2. They come to DISCOVER. They come to DISCOVER.

3. They come to BE CHALLENGED.

4. They learn to LEAD.

5. They leave… …to SERVE.

6. G od “handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church.” Ephesians 4:11-12, The Message G od “handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church.” Ephesians 4:11-12, The Message

7. The purpose of the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment is to enable the Church to recruit and educate ordained and licensed ministers and to support the annual conferences to meet increased demands for quality leadership.

8. Since 1968, the Ministerial Education Fund has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. Educating and supporting our leaders of today and tomorrow is the mission of the Ministerial Education Fund.

10. “I felt I could not deny what God was leading me to,” she said. “Soon after, the ‘call’ to attend seminary turned into a call to attend Candler specifically. I could not explain it in any other way than this is where God wanted me to be.” - Ashley Rosser “Many students wouldn’t be able to go to seminary if we were not able to receive scholarships or funds from the church, which is my case. At Wesley we are preparing disciples who are becoming pastors or leaders or theologians or professors, and they have a chance to make other disciples as well. I believe it’s also a matter of thinking about the future and the preservation of the church.” - Miguel Arenas “Without the financial support of The United Methodist Church,” he said, “I would either be in an incredible and possibly unbearable amount of debt, or simply not be able to attend seminary at all. I believe that as a future clergyperson in The United Methodist Church, I should be able to go where I am needed the most, where I can do the most good. - Nico Romeijn-Stout MEF scholarship recipients say it best…

11. The MEF is nurtured and funded by United Methodists to provide vitally needed funds for the support of 13 United Methodist seminaries. Duke University, The Theological School Methodist Theological School in Ohio Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Candler School of Theology, Emory University Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

12. MEF dollars are critically important to the life and mission of our thirteen United Methodist seminaries. “Our role is to help our students understand that there are multiple ways of viewing, multiple ways of thinking theologically, multiple ways of polity in the church. The thing to understand about the whole experience of seminary is that it’s a laboratory for ministry. And we try to draw their attention to that, every chance we get.” - Rev. Virginia “Ginny” Samuel, an associate dean at Drew Theological

13. The Ministerial Education Fund is the basic financial source for preparing and educating clergy leadership for The United Methodist Church. This fund equips annual conferences with funding for courses of study for local pastors and continuing education for all clergy. 40% of the fund reserved for theological schools is divided, based on the number of United Methodist students enrolled in candidacy for ordination and the number of graduates ordained after completing seminary. 25% is distributed among the seminaries for basic support.

14. Your support of the MINISTERIAL EDUCATION FUND is a great investment in the present and future of The United Methodist Church.

15. Encourage your local church to pay 100 percent of the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment. Pastors and teachers, evangelists and missionaries, chaplains and lay leaders are depending on your support. Indeed, the very future of The United Methodist Church depends on it too!

16. They come to DISCOVER. They come to DISCOVER.

17. They come to BE CHALLENGED. They come to BE CHALLENGED.

18. They learn to LEAD. They learn to LEAD.

19. They leave to SERVE. They leave to SERVE.

20. To learn more about the Ministerial Education Fund visit us online: www.umcgiving.org Or contact: UMC Giving United Methodist Communications P.O. Box 320 Nashville, TN 37202 615.742-5400 Dom@gbhem.org www.umcom.org