Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development

by Herbert F. Skeete and Benjamin Oliphint

The Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development presents The United Methodist Church with an unprecedented opportunity to help develop principled leaders for the church and the world. Of all the world’s Christian denominations, The United Methodist Church alone has the unique resources and depth of knowledge necessary to help guide an emerging and powerful growth in Christian congregations in a way that can shape the future of communities, regions, and nations across the globe for decades to come.

Through the fund and our unique connectional system, we will both develop leaders and dramatically strengthen the role of 775 Methodist-affiliated secondary schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools in 69 countries as a force for global stability and progress.

An integrated strategy for leveraging the denomination’s vast educational resources to promote global progress and stability will begin with a drive to raise $1.5 million in 2007. At the same time, we will put in place structures in Africa and Latin America for the fund. Structures for the other three regions – Asia, Europe, and the United States – will follow.

The three-pronged partnership approach calls for the fund to underwrite the costs of technical assistance to improve and strengthen schools, provide on-site mentoring for professional development and scholarship support for leadership development.

— Bishops F. Herbert Skeete and the late Benjamin Oliphint both served tenures as president of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

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