Stephen Clymer was appointed senior pastor of Victory Chapel (Liberty Center, Ohio) on August 4, 2019. He replaced Don Ross, who retired after serving as senior pastor of Victory Chapel since 2009. Clymer graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1982 with a degree in Bible/Theology, and received a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries in 2002 from the Huntington University Graduate School of Christian Ministries. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1982, including 1991-2000 as pastor of the former Harvest Lane UB church (Toledo, Ohio), and two previous stints at Victory Chapel: 2001-2005 and 2007-2009.

Dr. Jody Fleming was appointed senior pastor of Strinestown UB church (Strinestown, Pa.), effective September 8, 2019. She holds a Master of Divinity from Evangelical Seminary (Myerstown, Pa.), and a Ph.D. in Theological Studies/Global Christianity from Regent University School of Divinity. She takes the place of Rev. Dawn Spangler, who had pastored the church since 2012.

Alan DeCristoforo, an ordained United Brethren minister, passed away September 9, 2019. He was the former senior pastor of Highland Heights UB church, and later Pastor of Spiritual Care at First UB Church; both churches are located in New Castle, Pa).

Viewing: 4-6pm Thursday, September 11, and 9:30-10:30 am Thursday, September 12.
Funeral: 11am Thursday, September 12.
Viewing and Funeral Location: First UB Church, 1900 Eastbrook Road, New Castle, PA 16101,

Margaret Maybee passed away July 26. Now comes this news about her husband, Rev. Milan Maybee. It was posted on Facebook by son Paul Maybee:

“Dear friends, our family is experiencing the work of God in ways we could have never imagined. We are sad to bring this news, but also thankful and confident that our God is in control, and His timing and provision is always perfect.

“Dad received the news yesterday that he has stage 4 cancer in his bones which has been causing his intense pain. The cancer is aggressive and treatments are not really an option. Hospice came in today and has set Dad up for in-home care. He is in great spirits and is surrounded by family. He is quite exhausted at the moment as it has been a very intense couple weeks.

“We are requesting no visitors at this time so that he can rest and process all that has transpired. We are so thankful for the time we all had with Dad at Mom’s celebration. We were completely overwhelmed as a family by the love from so many people.

“We don’t know how long we have with Dad, but we are doing everything we can to care for him in every way. We will continue to post updates as things progress. Again, thank you all for your prayers, your care, and concern for both of our parents. We have all felt it.”

Here is the address for Rev. Milan Maybee:

Milan Maybee
101 Burt Avenue
Jackson MI 49201

Rev. Taylor Sharp, a retired United Brethren pastor and ordained minister, passed away July 14, 2019, at his residence in Nashville, Ill. He was 90 years old.

Sharp graduated from Huntington University in 1953 with a degree in Sociology, and graduated from the Huntington University seminary in 1956 with a Master of Divinity. He pastored United Brethren churches in Lakewood and Modesto, Calif., 1956-1965. He was ordained in 1957.

From 1967-1975, Sharp served as a chaplain in the US Army (under the NAE Commission on Chaplains). He then became associate pastor of Morning Star UB church (Kokomo, Ind.), and later senior pastor of Crestview UB church (Lafayette, Ind.). He retired in 1989, and retained membership at College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.).

Sharp is survived by his wife, Donna. They were married in 1952 and, in June of this year, celebrated 67 years of marriage.

The funeral was held July 19 in Nashville, Ill., with son Pastor Scott Sharp officiating.

Terrence L. Bakner Sr., 80, passed away on March 12, 2019, in Chambersburg, Pa. He was a former United Brethren minister in Pennsylvania, including at Blue Rock UB church in Waynesboro. He was also a graduate of Huntington University.

Gary Dilley (right) resigned as senior pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.), effective February 17, 2019. He had been pastor of College Park since 2008. Dilley has been a UB minister since 1980, and served seven years, 2001-2008, as Director of Missions. He is also currently a member of the denominational Executive Leadership Team.

Effective February 25, Dilley began a three-month interim assignment as senior pastor of Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio). He takes the place of Dan Maas (right), who had pastored the church since July 2017 and resigned effective February 17. Bishop Todd Fetters preached at Findlay on February 24, and Gary Dilley started the next day.

Marc Stephenson was appointed senior pastor of First UB church in New Castle, Pa., effective January 1, 2019. Since 2012 he had been senior pastor of Mt. Olivet UB (Chambersburg, Pa.), and was youth pastor of Cochranton Community UB (Cochranton, Pa.) 2005-2012. Marc was ordained in 2007.

Steve and Amanda Henry and children.

Amanda Henry provided this update about her husband, Steve, who had heart surgery on Wednesday, February 27. Steve Henry is pastor of Victory Heights UB church in Franklin, Pa.

“Praise the Lord!!!! Steve is out of surgery! Everything went well. The surgeon decided to do a newer procedure to bypass Steve’s arch altogether. He made a couple of connections now, and in another month or so they will do a stint and finish the bypass then. That should be a small procedure. Right now we are waiting to see him. Thank you for all your prayers and support. This is still a long road to recovery after open heart.”

Says Bishop Todd Fetters, “Let’s keep on praying for Steve, Amanda, and the Henry family.”

Steve has suffered from Marfan Syndrome all his life, and has undergone five other major surgeries. He recently published a book, “Custom Scars,” which tells his story. It is available on Amazon. You can read more about the book, and his testimony, on this web page.

Mark Vincenti (right) has published a book titled Pursuing the Third Option: Following Jesus in a Polarized World. Mark, an ordained United Brethren minister, has served since 2011 as youth pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.). Before that, he served 11 years as youth pastor of King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).

The back cover explains:

Are you tired of the relentless rhetoric trying to convince you that one extreme and problem-laden approach to an issue is superior to all others? Do you long to follow Jesus authentically, but wonder if the choices typically presented to you are the only real options? You are not alone….Pursuing the Third Option invites us to consider the possibility that there is another way to approach issues, one which Jesus, himself, option exemplified. It requires a rejection of polarized thinking and the embrace of nuance and opens up new possibilities for following Jesus in this polarized world. More than ever, we need a fresh paradigm to help us engage in a world full of complex issues.

The chapters tackle a variety of subjects–nuance, politics, the church, leadership, the body, sex, disciplines, and more.

Pursuing the Third Option is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.