Question 1

What is the Academy of Ministry Management?

Accepted Answer

The Academy of Ministry Management, formally known as the Academy of Church Business and Administration (ACBA), is a two-week educational program for individuals serving in a local church or at a denominational office who provide support in the area of administrative leadership.  The program covers fourteen domains of knowledge that build an individual’s administrative skills, such as Human Resources, Staff Development, Property Management, Communications and Marketing, Strategic Planning, and Financial Management.

The AMM is open to all denominations and church staff positions, and welcomes senior pastors, executive pastors, facilities managers, church business administrators, human resource personnel, seminary students, and others.  Attendees can participate in the full two-week program, or just a day or two of continuing education classes.

In addition, the AMM is a certification center for both Certified Church Administrators through The Church Network, and Certified United Methodist Church Administrators through the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church.

Question 2

When is the Academy of Ministry Management?

Accepted Answer

The AMM is held each year over two weeks during the summer months in Nashville, TN, at the offices of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church.

Question 3

When does registration open for the AMM?

Accepted Answer

Registration typically opens during first quarter for classes held that year.  When open, the registration link can be found at http://www.gcfa.org/acba.

Question 4

What is the cost to attend the AMM?

Accepted Answer

There is a $125 administrative fee applied to all registrations.

The cost of class tuition varies depending on denominational affiliation.  The AMM welcomes attendees from all denominations but is the United Methodist affiliated training program hosted by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church.  Therefore, there is a slight tuition discount for United Methodist affiliated participants.

In 2026, tuition fees are as follows:
UMC attendee:  $400/week or $100/day
Other Denomination attendee: $550/week or $140/day
Included in tuition are all course materials, snacks, and lunch each day.

Question 5

Where is the AMM?

Accepted Answer

The AMM is held at the offices of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church.  The address is 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203.  The entrance for parking is behind the building off of 19th Avenue.

Question 6

Can I come to just one week of the AMM and take the other week another year?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. AMM attendees seeking certification have up to five years to complete all the requirements in the certification policy.

Question 7

What are the certification requirements to achieve Certified United Methodist Church Administrator (CUMCA)?

Accepted Answer

The certification policy for CUMCA designation can be found on the GCFA website at http://www.gcfa.org/acba.  This policy aligns with the Certified Church Administrator (CCA) certification through The Church Network, and includes the additional requirement of a United Methodist polity course.

Question 8

How is the AMM affiliated with The Church Network?

Accepted Answer

The AMM is the United Methodist affiliated training site for The Church Network, an ecumenical membership organization of Certified Church Administrators (CCA).  Denominational networks represented in The Church Network include United Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Assembly of God, and Non-Denominational.  Members from any denomination can attend AMM classes to achieve CCA certification through The Church Network.

The United Methodist certification policy aligns with The Church Network policy.  Therefore, United Methodist participants can obtain dual certification through The Church Network (CCA certification) and the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church (CUMCA certification) at no additional cost.

Question 9

What is and how can I fulfill the United Methodist Polity course requirement to achieve Certified United Methodist Church Administrator (CUMCA)?

Accepted Answer

A United Methodist Polity course covers the organization and structure of The United Methodist Church denomination.

United Methodist Communications offers a free, online course titled “What it means to be United Methodist” and is available at the following link: https://www.umctraining.org/product?catalog=What-It-Means-to-be-United-Methodist.

This online course fulfills the CUMCA requirement if a prior polity course was not taken for other educational purposes.

Question 10

Are there discounted hotel rates available for AMM participants?

Accepted Answer

There are no contracted hotel rates for AMM attendees.  However, there are a variety of hotels and other lodging options available in Nashville for out of town attendees.  The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) offices are conveniently located in midtown Nashville at 1908 Grand Ave. in the Denman Building, and are within walking distance of a few hotels.  Hotels recommended by GCFA, with shuttles available to the GCFA offices, include:
Embassy Suites Vanderbilt, 1811 Broadway, Nashville, TN 
Staybridge Suites Nashville-Midtown, 350 22nd Ave N, Nashville TN
Home2 Suites, 1800 Division Street, Nashville, TN
Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Vanderbilt, 1715 Broadway, Nashville, TN
Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt, 2613 West End Ave., Nashville, TN

For attendees looking for an economical lodging option with United Methodist roots, Scarritt Bennett Center is recommended and is located across the street from where classes take place.

Question 11

Where do I park if I am driving to the AMM?

Accepted Answer

Free parking is available to AMM attendees in the General Council on Finance and Administration parking lot located behind the building off of 19th Avenue.  It is a gated parking area for guests and employees of GCFA.  During the AMM, parking signage will be outside to direct attendees.

Question 12

If I am a student, can I obtain course credit from the AMM?

Accepted Answer

College students have obtained independent study credit through their university for attending the AMM.  If this is something you are interested in pursuing, please reach out to Emily Stanfield at estanfield@gcfa.org or (615) 208-5997.

Question 13

I still have other questions about the AMM.  Who do I contact?

Accepted Answer

For any other questions, please reach out to the AMM liaison at the General Council on Finance and Administration, Emily Stanfield, at estanfield@gcfa.org or (615) 208-5997.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Academy of Ministry Management?

When is the Academy of Ministry Management?

When does registration open for the AMM?

What is the cost to attend the AMM?

Where is the AMM?

Can I come to just one week of the AMM and take the other week another year?

What are the certification requirements to achieve Certified United Methodist Church Administrator (CUMCA)?

How is the AMM affiliated with The Church Network?

What is and how can I fulfill the United Methodist Polity course requirement to achieve Certified United Methodist Church Administrator (CUMCA)?

Are there discounted hotel rates available for AMM participants?

Where do I park if I am driving to the AMM?

If I am a student, can I obtain course credit from the AMM?

I still have other questions about the AMM. Who do I contact?

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