miracle Sunday, churchgoers will be asked to give to the scholarship
endowment. The goal is that a single, coordinated offering will have a lasting
effect on generations of church leaders.
From war-torn regions such as Ukraine to rural and urban communities
across the Global South, United Methodist pastors continue to serve in
demanding circumstances. Church leaders believe sustained investment in United
Methodist theological education is essential to ensure that clergy are
spiritually grounded, theologically equipped, and resilient in the face of
hardship.
The denomination wants to give out 500 scholarships every year to help
more than 500 new leaders, both men and women, who are ready to serve where the
need is greatest. This is a big step toward a stronger, more globally connected
church.
Aldo Read ;- Education Excellence Magazine for more information