Wesley Theological Seminary has announced the development of a satellite location for the Course of Study School in cooperation with the Upper New York Annual Conference.  As of July 1, 2019, the extension school in Buffalo, NY. will transition to a satellite school located at the Upper New York conference center in Syracuse, NY.    As the Regional Course of Study School for the North East Jurisdiction, Wesley is tasked by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church for administering educational programs for local pastors in the church. 

The Course of Study is a program of The United Methodist Church administrated through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, TN.  Course of Study students are local pastors within The United Methodist Church who are licensed to perform the duties of a pastor.  Bishop Webb, bishop for the Upper New York Conference said, “The ministry of local pastors plays such a significant role in the life of our annual conference, as I know it does across the northeast.  I’m excited we’ll be able to offer these valued colleagues in ministry great educational resources so close to home.”

As a part of their education and training for ministry, local pastors take classes in the Course of Study in weekend sessions as well as residential programs during the month of July at regional schools housed at several of the 13 United Methodist seminaries.  Many students are required to travel long distances to attend classes.  “It is the hope of Wesley Theological Seminary that this shift will enable the local pastors in the Upper New York Annual Conference and surrounding areas to take all twenty of the Course of Study courses in a more centrally located school,” said Sara Sheppard, Managing Director of the Regional School in Washington, D.C.  “The extension school in Buffalo served students well for many years, however this move will allow us to expand our course offerings in a more central location and at a slightly lower cost to students.”  The tuition per course will be $350.00. 

The proposed format will offer courses in three sessions, fall, winter, spring, and rotate through all twenty courses every two and half years in a facility that may allow for on-line learning soon.  “We’re blessed to have a state-of-art conference center situated at the very heart of our conference.  It is an honor to be able to open our facilities to Wesley COS.  It’s a win-win for everyone.” Said Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Director of Connectional Ministries for the Upper New York Conference.  Satellite schools are intended to supplement regional schools to allow students to enroll in courses geographically closer to their churches. Wesley will continue to offer all twenty courses at its Washington, D.C. campus during the July term and sixteen courses in the weekend format, some of which are partially on-line. Much of the faculty who have taught in the Buffalo extension school will continue teaching at the Syracuse location. In addition, hybrid courses may be introduced in the future. 

Do you feel called to be a local pastor? Course of Study with Wesley can be accomplished from a number of satellite locations in the US as well as on our main campus in Washington, DC. Find out more here.