What churches should know about Miracle Sunday

Key points:

• United Methodists around the globe are preparing for Miracle Sunday on May 17.
• The one-time worldwide offering will raise funds for the Endowment for Theological Education.
• The endowment intends to use the money to support 500 scholarships for United Methodists preparing to serve as pastors in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

John Wesley made education a core commitment of his Methodist movement going back to its earliest days.

In 1748, just a decade after his heart-warming spiritual awakening, Wesley established the still-thriving Kingswood School to provide high-quality education to the children of coal miners, as well as adults.

So it makes sense that as the people called Methodist “spread scriptural holiness over the land,” they planted not only churches but also schools for all ages. Those campuses eventually came to include United Methodist seminaries and theological schools to educate clergy around the globe.

But ensuring would-be pastors can pay for their education has long been a challenge — especially in Africa, the Philippines and parts of Europe. While 71% of United Methodist clergy in the U.S. have a master’s degree or higher in theology, less than 5% of clergy in Africa, Europe and the Philippines can say the same.

That’s where Miracle Sunday comes in. The one-time offering is scheduled to take place in the denomination’s more than 30,000 congregations on May 17, the final Sunday of this year’s Easter season. The offering will raise funds for the Endowment for Theological Education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

To help prepare for Miracle Sunday, United Methodist News spoke to the co-chairs who volunteered to lead the initiative. They are Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, who retired last year after leading the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area for more than 20 years, and Barbara Boigegrain, who retired in 2021 after 27 years as top executive of Wespath Benefits and Investments.

Here are their answers to frequently asked questions about the event, shortened and edited for clarity.

What is the goal of Miracle Sunday?

The goal of the Miracle Sunday one-time offering on May 17 is to help permanently endow scholarships enabling 500 students each year to prepare for ordained ministry in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

Nhiwatiwa said students approved for scholarships must attend United Methodist-approved theological institutions. These include more than 20 United Methodist-related schools located in Africa, Europe and the Philippines, as well as approved partner institutions that meet United Methodist standards.

“Theological schools exist in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Burundi, Sierra Leone and Liberia,” said Nhiwatiwa, who was one of the pioneering professors at United Methodist-related Africa University when it first began offering classes in 1992.

“Africa University opens its doors to all prospective students from throughout Africa. The presence of theological schools in these countries ensures some sense of a contextual approach to theological study.”

Why did you volunteer to serve as co-chairs?

Nhiwatiwa said he has witnessed firsthand how theological education transforms the church.

“In Africa, the church is growing rapidly, yet trained leaders are still few and far between,” he said. “Formal theological education is pivotal to the present and future ministry of the church in Africa. Miracle Sunday is a concrete way to match the vitality of the global church with the theological grounding it needs to flourish faithfully.”

Boigegrain sees the Endowment for Theological Education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines as an important example of The United Methodist Church’s connection in action.

“We are a part of one church and strengthening one segment strengthens us all,” she said. “Conversely, when one part of the body lacks access to formation and education, the whole church is diminished. Miracle Sunday invites us not only to give generously but to invest wisely in the future leadership of our denomination.”

Why is it so important for United Methodist clergy to have a theological education?

The United Methodist Church is a learning community, Nhiwatiwa said.

“What John Wesley did when he said that he had combined the two — faith and reason — was to embrace education for the Methodists without qualms,” he said.

“Theological education charts the path of best practice in the way the ministers interpret the Scripture and provide pastoral guidance.”

Boigegrain added that theological education gives clergy the tools to navigate the world’s complex realities including poverty, migration, conflict, secularization, interfaith relationships and rapid social change.

“Educated clergy strengthen disciples’ faith and witness by grounding passion for mission in theological reflection,” she said.

What kind of inequities do you see in the accessibility of theological education?

“In most cases, students who opt for ordained ministry in Africa, Europe and the Philippines come from families and communities with limited financial resources,” Nhiwatiwa said. “Without financial aid, these potential students could not proceed with their education.

“This is a different story with theological students in the United States who have access to loans and a variety of scholarships. In Africa, the Philippines and Europe, the inequality is stark.”

This effort takes inspiration from 1 Chronicles 29, in which King David begins to collect offering for the building of the temple. What lessons does this Scripture passage offer?

“The passage teaches us that faith-filled generosity is an act of worship, and that shared sacrifice builds something far greater than any individual could accomplish alone,” Boigegrain said. “We are not merely funding education; we are participating in God’s future for the Church.”

Nhiwatiwa noted that according to “Africa Bible Commentary,” the free-will offering detailed in 1 Chronicles is similar to a practice used by many churches in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Whenever a congregation has a major expense, the church organizes a “matondo,” which means thanksgiving. On the appointed day, worshippers bring their free-will gifts with hearts full of thanksgiving.

“Other cultures could apply such terms in their context,” Nhiwatiwa said.

“The bottom line is that The United Methodist Church is calling the people to freely participate in the ‘matondo’ called the Miracle Sunday.”

How does the Miracle Sunday offering fit with the denomination’s new vision?

“The clarion call embedded in the new vision is to love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously,” Nhiwatiwa said. “Opening doors for the training of the clergy among the disadvantaged communities is one way of loving boldly, serving joyfully and leading courageously. It is a statement of living both in the now and the future.”

Boigegrain added that Miracle Sunday is a wonderful opportunity during this critical season of defining the direction and impact of The United Methodist Church.

“Just imagine 30,000 congregations acting in unison toward a significant mission goal as a very tangible expression of the unity and impact of our worldwide United Methodist witness,” she said. “We would be United Methodists doing what we do best: acting caringly and generously to further God’s mission in the world.”

Miracle Sunday comes as the denomination is starting to rebuild after a season of internal strife and church disaffiliations. Both Nhiwatiwa and Boigegrain stressed that this offering is a way to help the denomination chart a new future.

“Trained clergy will continue to be a vital component for a vibrant church,” Nhiwatiwa said. “The United Methodist Church has taken a decisive option to move on with vitality.”

Boigegrain added that Miracle Sunday is more than a fundraising moment. It’s a statement of who United Methodists are as a global church.

“Every scholarship,” she said, “represents a calling affirmed, a congregation strengthened and a future shaped by faithful leadership.”

Hahn is assistant news editor for UM News. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.