Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference director of ministries, traveled to Nashville, TN to participate in the board meeting for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).

Photo: Rev. Rebecca Trefz (second from right) goes over materials with other members of the Board of Directors of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.  The board met last week in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo courtesy of the GBHEM Facebook page.

The board of directors of the GBHEM is composed of 22 lay and clergy United Methodists (plus one alternate). They are representative of the annual conferences in the five U.S. jurisdictions and the central conferences of The United Methodist Church. Trefz was elected to the board at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference held in Peoria, Illinois this past July.

This initial meeting, held September 13-16, Trefz described as an orientation into what members do as a board. She has been assigned to work with the Division on Ordained Ministry.

“I will be a part of conversations about candidacy process, culture of call, course of study, and more,” said Trefz. “I'm also on the Endorsing Agency sub committee so we review the applications and interview candidates seeking to be endorsed as chaplains.”

One of the highlights of the meeting, according to Trefz, was hearing the report from Africa University (AU). “They spoke about their vision of having AU alumni in leadership in all the different African countries some day. The dream is that then, if there is a conflict between the countries, these leaders already have a connection and can work things out peacefully,” said Trefz.

Another highlight Trefz reported was visiting Meharry Medical College, a historically black United Methodist college. Trefz said, “It was powerful to see our general church apportionment in action and making a difference.”

Photo: Rev. Rebecca Trefz (left) and Dr. Bruce Blumer visit during the GBHEM meeting held in Nashville.  Photo courtesy of Ebony Lincoln, director of communications, GBHEM.

Trefz will travel to Africa University in the spring for the next GBHEM Board of Directors meeting.  Dr. Bruce Blumer, GBHEM executive director of development, was also in attendance at the meeting. Blumer is a member of Embrace Church in Tea, SD and the former executive director of the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation.