Eastern Mennonite Seminary has been shares a special relationship with The United Methodist Church (UMC) in theological education. EMS is approved by the church's UMC University Senate for the training of candidates for pursuing ordination . In 2018 this quadrennial approval was renewed. A significant number of United Methodist students are enrolled at EMS and are candidates pursuing ordination as elders and deacons. The United Methodist Church as elders and deacons. Approximately 20% of the EMS student body is composed of UM students, and dedicated scholarship aid is available for United Methodist students. EMS maintains a thriving UM ethos within its learning community, and shares the UMC’s strong commitments to peacebuilding and principles of social justice.
The UMC maintains close contact with its students at EMS through classes in United Methodist studies and by frequent on-campus visits from United Methodist UMC representatives such as the Harrisonburg District Superintendent, leaders from the Center for Clergy Excellence of the Virginia United Methodist Conference, and leaders from the West Virginia Conference and other conferences.
EMS has established a partnership with Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, in order to adequately provide needed United Methodist courses to EMS students, on the EMS campus or online. Wesley also provides a local part-time United Methodist adviser who has an office in the seminary building. This liaison assist students to track degree requirements as laid out by sending United Methodist conferences and the Offices of Ministerial Services.
The Wesley Seminary liaison, oversees or implements such activities as:
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As part of seminary field education, UM students typically serve either as licensed local pastors of UMC congregations or through internships in local UM churches as seminarians or lay members. Virginia Conference students are encouraged to complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training while in seminary, conveniently fulfilling this requirement through EMS’s own CPE program – as EMS is one of only 6 theological seminaries in the U.S. with its own fully accredited CPE program.
UM faculty at EMS make significant contributions to the seminary curriculum and learning community. Dr. David Evans, Associate Professor of History and Intercultural Studies, provides visionary teaching and leadership, and his research areas include Wesleyan-Methodist studies. Dr. Evans has taught UM history, doctrine and polity courses at EMS since 2012 and serves as the Director of Seminary Intercultural Programs. EMS also benefits from the leadership of Prof. Courtney Joyner, a former UMC deacon, who is the Director of Mentored Ministry and Instructor of Formation at EMS. These faculty members advise and mentor students preparing for ordination in the UMC. In addition to UM Studies courses, EMS regularly offers courses taught by qualified faculty in evangelism, mission, and worship. This provides essential training and continuing theological education for persons in the UMC orders of elder and deacon.