General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

What General Board of Higher Education and Ministry does

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is the official leadership-development agency of The United Methodist Church, legally organized as a nonprofit denominational board headquartered at 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, with a staff of 101-250. It operates the full pipeline connecting the UMC and the academy: vocational discernment programs (Exploration), the five-year Course of Study for local pastors, Licensing Schools, seminary and undergraduate scholarships, chaplain endorsement via the United Methodist Endorsing Agency (UMEA), and institutional support for more than 1,000 UM-related schools, colleges, and universities worldwide, including 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities sustained by the Black College Fund ($6.4 million in 2024).

GBHEM's core products are programmatic rather than technology-based. There is no proprietary software platform; the technology footprint is limited to online application portals (methodist.smapply.io), the gbhem.org website, and digital resource libraries such as the Board of Ordained Ministry Library. Global reach is delivered through 7 Regional LEAD Hubs in Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Germany, Mozambique, the Philippines, and South Korea, plus partnerships with IAMSCU and five regional Methodist educational associations (AAMIHE, APAMEI, MGEFLD, ALAIME, NAAMSCU). In 2024 it awarded $3.7 million in scholarships to 1,895 students and endorsed over 500 clergy for specialized ministries.

The business model is a nonprofit, donation- and apportionment-funded agency. Primary revenue comes from UMC general church apportionments and special Sunday offerings (notably World Communion Sunday, which funds the EIST Grant), supplemented by individual donations, planned giving, stock gifts, and IRA charitable rollovers (EIN 62-0476239). Programs are free to participants; there are no commercial pricing tiers. Governance is exercised through the UMC General Conference, and operational leadership has been unified under General Secretary Roland Fernandes since July 2024, who concurrently leads the General Board of Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Name

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

Legal name

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church

Website

https://gbhem.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GBHEM is the official higher-education and ministry formation agency of The United Methodist Church, funding scholarships, theological training, chaplain endorsement, and institutional support for 1,000+ UM-related schools and 11 HBCUs globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Ministry Leadership

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based & Religious-Affiliated HBCUs (EDAHAMAG), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Clergy formation
• Seminary scholarships
• Chaplaincy endorsement
• Higher education leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Church Apportionments: Primary funding from The United Methodist Church's general church budget, allocated through apportionments paid by annual conferences. The agency is funded through the church's general budget.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donors, churches, and conferences contribute through the 'Ways to Give' program including online giving, phone donations, mail-in checks, planned giving, gifts of stock, and IRA charitable rollovers. EIN: 62-0476239.
3. Special Sunday Offerings: The Ethnic In-Service Training (EIST) Grant is funded from World Communion Sunday offerings. The General Conference allocates portions of these special Sunday offerings to GBHEM for ethnic leadership development.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GBHEM is the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, providing scholarships, theological education, clergy formation, chaplaincy endorsement, and institutional support for United Methodist-related educational institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It administers the Course of Study program, Black College Fund, Exploration retreats, EIST grants, LEAD Hubs, and ordination/licensing pathways for clergy candidates across global Methodist connections.

Product overview

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include the Scholarships Program (awarding approximately $4 million annually), the Course of Study (a five-year training program for local pastors), the Black College Fund (supporting HBCUs), and the United Methodist Endorsing Agency (UMEA) for chaplaincy endorsement. Additional programs include Exploration vocational discernment retreats, Ethnic In-Service Training (EIST) Grants, Regional LEAD Hubs for international leadership development, Licensing School training, a Board of Ordained Ministry Library of resources, and the International GRASP scholarship program. These programs serve students, clergy candidates, ordained ministers, and educational institutions worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarships Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded $3.7 million in scholarships to 1,895 students in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council of Bishops of The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025Four bishops participated in the University Senate and NAAMSCU joint meeting. The Council's Ecumenical Office coordinates with GBHEM/Global Ministries to strengthen relationships with autonomous affiliated sister churches.
• Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 202586 participants representing 40 partners attended the Latin America and Caribbean Mission Consultation. CIEMAL is a key pan-Methodist partner for regional collaboration and mission work.
• Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025MCCA participated in the Panama mission consultation representing Methodist churches across the Caribbean. Bishop Antonio Miguel Trottman Migar served as co-host.
• International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network connecting Methodist-related educational institutions. GBHEM staff including Dr. Amos Nascimento serve on IAMSCU leadership. The association coordinates international educational initiatives and the Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN).
• Africa Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education (AAMIHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association representing Methodist higher education institutions across Africa. Partners with GBHEM on theological education, leadership development, and the Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF).
• Asia Pacific Association of Methodist Educational Institutions (APAMEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association for Methodist educational institutions in Asia Pacific. GBHEM participates in APAMEI conferences and supports programs through Regional LEAD Hubs including Philippines and South Korea.
• Methodist Theological Schools in Europe (MGEFLD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association of Methodist theological schools in Europe. GBHEM maintains connections through this body for theological education coordination and ecumenical engagement.
• Latin American Association of Methodist Educational Institutions (ALAIME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association representing Methodist educational institutions in Latin America. GBHEM engages through mission consultations, CCTEF grants, and the Latin American LEAD Hub in Argentina.
• North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation representing UM-related educational institutions in North America. GBHEM co-convenes annual joint meetings with the University Senate to address UM identity, academic excellence, and social justice in higher education.
• World Methodist Council - Education CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Amos Nascimento serves on the Education Committee of the World Methodist Council, coordinating global Methodist educational initiatives and ecumenical relationships.
• World Council of Churches - Commission on Education and Ecumenical FormationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Amos Nascimento represents GBHEM on this commission, fostering ecumenical engagement and global educational partnerships beyond the Methodist tradition.
• United Methodist Church Annual ConferencescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 100 annual conferences serve as the primary delivery channel for GBHEM programs. Bishops, district superintendents, and Boards of Ordained Ministry administer candidacy, licensing, and ordination processes in coordination with GBHEM.
• University Senate of The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBHEM's Director of Education serves as Executive Secretary of the University Senate, which establishes standards and guidelines for UM-related educational institutions and approves non-UM theological schools.
• EIIA (Education and Institutional Insurance Alliance)minorOthersKaren Ward, Chief Administrative Officer, represents The United Methodist Church on the board of EIIA, a nonprofit insurance consortium serving private, faith-inspired colleges and universities.
• Church World ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoland Fernandes previously served as a long-time board member, indicating historical partnership in humanitarian and refugee services.
• Regional LEAD Hubs PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hubs for Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD Hubs) operate in Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Germany, Mozambique, Philippines, and South Korea. These local partnerships address contextual needs from chaplaincy to food safety education.
• Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBHEM administers CCTEF grants supporting theological education in Central Conferences (Africa, Europe, Philippines). This program is part of the global education initiatives including GRASP scholarships.
• Wespath Benefits and InvestmentsminorOthersAdministers the Chaplain's Supplemental Pension Grant Fund in coordination with UMEA. This fund provides limited retirement benefits to endorsed clergy not eligible for employer-based pensions.
• General Conference of The United Methodist ChurchcoreOthersThe governing body that establishes policies including the Chaplain's Supplemental Pension Grant Fund and allocates World Communion Sunday offerings to GBHEM for ethnic leadership development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Methodist Council: The World Methodist Council is the global Methodist umbrella organization with which GBHEM partners directly (Amos Nascimento serves on its Education Committee). Comparable peer in coordinating global Methodist education, ministerial standards, and ecumenical engagement.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: TMCF provides scholarships, capacity-building, and programming to HBCUs and their students, with a similar scholar-support model to GBHEM's scholarship and BCF programs. Direct overlap on HBCU student funding and institutional support.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): UNCF is the leading nonprofit that supports HBCUs through scholarships, capacity building, and institutional grants. Like GBHEM's Black College Fund, UNCF channels philanthropic and institutional support to HBCU students and institutions, making it a direct functional peer in HBCU scholarship administration.
• Association of Theological Schools (ATS): ATS is the accrediting body for theological schools in the U.S. and Canada. Comparable to GBHEM's University Senate role in setting standards for UM-related institutions and accrediting theological schools.
• In Trust Center for Theological Schools: In Trust supports theological schools and seminaries through governance, leadership, and financial sustainability programs. Closely comparable to GBHEM's Course of Study, seminary support, and theological education oversight functions.
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Theological Education: PC(USA) operates a parallel denominational structure that funds theological education, seminary support, and ministerial formation. Closely comparable to GBHEM's ministerial formation and seminary scholarship work within another mainline denomination.

Emerging players

• The Fund for Theological Education (now In Trust): Originally a separate foundation encouraging vocations and supporting theological students, the Fund for Theological Education merged into In Trust. Provides comparable vocational discernment programming (similar to GBHEM's Exploration retreats) and leadership grants.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): HACU advocates for Hispanic-serving institutions and provides capacity-building support. Comparable to GBHEM's role supporting underrepresented-serving institutions (HBCUs and ethnic ministry programs) through institutional grants and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Churches: NCC is a broad ecumenical body that coordinates Christian education, ministry formation, and interfaith initiatives across denominations. GBHEM participates through the World Council of Churches' Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation, making NCC a thematically comparable peer.
• American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U): AAC&U is a leading higher education association advancing liberal education, equity, and quality across U.S. institutions. Broader than GBHEM but intersects with GBHEM's University Senate standards-setting and institutional oversight functions.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gbhem
• Facebookfacebook.com/gbhem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about General Board of Higher Education and Ministry