The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Institute of Theology and Ministry
Biblical, Methodist-Anglican, and Practical Formation for Servants of Christ
The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Institute of Theology and Ministry is the educational and ministry formation arm of The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Institute exists to form faithful Christian servants, lay ministers, deacons, priests, bishops, teachers, pastoral leaders, and online ministers through Scripture, prayer, theology, Methodist-Anglican spirituality, worship, pastoral care, and practical ministry training.
The Institute is the church’s ministry formation and theological education program, not a separate college, university, seminary, or independent organization.
Online Instruction and Ministry Formation through Google Classroom
The Institute utilizes Google Classroom as our virtual hub for certificate studies. Upon enrollment, students receive access via email or class code to a comprehensive platform featuring syllabi, video lessons, and ministry activities. Learning is flexible, integrating online instruction, readings, and social media teaching. All programs are tuition-free and graded on a Pass / No Pass basis. We expect students to engage with integrity and use the classroom as their main communication and submission portal.
Learning with Google Classroom
The Institute uses Google Classroom as its main online learning platform. Students will receive invitations to join their courses, where they can find lessons, readings, assignments, and announcements in one place.
Through Google Classroom, students will learn by reading course materials, watching teaching videos, completing written work, and joining online discussions as available. Simple instructions will be provided so that students can log in, access their classes, and grow in ministry through this software.
Faculty and Instruction
Presider Bishop Robert Horwath
Founder, Professor, and Presider Bishop
Presider Bishop Robert Horwath serves as Founder and Professor of the Institute and Presider Bishop of The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church. His academic background includes a profound journey through theology, public health, and ministerial studies.
- B.A. in Theology, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
- M.A. in Theology, Saint Leo University
- M.A. in Theology, Ave Maria University
- Graduate Certificates in Public Health Education, Administration, and Emergency Management, Benedictine University
- M.S. in Christian Ministry, Amridge University
- PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies, Amridge University (In Progress)
Teaching Interests: Scripture, Christian theology, Methodist-Anglican spirituality, pastoral ministry, sacramental theology, practical ministry leadership, online ministry, prison ministry, recovery ministry, and ministry to marginalized communities.
Certificate Programs
For those preparing for priestly ministry, pastoral leadership, sacramental service, preaching, worship leadership, and spiritual care.
For baptized Christians called to serve as lay ministers, readers, teachers, worship assistants, pastoral visitors, and servants of the Church.
For those called to service, preaching, altar assistance, prison ministry, recovery ministry, care for the poor, and practical outreach.
For students seeking deeper formation in Scripture, doctrine, church history, Christian ethics, and Methodist-Anglican spirituality.
For students interested in hospital visitation, hospice care, prison ministry, grief care, crisis ministry, and compassionate Christian presence.
For those called to serve Christ through livestream worship, online Bible studies, digital discipleship, social media ministry, short-form teaching videos, social media outreach, and remote pastoral care.
Sample Courses
Introduction to Holy Scripture
Christian Doctrine and the Articles of Faith
Methodist-Anglican Spirituality
Introduction to Pastoral Ministry
Sacramental Theology and Worship
Preaching and Biblical Proclamation
Christian Ethics and Contemporary Ministry
Pastoral Care, Crisis Ministry, and Visitation
Prison, Recovery, and Marginalized Communities Ministry
Church Leadership and Mission Development
Online Ministry and Digital Evangelism
Priestly Formation Seminar
Accreditation, Authorization, and Ministry Formation Disclosure
The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Institute of Theology and Ministry is a church-based ministry formation program of The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Institute is not a state-accredited college, university, or seminary. It does not currently claim regional, national, governmental, or U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditation. The Institute does not offer civil academic degrees such as associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees.
The Institute’s certificates are ecclesiastical, devotional, theological, and ministerial in nature. They are intended for Christian formation, ministry preparation, church service, lay ministry, diaconal ministry, priestly formation, pastoral development, and service within the life and mission of The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Institute’s purpose is religious and ecclesiastical. Churches and religious bodies may teach their faith, train their members, prepare ministers, and establish internal standards for ministry according to their doctrine, polity, and religious mission.
Enrollment in the Institute does not guarantee ordination, appointment, church office, employment, transfer credit, civil licensure, or recognition by another religious body. Ministry appointment within The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church remains subject to prayerful discernment, church review, moral fitness, doctrinal agreement, pastoral need, training, and the governing documents of the Church.
By enrolling, students acknowledge that the Institute provides religious, ecclesiastical, and ministerial formation rather than accredited civil higher education.