Eastern Mennonite Seminary shares a special relationship with The United Methodist Church (UMC) in theological education, having has been approved by the church’s church's University Senate for the training of candidates for ordination and in 2014 received the good news of renewed . In 2018 this quadrennial approval was renewed. A significant number of United Methodist students are enrolled at EMS and will seek to be ordained.EMS and are candidates pursuing ordination as elders and deacons.
The United Methodist Church maintains close contact with its students at EMS through classes in United Methodist studies and by frequent on-campus visits from United Methodist representatives such as the Harrisonburg District Superintendent, the Director of Ministerial Services leaders from the Center for Clergy Excellence of the Virginia United Methodist Conference, the Bishop of the Virginia Conference, and a variety of personnel from other conferences.
To strengthen these relationships EMS made two major moves. First, Dr. David Evans, Assistant Professor of History, Mission, Intercultural, and Interfaith Studies, is a member of the United Methodist Church. Although Evans’ teaching and scholarship focus more broadly than on United Methodist resources, he also teaches courses required by United Methodist ordination and is cognizant of United Methodist perspectives in faculty and seminary community life conversations.
Second, EMS has established and leaders from the West Virginia and other conferences.
EMS has extablished a partnership with Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, through which a significant number of in order to adequately provide needed United Methodist courses are provided to EMS students, sometimes on the Wesley campus and often on the EMS campus or online. Wesley also provides a local part-time United Methodist advisor. The United Methodist advisor and EMS deans provide liaison to Wesley, the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the Office of Ministerial Services as follows:
A. Educational and training needs of the board of ordained ministry
- Oversight or provision of courses related to United Methodist history, doctrine, polity evangelism, mission and worship;
- Support for persons preparing for ordination in the UMC;
- Training and continuing theological education for the orders of elder and deacon.
B. Relational ties with office of ministerial services of the Virginia Conference
- Develop lines of communication and support for persons seeking ordination in the UMC
- Provide linkage with Conference Board of Ordained Ministry for information and interpretation of the EMS program with UMC students.
The UM adviseradviser who has an office in the seminary building. This liason assits students to track degree requirements as laid out by sending United Methodist conferences and the Offices of Ministerial Services.
The Welsey Seminary liason, oversees or implements such activities as:
- Teaching or arranging for provision of UMC classes required by the January 27, 2011 policy approved by the United Methodist Senate;
- Relating to and mentoring UMC students;
- Contributing to a thriving UM ethos at EMS including appreciation for the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church;
- Consulting with EMS faculty and staff on issues relating to UMC students;
- Consulting with other Wesley or EMS faculty who teach UM courses.
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