The Methodist e-Academy began as a project of the United Methodist Seminaries in Europe with the aim of providing internet based distance learning courses for people preparing for the ordained ministry in European countries where the United Methodist Church had no seminary. The intention was to supplement the theological education that was available in these countries. The vision grew as it was recognised that internet technology could be used to address a far broader range of educational needs within the church.
In February 2008 a governing board was established with representatives from the four European UMC Episcopal areas, the British Methodist Church and the autonomous Methodist churches in Portugal and Italy.
The board is chaired by Bishop i.R. Dr Patrick Streiff, Zürich. The coordinator is Rev. Dr. Erika Stalcup, who took over this role in 2023 – after a brief interim – from Dr David N. Field. She is assisted by Susanne Schwarz, who took over the role of administrator from Tina Manueli-Baumann in 2023.
Bishop Dr Patrick Streiff
Bishop
Patrick Streiff has been engaged with the Methodist e-Academy from its beginning. He continues to chair the e-Academy Board after having retired from service as bishop of the Central and Southern Europe episcopal area of the UMC from 2005 to 2023. While having more time for family, he is still engaged in strengthening Methodist theological education and historical publication.
Rev Dr Erika Stalcup
Academic Coordinator
Erika Stalcup began serving as Academic Coordinator in 2023. She pastors a French-speaking Methodist church in Lausanne, Switzerland and is a part-time lecturer at Cliff College. Erika likes all things related to liturgy, Methodist history, and creative community-building.
Susanne Schwarz
Administrative Coordinator
Susanne Schwarz started working as Administrative Coordinator for the Methodist e-Academy in 2023. Additionally, she works as an assistant and coordinator for a degree program at Reutlingen School of Theology. She retired from her job as program manager in IT industry in 2018 and now enjoys supporting the e-Academy and Reutlingen School of Theology students with a part time assignment. Susanne loves to organize and structure processes that make things easy to handle.
Lindsey Gittins
CyberMaster
Lindsey Gittins has managed the Methodist e-Academy website since its launch in 2008. In addition to being a CyberMaster, Lindsey is also a Specialized Online Wellness Counsellor (CyberShrink). Lindsey is a dog lover and is rarely far from her pooch, Pinky, and marvels at God’s creations.
