The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) leads and serves The United Methodist Church in educating, nurturing, and preparing leaders for the church and the world. A passion for excellence in higher education and in ministry has always been a part of our Wesleyan heritage. Since its earliest days, our church has attempted to provide training and support for those who are called into professional ministry and to provide access to church-related higher education to all who desire it. Concern for those areas of our common life led The United Methodist Church to create GBHEM. It operates on behalf of The United Methodist Church to prepare and assist those whose ministry in Christ is exercised through ordination or the diaconate and to provide general oversight and care for United Methodist institutions of higher education. In response to the gospel's commission to "go ye therefore and teach," American Methodism has founded more than 1,200 institutions of higher education, among them some of the country's great colleges, universities, and theological seminaries. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is organized into two program divisions (Higher Education and Ordained Ministry). GBHEM also has four offices (Administration, Communications, Loans and Scholarships, and Research and Evaluation). The chief administrative officer is the general secretary.