GUIDELINES FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
New England Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
REQUIREMENTS
The following persons are required to receive a minimum of one CEU per year and at least 8 CEU’s per
quadrennium.
 Full-time local pastors who have completed the Course of Study
 Elders under appointment
 Deacons in full connection under appointment
 Provisional members under appointment
 Diaconal Ministers under appointment
 Associate Members under appointment
 Retired pastors under appointment
Clergy serving part-time are required to receive a minimum of one CEU per year and a pro-rated
number of CEUs per quadrennium. Clergy appointed during the quadrennium will also have a prorated number of CEUs for the remaining time in the quadrennium.
Persons in the above relationships involved in ongoing education (including enrollment in college, seminary,
Course of Study, D.Min. and Ph.D. programs), and clergy on Leave of Absence are not required to get a
CEU.
The quadrennium begins in January following the adjournment of General Conference.
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
A. The measuring unit shall be a Continuing Education Unit (CEU).
B. Definition of a CEU
Ten contact hours (instructional session or its equivalent) under qualified leadership. It is assumed that
programs sponsored by an agency of the general church, jurisdiction, conference, district, ecumenical, or
community service institution or covenant study groups will have qualified leadership.
 If the event does not offer a CEU, a letter from the leadership identifying the number of contact
hours will be sufficient.
 For on line continuing education, the sponsoring agency shall offer an official CEU. No more
than three (3) CEU’s a quadrennium may be completed on line.
 For professional study-travel, only trips that provide the required contact hours (lectures,
discussions under qualified leadership) are acceptable. Repeat trips to the same place will not
qualify. No more than three (3) CEU’s a quadrennium may be study-travel.
 For United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Trips, only one VIM trip per quadrennium is
allowed. One trip can count per quadrennium and will be equivalent to one (1) CEU.
 CPE may be used for continuing education for up to four (4) CEUs in a quadrennium.
 Twenty hours of reading and reflection in areas related to the practice of ministry is equivalent to
one CEU. No more than one CEU defined as reading and reflection may be credited toward the
eight for the quadrennium.
ACCOUNTABILITY
A. The instrument of accountability will be an annual report submitted to the District Superintendent at the
time of pastor’s annual review using the Clergy Continuing Education Record form. The report form
will be with the D.S. packet of annual review materials. Clergy in extension ministries and beyond the
local church report continuing education on their annual report form. A summary report will be given to
the Cabinet.
B. Specific areas for continuing education will be identified as a result of the annual evaluation by the
Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee and district superintendent as outlined in ¶421.5 of the Book of
Discipline. An annual written report from each clergyperson, describing his or her program for
continuing education, is to be submitted to the district superintendent who is to give counsel concerning
the clergyperson’s future plans for continuing education.
FUNDING FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
Local Church Responsibility
Each local church will be asked annually by the District Superintendent to describe its provision for time and
financial support of continuing education as noted in ¶351.5 of the Book of Discipline. The Board of
Ordained Ministry strongly recommends that the Continuing Education budget for a local parish include a
MINIMUM of $500 for a full time appointment.
MEF Short-Term Continuing Education Grants
The Continuing Education Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry administers the following policies
for MEF short-term continuing education grants. Application forms may be downloaded from the New
England Conference website: www.neumc.org (go to Board of Ordained Ministry forms).
1. The Continuing Education grants are available to all clergy under appointment by the New England
Conference (including full time local pastors who have completed the Course of Study, provisional
members, associate members, elders, and deacons, and clergy in retired status), and diaconal ministers
under appointment. Persons on Leave of Absence or Incapacity Leave or retired clergy may request
funds and grants will be determined on a per case basis.
2. Grants will be awarded as follows:
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The size of the grant for each continuing education program/event will be based upon the annual
salary of the applicant.
Grants will be based upon the cost of tuition, room and board only. TRAVEL is not included.
A salary level below $38,000 will be eligible for up to 50% of the costs.
A salary level above $38,001 will be eligible for up to 25% of the costs.
Those eligible will be limited to $500 per calendar year and a limit of $2,000 per quadrennium
3. If an event is canceled for which funds were received, the recipient must return the grant in full.
4. Persons receiving MEF continuing education funds must send a verification of the Continuing Education
Unit awarded to the District Superintendent. A copy of the CEU report or a letter from the sponsoring
agency is acceptable.
Rev. 4/9/11