Office of Wesleyan Engagement

The Office of Wesleyan Engagement works to foster connections between Duke Divinity School, the United Methodist Church, and other Methodist denominations through initiatives focused on expanding opportunities for theological education including Wesleyan Formation partnerships with undergraduate institutions and continuing education programs such as Convocation and Pastors’ School and Study Leave supported by The Duke Endowment, Parish Ministry Fund, and other funders.

Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition

Founded in 1979, the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition has promoted the academic mission of Duke Divinity School among its Wesleyan and Methodist constituencies, including the United Methodist Church. Three intertwined academic purposes constitute the work of the center:

  • staffing, supervising, and enriching curricular and extracurricular offerings in Wesleyan and Methodist studies;

  • developing and providing access to outstanding research resources for students and scholars of the broad Wesleyan tradition around the globe; and

  • supporting the production of critical editions of the texts of John and Charles Wesley in print and online formats.

For more details on the center’s work and access to its online resources, visit divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/cswt.

Convocation & Pastors’ School

The annual Convocation & Pastors’ School is an intensive two-day conference that offers lectures, worship, and seminars for Christian leaders of all traditions. Led by scholars and practitioners from Duke and beyond, this event is a cooperative endeavor with the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church, with support from The Duke Endowment and Duke Divinity’s Parish Ministry Fund. The convocation also includes alumni gatherings.

Study Leave for Ministry Professionals

Duke Divinity School offers Christian institutional leaders, pastors, program staff, and laity of all traditions the opportunity to spend a one-week leave in self-directed study, worship, and prayer on the Duke University campus. Participants have full access to the university and divinity libraries and to community worship and lecture opportunities. Class auditing and conversations with Divinity School faculty also are available. Ten sessions of study leave are offered each academic year.

Wesleyan Formation Initiatives

Wesleyan Formation Initiatives develops accelerated pathways to pastoral ministry for undergraduate students in UMC-affiliated colleges. In partnership with various Annual Conferences of the UMC, the Initiatives work to build greater accessibility to educational resources for United Methodist pastoral leaders, especially in immigrant communities. For more information, visit divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/wesleyan-formation-initiatives.