EGC has enjoyed a partnership in urban ministry training with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary since 1973, when Doug and Judy Hall first began teaching classes in urban ministry. In 1976, EGC assisted the seminary in launching Gordon-Conwell’s Boston campus, the Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME), guided by its founder and director, Dr. Eldin Villafañe. After 35+ years, CUME stands as one of the oldest and largest urban ministry focused theological seminaries in this country.

 

CUME offers a full array of classes in English, as well as courses in Spanish, French Creole (for Haitian students), and Portuguese (for Brazilians), including a full-track Master’s program in Spanish and Doctor of Ministry degrees in English and Spanish. The Masters programs at CUME include degrees in youth ministry, urban ministry, educational ministries, counseling, and a Master of Divinity with an urban emphasis.

 

In addition to their Masters Degree and Doctor of Ministry Degree programs, CUME offers a diploma program for those who might not immediately qualify for Masters Degree admissions. The diploma program is a good fit for the urban ministry practitioner who may be active in ministry, but has never completed a college education.

Many of EGC’s staff have studied at CUME. And many more are also teachers. Among the EGC staff teaching at CUME recently are: Jeff Bass, Dr. Bianca Duemling, and Brian Corcoran, who join Dr. Doug and Judy Hall in teaching MC 621 and 622, CUME’s core urban ministry course. Over the years, this course has trained hundreds of seasoned and emerging urban ministry practitioners and has helped launch or strengthen scores of ministries in Boston and beyond. Still other CUME courses are taught by Rev. Ralph Kee, Rudy and Sara Mitchell, and Rev. Dr. Soliny Védrine.