Support UM News on World Press Freedom Day: Give to help sustain and expand the storytelling capacity of UM News. Your donation today will transform information into inspiration and ensure we can continue sharing stories of God’s work in the world through The UMC. Help us reach our $10,000 goal and keep this vital ministry fair, faithful, trusted and free for all!

University Senate members, trustees elected

Delegates to the top legislative assembly of The United Methodist Church elected four people to the organization that determines the relationship of academic and theological institutions to the denomination.

They elected two chief executive officers of United Methodist-related educational institutions and two who hold positions relevant to academic or financial affairs to the University Senate.

The University Senate, established in 1882, is one of the oldest accrediting bodies in the country. Its mission was to ensure that schools, colleges and universities related to the church were worthy of carrying the denomination's name. In recent years, regional bodies have accredited academic institutions, and the senate has focused more on how institutions are related to The United Methodist Church.

The 25-member body of professionals in higher education has responsibility for supporting the development of institutions whose aims are to address significant educational, cultural, societal and human issues in a manner reflecting the values held in common by the institutions and The United Methodist Church.

Elected to a four-year term were:

  • Maxine Clark Beach, vice president and dean of Drew Theological School, Madison, N.J.
  • David L. Beckley, president of Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss.
  • Charlene Black, retired university president and academic vice president at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga.
  • The Rev. Maxie Dunnam, former president of Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, Ky.

The senators are from five electing bodies, including the National Association of Schools and Colleges and Universities of the denomination, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, General Conference, Council of Bishops and the University Senate.

John Street Church trustees

Delegates also elected eight people to serve on the board of trustees for historic John Street United Methodist Church, New York, the oldest continuous United Methodist church in the United States. The church is being restored to coincide with the 250th anniversary of America's oldest Methodist Society in 2016.

Elected to serve for the 2009-2012 period are Jay Cardwell, James Hohenstein, Robert Holmes, Rebecca Hunt, James Kibler, New York Area Bishop Jeremiah Park, Ray Rogers and Alan Stapler.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Linda Green, e-mail: [email protected].

Phone calls can be made to the General Conference Newsroom in Fort Worth, Texas, at (817) 698-4405(817) 698-4405 until May 3. Afterward, call United Methodist News Service in Nashville, Tenn., at (615) 742-5470(615) 742-5470.

Related Articles

General Conference headlines

Commission proposes changes in General Conference

University Senate investigates seminary president's abrupt departure

Resources

General Conference 2008

University Senate

The University Senate (definition)

General Council on Finance and Administration

You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Human Sexuality
The Rev. Izzy Alvaran (right) and others pray together on May 1 after the 2024 United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing” gay clergy — a prohibition that dated to 1984. Alvaran is on the staff of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which has unveiled a new strategic plan after success at last year’s General Conference. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates aim to build on 2024 gains

Reconciling Ministries Network, after success at last year’s General Conference, hopes to help the emerging United Methodist Church live into a more inclusive future.
Social Concerns
An instructor and student share a teaching microscope at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, in 2017. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

USAID freeze strikes Africa University

United Methodist-related Africa University is among the institutions struggling as employees with jobs funded by the United States Agency for International Development stop getting paychecks.
Theology and Education
Graphic by Taylor W Burton Edwards based on The 2020/2024 Book of Discipline, Copyright 2024, United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.

Ask The UMC: Part 1, Local churches, annual conferences, and general agencies

Some are smaller, and some are bigger, but changes have come in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline for local churches, annual conferences, and general agencies.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved