The Methodist e-Academy is an initiative of Methodist Churches in Europe to meet the challenge of equipping people for ordained and lay leadership, so that they can equip Methodist churches to bear faithful and effective witness to God’s enlightening, forgiving and transforming grace and thus become agents for personal and social renewal manifesting and anticipating God’s reign. It focuses on courses in Methodist Studies designed as supplementary or further education for lay and ordained leaders.

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 and she is assisted by Susanne Schwarz.