Denominational Supports

Find below denominational contacts concerning ethnic ministries, especially those that cater to seminary students. Denominations are listed in alphabetical order. If you know of other denominational offices that should be included on this list or find missing or incomplete information, let us know in the comments.

Jump to:

• The Episcopal Church
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America / ELCA
• Presbyterian Church (USA) / PC(USA)
• Unitarian Universalist Association / UUA
• United Church of Christ / UCC
• United Methodist Church / UMC

---

The Episcopal Church

Ethnic Ministries Office

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Yes
Seminary Scholarships: Unknown
Seminarians Conference: Yes

Office puts on annual/biannual Seminarians of Color conference. There are dedicated contacts for Latino/Hispanic, Black, Indigenous, and Asiamerica ministries, click the picture or logo above for more information. Contact Ethnic Ministries Associate Angie Cabanan for more information on the conference.

---

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America / ELCA

Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries Office

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Yes
Seminary Scholarships: Unknown
Seminarians Conference: Unknown

"The Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries team works within the ELCA toward the goal of full partnership and participation of African Descent, American Indian and Alaska Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander and Latino people in the life of this church. This is done in partnership, together with leaders throughout the church, churchwide ministries staff, regions, synods, congregations, agencies, and institutions. Each ethnic-specific community has developed a mission strategy unique to their needs and aspirations. Each ethnic-specific ministry program director works in partnership with their community’s rostered and lay leaders and ethnic associations."

---

Presbyterian Church (USA) / PC(USA)

Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries Office

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Yes
Seminary Scholarships: Yes
Seminarians Conference: Yes

"In Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, we engage the Church in its mission to become more diverse and inclusive of racial, ethnic, cultural and language groups, and we equip women for leadership in all ministries of the Church. We are blessed to see a vision of Pentecost every day. There are Presbyterian Mission Agency offices supporting African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino-a, Korean, Middle Eastern, Native American and African Intercultural ministries. The people of color and new immigrant worshiping communities that we support regularly gather together, constructing a people of color identity that stems from a common history, heritage and language."

The Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries office holds an annual Seminarians of Color conference. The Denomination also has scholarships available for attending Presbyterian Seminaries with a focus on women and ethnic minorities.

---

Unitarian Universalist Association / UUA

Diversity of Ministry Initiative

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Unknown

Seminary Scholarships: Unknown

Seminarians Conference: Unknown

"The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Seminarians of Color group serves as a networking and support opportunity for seminarians who identify as African, Caribbean, Native/American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/o and Hispanic, Middle Eastern/Arab, Multiracial and Multiethnic Unitarian Universalists.

Each month during the academic year, we come together by conference call in order to share and support our lives as we navigate the road that leads to becoming ordained ministers in the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations."

For more information contact multicultural@uua.org.

---

United Church of Christ / UCC

Ministry Education Scholarships

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Unknown

Seminary Scholarships: Yes

Seminarians Conference: Unknown

Office offers several scholarships for seminarians, including specific scholarships for African American, Latino/a, and Racial and Ethnic theology students.

---

The United Methodist Church / UMC

General Board of Higher Education in Ministry

Dedicated Ethnic Contacts: Unknown

Seminary Scholarships: No

Seminarians Conference: Unknown

"We are GBHEM, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. As The United Methodist Church’s leadership development center, we nurture and resource lay and clergy leaders around the world. We help people discover, claim and flourish in their callings. We stand with them, connecting them with what they need to be principled Christian leaders who seek to better the world."

"GBHEM’s Division of Ordained Ministry provides specialized theological education programs that train pastors who serve The United Methodist Church in specific environments. The goals of these programs are to help foster diversity within the church and to equip pastors to best serve the communities around them."

Specialized Theological Education Centers:

Hispanic Latino/a: Two

Asian American: One

Multi-Ethnic: One

Native American: One (in development)

***

Are we missing information? Know of another denominational resource? Let us know in the comments below!