Rev. Martin Magnus

Rev. Martin Magnus passed at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2018, in Kitchener, Ontario. He was 92 years old.

Visitation with the family: 2-4 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2018.
Memorial service date: 6:30 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2018.
Visitation and memorial service location: Stanley Park Community Church, 9 Dreger Avenue at Ottawa Street, Kitchener, ON. N2A 2A4

Martin was a United Brethren pastor in Ontario for 30 years and in Michigan for six years. He was also a conference superintendent for 11 years. Three times he was a Canadian delegate to the international General Conference, where he also received votes for bishop.

His pastorates in Ontario included Garrison Road (Fort Erie), Stevensville, Grace (Sherkston), Stanley Park (Kitchener), Shiloh (Tiverton) and Zion (North Bruce) churches.

He and his wife Lois, who passed away in 2012, raised five children. He had 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Son Brian Magnus wrote, “He had fallen from his adult tricycle three weeks before and slowly deteriorated since then. The last few days were spent with family by his side talking to him and singing God’s praises. Dad was 92 years old, and right up until his fall he lived independently in his own house and travelled to church and to get groceries on his trike.”

Two of Martin’s sons are ministers in the United Brethren Church in Canada. Brian, who is also bishop of the Canadian conference, is pastor of Parkwood Gardens UB church in Guelph. Randy is pastor of Roseville UB church in Ayr. Here are their addresses:

Brian K. Magnus
24 Lois Lane
Guelph, ON N1K 1W7
Canada

Randall J. Magnus
3 Marshall Street, R. R. 1
Ayr, ON N0B 1E0
Canada

Jim Bolich (right) has been appointed senior pastor of Mount Pleasant UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) effective July 1, 2018. He had been senior pastor of Prince Street UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.) since 2002, and prior to that served in associate pastor roles at two other Pennsylvania UB churches–Franklin (New Castle) and Mongul (Shippensburg). He is also part-time Director of Ministerial Licensing for the US National Conference.

At Mount Pleasant, he will replace Dr. Ray Seilhamer, who is concluding a two year assignment as interim pastor. He and Ruth will be moving back to their home in Roanoke, Ind.

Brad and Janet North

Brad North was appointed senior pastor of South Scipio UB church (Harlan, Ind.) effective April 1, 2018. He had been in camp ministry since 1997, most recently as director of Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich., since 2013. He replaces Ken Thompson, who had pastored South Scipio for two years.

L-r: Josh and Sara Good, Les and Linda Smith, David and Jennifer Dakin.

Josh Good has been appointed senior pastor of Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) effective June 4, 2018. He has been in United Brethren ministry since 1998, serving in youth ministry until 2012, when he became senior pastor of Homefront UB church in Grandville, Mich.

Lester Smith is concluding 20 years as senior pastor at Hillsdale. Smith is retiring on June 1 after 38 years in United Brethren ministry. During that time, he served at four different UB churches in Michigan–Pennfield (Battle Creek) 1980-1982, Maple Hill (Grandville) 1982-1987, Richfield Road (Flint) 1987-1998, and Hillsdale since 1998. He has provided leadership in a number of roles within Michigan Conference and at the denominational level, including assistant chairperson of the Executive Leadership Team.

David Dakin has been appointed senior pastor of Homefront UB church (Grandville, Mich.) effective June 11, 2018. He had been associate pastor of Jerusalem Chapel UB church (Churchville, Va.).

Chris Augustat, alongside her husband, Tom, being ordained by Bishop Todd Fetters.

Chris Augustat was ordained as a United Brethren elder on Saturday, March 24, by Bishop Todd Fetters. She is the children’s pastor at Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.). The ordination service was conducted at Fowlerville during the 6 pm Saturday night service.

Participating in the ordination were Mark Wilson, senior pastor of the Fowlerville church, and Dan Bentz, senior pastor of Eden UB church (Mason, Mich.).

L-r: Josh Good, Lester Smith, Darrel Bosworth, Jerald Jones.

Josh Good has been appointed pastor of Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) effective June 10, 2018. He has been senior pastor of Homefront UB church (Grandville, Mich.) since 2012, and has served in United Brethren ministry since 1998.

Lester Smith, senior pastor of Hillsdale UB church since 1998, is retiring effective June 1, 2018. He has been a United Brethren minister since 1980, serving four different UB churches in Michigan: Pennfield (Battle Creek), Maple Hill (Grandville), Richfield Road (Flint, 11 years), and Hillsdale.

Darrel Bosworth has been appointed senior pastor of Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.) effective April 2, 2018. He began his ministry at Sunfield as associate pastor in 1999, was senior pastor of Kilpatrick UB church (Woodland, Mich.) 2002-2016, and for the past year has been interim pastor of McCallum UB church (Delton, Mich.).

Jerald Jones has been appointed pastor of McCallum UB church (Delton, Mich.) effective March 18, 2018.

Rev. Carey Knittle, 89, a United Brethren pastor in Indiana and Ohio 1960-2005, passed away February 2, 2018, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was a United Brethren pastor for 45 years, and a 1965 graduate of Huntington University.

Viewing: 11am – 1 pm Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
Funeral: 1pm Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
Viewing and funeral location: Monticello United Brethren church, 21057 State Route 116, Spencerville, OH 45887

Son-in-law David Riddle, a former United Brethren pastor, will officiate at the funeral.

Carey Knittle was born April 6, 1928, in Adams County, Ind. He graduated in 1946 from high school in Decatur, Ind., and then entered the Army, serving in post-war Japan. He and Marjorie, who survives, were married October 9, 1949.

In 1960, Carey began five years as pastor of the Winchester UB church in Monroe, Ind. He graduated from Huntington University in 1965 with a Bible degree, was ordained that year, and became pastor of the Northbrook UB church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained there until 1972, when he became pastor of the Monticello and Elgin UB churches, on a circuit outside of Van Wert, Ohio.

Knittle subsequently pastored the UB church in Lancaster, Ohio, 1983-1991, returned to Monticello (no longer on a circuit with Elgin) until 1995, and served the Hillsdale UB church in St. Mary’s, Ohio, until 2005.

Randy Carpenter (right) was hired as a staff pastor at Colwood UB church (Caro, Mich.) effective January 1, 2018. He was previously senior pastor of Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.). Colwood is using a team approach, with three persons–Mike Whipple, Kelly Ball, and Carpenter–listed as teaching pastors. Each also carries other areas of responsibility. For Carpenter, the website lists assimilation and discipleship.

Bishop William Dillon (right) died of pneumonia on December 15, 1919. He served just one term as bishop, 1893-1897. Most of his career was spent in the pastorate and as editor of The Christian Conservator paper.

W. H. Clay described Dillon as having “no sympathy with peace at the expense of principle or uprightness.” He seemed to find, attract, or even pursue controversy. The fact that he would get elected to something, but not re-elected, indicates something or other.

Dillon grew up in Ohio with seven siblings. His father, of British descent, died when he was 14, and his Welsh mother died when he was 28. Dillon was converted at age 16 and pursued the ministry. He was assigned to his first circuit in 1861, and was ordained in 1864 (his first three circuit, curiously, were the Russia Circuit, the Troy Circuit, and the Berlin Circuit). In 1866, he married Bessie, the granddaughter of former bishop Joseph Hoffman. They were married 52 years.

In 1871, at age 30, Dillon enrolled in the first class of our first seminary, Union Biblical Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He was part of the first graduating class in 1874. In 1877, he was assigned to the prestigious Summit Street UB church in Dayton, the largest and most influential church in the conference.

Dillon became aligned with Milton Wright in opposing efforts to open membership to Freemasons and adopt a new Constitution and Confession of Faith, and became a leader of the “radicals” (the UBs of today). When the radicals launched their alternative church paper, The Christian Conservator, Dillon was the editor. It was published out of his home starting in July 1885.

Dillon helped organize a convention in August 1885 which attracted about 80 people to Hartsville College in southern Indiana. The purpose was to rally support against the “liberal” proposals. They elected Dillon as their chairman.

Of course, the proposals went through. Dillon joined Milton Wright in leaving the denomination and starting over. Dillon received a few votes for bishop, but four other men were elected. As a consolation prize, he was elected to continue as editor of The Christian Conservator, which was now the denominational publication.

Henry Becker was elected bishop of the Pacific District in 1893, but promptly resigned, and Dillon was elected in his place. But Dillon was defeated for re-election in 1897 by Henry Barkley, and by a significant vote, 37-10. General Conference then elected Dillon, again, as editor of The Christian Conservator. But after four years, he lost re-election as editor.

Dillon returned to the pastorate, while also becoming a major supporter of Milton Wright in a nasty controversy involving the publishing house. He once again organized a convention, this one in support of Wright, whose side prevailed at the 1905 General Conference. Wright then faded into retirement.

In 1911, Dillon was elected to a third stint as editor of the Christian Conservator…on the 40th ballot. He continued in that role until 1917. Then he and Bessie retired to their daughter’s home in Springfield, Ohio. He died there in 1919 at age 78, and Bessie lived another 16 years, until 1935.

Rev. Paul and Carie Burrus

Rev. Paul Burrus, pastor since 2013 of Corunna UB church (Corunna, Ind.), passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2017. He was 59 years old. Paul was diagnosed the week before with a fast-acting acute leukemia, and was immediately sent to hospice.

Visitation: 2-7 pm Friday, November 10.
Funeral: 2 pm Saturday, November 11. Visitation one hour beforehand.
Visitation and funeral location: Feller & Clark Funeral Home, 1860 South Center Street, Auburn, IN 46706.

Paul and his wife, Carie, have two grown children and six grandchildren. Cards can be sent to Carie at this address:

Carie Burrus
312 Willard Dr.
Auburn IN 46706