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Cuts to foreign aid, the dismantling of equity initiatives and threats to public education are jeopardizing access for students and impacting educational institutions — especially those in marginalized communities and developing regions. By investing in leadership development and scholarships, Higher Education and Ministry and the Black College Fund are restoring opportunity, strengthening theological education, and ensuring continued access to scholarships and formative leadership opportunities.
Cuts to foreign aid, the dismantling of equity initiatives and threats to public education are jeopardizing access for students and impacting educational institutions — especially those in marginalized communities and developing regions. By investing in leadership development and scholarships, Higher Education and Ministry and the Black College Fund are restoring opportunity, strengthening theological education, and ensuring continued access to scholarships and formative leadership opportunities.
Xavier University student Morgan Cebrun is pursuing pediatric care with confidence, supported by a GBHEM scholarship. Rooted in her United Methodist faith, the award eases financial burden, strengthens her academic focus, and affirms her call to serve children and underserved communities with compassion.
A new $538,310 grant is expanding United Methodist leadership formation beyond the United States. Through a groundbreaking partnership, Mary Johnston Hospital in Manila will become the first accredited United Methodist Clinical Pastoral Education hub outside the U. S., equipping clergy and lay leaders to provide skilled spiritual care in healthcare and community settings across the Philippines and the broader region.
GBHEM is investing $975,000 in Gammon Theological Seminary, spotlighting its bold path toward independent accreditation. The capacity‑building grant strengthens programs, operations, and student services while affirming confidence in Gammon’s leadership and sustaining The United Methodist Church’s only historically Black theological institution worldwide today.
God of wisdom, you call us to love you with heart, soul and mind. Bless students, teachers and leaders who seek to serve in your name. Open pathways of educational justice and opportunity and guide communities toward transformation. Amen.
Join Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball as she leads us in this Prayer for Education. Click on the three dots to share it.
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Photo courtesy of Morgan Cebrun
Morgan Cebrun is one step closer to becoming a pediatric physician assistant, thanks to a scholarship from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). The award is helping the Xavier University of Louisiana student focus on her biology and pre-med studies while easing the financial burden of higher education.
Cebrun’s calling to medicine is rooted in a desire to care for children and serve communities with limited access to health care. With her sights set on pediatric care, the scholarship provides more than tuition support—it affirms her dedication to a demanding academic path and her commitment to compassionate, hands-on service that builds trust with children and families. “I’ve always wanted to work with kids. Being a physician assistant means I can be hands-on in their care, advocate for their needs, and build trust with families,” Cebrun said.
Through its scholarship program, GBHEM invests in United Methodist students like Cebrun who are preparing for lives of leadership and service. For her, the support is both practical and deeply encouraging—helping her stay focused, motivated, and hopeful as she pursues her calling to heal and serve others.
Photo courtesy of Mary Johnston Hospital
A new global partnership is expanding access to high-quality spiritual care training through the launch of a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) site at Mary Johnston Hospital in Manila, Philippines. Approved by the boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry, the initiative will create the first certified and accredited United Methodist CPE program outside the United States, strengthening pastoral care in a clinical health setting.
With a three‑year grant of $538,310, Mary Johnston Hospital will develop an accredited CPE hub in collaboration with the Center for Integrative Pastoral Practice at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. The program will provide rigorous, accredited training for clergy and laity, integrating theological reflection with hands‑on clinical experience. Over time, the hospital plans to expand the program through regional satellite sites which will equip chaplains, counselors, and health professionals to respond to the spiritual needs of patients, families, and communities.
“When we imagined the potential to provide spiritual health to patients, staff, and communities around Mary Johnston, we also imagined the global impact this could have,” said Jeffrey Holman, director of CIPP@MTSO.
By investing in contextual, faith‑rooted pastoral education, this partnership strengthens health ministries in the Philippines while advancing the United Methodist commitment to holistic care and global leadership development.
Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
A major investment from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is helping Gammon Theological Seminary strengthen its path toward independent accreditation and long‑term sustainability. The $975,000 capacity‑building grant will support Gammon’s academic programs, operational systems, and student services over a three‑year period, reinforcing the seminary’s role in preparing leaders for The United Methodist Church.
The grant provides unrestricted funding, allowing Gammon to expand faculty and staff, upgrade infrastructure, and invest in accreditation and enrollment growth efforts. As the only historically Black theological institution in the United Methodist connection, Gammon has been restructuring and advancing toward standalone accreditation following organizational changes in recent years. Progress has already included a regional accrediting site visit and entry into additional related processes.
“What makes this grant so significant is the trust behind it,” said the Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis, Gammon president and CEO. “GBHEM looked at the work our staff is already doing in accreditation, enrollment growth, strengthening student services and said, ‘We believe in you and we’re going to invest in what you’re already doing.’”
GBHEM leaders say the grant reflects confidence in Gammon’s leadership, planning, and mission. Together, the investment and Gammon’s progress signal a renewed commitment to sustainability, innovation, and theological education that serves both church and community.
