Interested in Bringing a Group?

Who attends seminars?

The Seminar Program is open to everyone -- United Methodists and non-United Methodists -- high school age and older. United Methodist Women are ardent supporters and longtime participants. The Seminar Program works hard to ensure racial/ethnic and gender diversity among resource people and seminar speakers.

Who arranges the seminars?

A full-time seminar designer works closely with group leadership to prepare seminars to meet the specific interests of each group.

Where do the seminars take place?

Our UM locations are unbeatable in providing access to national and international policy makers. Situated on Capitol Hill, the United Methodist Building is next door neighbor to the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court. Through “field trips” incorporated into the seminar schedules, groups have the opportunity to visit and learn within local communities.

How much does a seminar cost?

The cost of a seminar is

• $12/person/day for United Methodist groups,
• $15/person/day for small non-profits and institutions, and
• $20/person/day for large non-profits and institutions, 

GBCS Ethnic Local Church Grants are available to ethnically-diverse groups for whom cost may be a prohibitive factor. The purpose of the GBCS ELCG Program is to provide grants to strengthen the ethnic local church through education, advocacy, or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice.

How long do the seminars last?

A typical seminar can run from 1-3 days depending on the goals and needs of the group participating. A seminar day goes from 9:30am to 4:30pm, allowing time for sightseeing, activities, and recreation in the evenings.

What does a seminar day look like?

The seminar designer will work with your group leader to put together an engaging, educational, and interactive agenda based on the geography and demographics of the group. The group chooses a contemporary social issue to focus on, and we bring speakers and workshop leaders from a wide range of faith-based and secular organizations in the city to give participants a unique view on the topic. View a sample agenda of a seminar focused on poverty.

What are the possible topics for a seminar?

You and your group may choose from a wide range of seminar topics, including education, the environment, global health, immigration, and poverty (global and domestic).

How do I sign up or get more information?

For more information, contact the seminar program in either DC or NY:

Washington D.C. General Board of Church and Society 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Tel (202) 488-5609 Fax (202) 544-0390 seminars@umc-gbcs.org

New York City GBGM – Women’s Division 777 U.N. Plaza (11th Floor) New York, NY 10017 Tel (212) 682-3633 Fax (212) 682 - 5354