Historic Happening
Ohio Wesleyan Affirmed as a United Methodist Church Affiliate School 'Without Qualifications'
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University has successfully completed the accreditation process with The United Methodist Church, continuing a relationship that dates back to 1842, when OWU was founded by the Rev. Adam Poe, a local Methodist minister.
While some colleges severed ties with the United Methodist Church (UMC) in 2019, Ohio Wesleyan thoughtfully chose to pause its accreditation process until the Church affirmed the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Church now ordains openly gay clergy and performs same-sex marriages.
Ohio Wesleyan Chaplain Chad Johns, who oversaw the re-accreditation process, said OWU's United Methodist affiliation underpins the school's historic charter, which proclaims "the University is forever to be conducted on the most liberal principles, accessible to all religious denominations, and designed for the benefit of our citizens in general."
"For 184 years, Ohio Wesleyan has lived our Methodist heritage in deeply embedded ways," said Johns, D.Min., a lay member of the United Methodist Church (West Ohio Conference) and 2002 OWU graduate. "This includes rigorous scholarship for the good of the world; freedom to explore and deepen the knowledge and practice of faith; commitment to service and social justice; and connections with other Methodist institutions. I am pleased that we are reaffirming our relationship to the United Methodist Church, and I look forward to nurturing this heritage in the years to come."
In addition to serving United Methodist students, Ohio Wesleyan supports students of all (or no) faith traditions. Currently, it supports campus groups and organizations, including Cru (evangelical Christian), OWU Faith and Justice, Tauheed (Muslim), Hindu Student Council, Outdoor Ministry Team, Hillel (Jewish), OWU Catholic, Meditation Circle, and Interfaith House, a small living unit dedicated to interfaith cooperation and understanding.
Supported by its Chaplain's Office, Ohio Wesleyan also lives its educational mission through:
- Small-group gatherings, including Bible studies and discussion groups for students and employees.
- Larger initiatives, such as Spring Break Service Teams, spiritual Wilderness Treks, and Life Quest vocational discernment retreats.
- Participation in national and regional conferences, such as the Interfaith Leadership Summit through Interfaith America and the Jubilee Conference through the Coalition for Christian Outreach,
- Old and new campus traditions, including an annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service planned by graduating seniors and a fall church fair and welcome worship service for the incoming students and returning campus community members.
- Service and social justice work created and completed in collaboration with OWU's offices of Community Service Learning, International and Off-Campus Student Programs, Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Chief Diversity Officer, as well as the university's new Palmer Center for First-Generation Student Success and its majors in Religious Studies and in Social Justice.
As part of OWU's efforts, Chaplain Johns and faculty member Ashley Biser, Ph.D., are co-leading work to integrate the university's groundbreaking Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) initiative into both classroom learning and campus life. In fall 2024, Ohio Wesleyan became the nation's first university to offer free CDI training to all students and employees, with all students who complete the training in critical conversations earning certification in the skill.
Ohio Wesleyan is also using its United Methodist Church affiliation to connect with other institutions worldwide.
In 2025, Ohio Wesleyan and Claflin University, both UMC affiliates, established a groundbreaking relationship that has been hailed as one of the most comprehensive sister-school collaborations in U.S. higher education between a historically black university (HBCU) and a predominantly white institution (PWI).
Ohio Wesleyan also maintains partnerships with UMC-affiliated international institutions and programs, including the Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN) under the umbrella of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU). Ohio Wesleyan also has historic and recent connections with both Yonsei University and Methodist Theological University in South Korea and with Aoyama Gakuin Daigaku in Japan.
The university's next accreditation site visit will be in 10 years. In announcing Ohio Wesleyan's continued accreditation "without qualifications," the Rev. Dr. Rick Miller, senior program associate of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church, stated the Church's University Senate "is grateful for Ohio Wesleyan University as it continues to strive for excellence."
In explaining the deep meaning of affiliation, The United Methodist Church states: "Education, from a United Methodist perspective, is a means of attaining freedom from ignorance and prejudice so that justice and equity can prevail throughout the world."
Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan's Office of the University Chaplain and its work to support OWU's spiritual life at owu.edu/chaplain.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.