United Methodists of all geographic regions and theological beliefs agree on the important of theological education for our clergy. But how much strategic leadership and faithful stewardship do we see where we pay for our clergy-in-training to go to seminary?

Despite denominational pressure and very powerful financial incentives, only about three fifths of American United Methodist ordained-ministers-to-be choose to attend one of the UMC’s 13 official seminaries in this country.  These seminaries alone receive generous direct financial support through the apportioned offering-plate dollars sent to the denomination’s Ministerial Education Fund.