United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT)
By the Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst
The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church is committed to raising up a new generation of ecumenical and interreligious leaders, and to that end they offer six different training options for those interested in ecumenical and interreligious leadership and/or relationship-building in local contexts. All these training options are explained on the bishops’
website: www.unitedmethodistbishops.org.
UMEIT Global
This is an annual training somewhere across the UM Connection at the initiative of the local bishop. Staff from the Council of Bishops (COB) go to the country and work with the resident bishop to provide a multi-day training. A grant from the Council of Bishops is available for the administration of this training. (Previous training sites include: The Philippines, Norway, Angola, Russia and Germany.).
UMEIT: USA
This is an annual training somewhere across the United States, which is held in conjunction with the National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU). Staff from the COB weave this training into the networking, worship, and training of the NWCU. Scholarships are available for first-time participants and seminary students.
UMEIT: Young Adult Network
This is a two-year training for young adults from across the Connection who commit to monthly online training with the staff of the COB. They also commit to meeting in person two times and to creating an ecumenical and/or interreligious ministry network or program in their context.
UMEIT: Plunge
This is a two-year training for young adults from across the Connection who are selected and sponsored by their resident bishops. Participants make two pilgrimages together: one to sites of the Ecumenical Movement in Europe and a second one they select themselves to a meaningful site involved in the Interreligious Movement.
UMEIT: Online
This is a self-guided, six-session, online course for any individual to engage. It covers the history and theology of the Ecumenical Movement and encourages the participant to develop a ministry program in his or her context. (A version of this same course for small groups is also available for download on the bishops’ website.)
UMEIT: Zoom
This is a monthly online gathering designed for ongoing training and connection, particularly for persons from annual conferences who are assigned to lead the ecumenical and interreligious ministries in their contexts. The half-hour training includes a brief teaching about a different subject important to ecumenical and/or interreligious relationship-building and time of prayer for unity.