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18 Oct

October 18, 2024 |

We have an exciting opportunity at Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan, for a Lead Pastor to foster unified relationships across the pastoral team, elders, and Operations Director while maintaining a discipleship-focused culture. Embrace the tranquil setting of Fowlerville, offering a blend of small-town charm and urban convenience near bustling cities like Brighton and Lansing. Make a difference by nurturing relationships, empowering individuals for service, and leading the congregation towards a deeper reflection of Christ’s love and truth.

– As Lead Pastor, prioritize equipping both congregation and staff for service while fostering collaborative relationships and inclusive community bonds.
– Showcase your abilities in inspiring, educating, and empowering individuals for meaningful service and growth in their faith journey.
– Embrace the opportunity to nurture a welcoming church environment that encourages individuals to deepen their understanding of God’s truth and actively participate in His Kingdom work.

For those with a missional focus connecting outreach with ministry practices, this role at Fowlerville United Brethren Church offers the platform to integrate teaching, team building, collaboration, and equipping for church growth and community impact. Apply now for the Lead Pastor role and be part of a dynamic ministry focused on proclaiming the good news of Jesus and making disciples for His Kingdom.

 

Apply now. 

08 Oct

October 8, 2024 |

(post by Steve Dennie)

Philip Burkett, age 67, passed away October 4, 2024, in Marlette, Mich. He had been in hospice care after a lengthy battle with a brain tumor. He was an ordained UB minister for many years, and he and his wife, Darlene, were part of the team that founded the United Brethren mission in Macau.

Both visitation and the Celebration of Life service will be held at the Cass City Missionary Church. Address: 4449 Koepfgen Road, Cass City, MI 48726

Visitation: 4-8 pm Friday, October 18.
Funeral: 11 am Saturday, October 19, with visitation one hour beforehand.

Phil’s life was wrapped around ministry. He grew up as a United Brethren preacher’s kid and missionary kid. He was born in Sierra Leone May 4, 1957, as the fourth son of Marion and Frances Burkett. They returned to Michigan in 1958, serving pastorates in Michigan and Kentucky. They returned to Sierra Leone in 1971. Phil spent his first three years of high school there, and finished up in Michigan.

Phil graduated from Huntington University in 1979 as a music major. As a senior, he received the top student awards in music, drama, and Alpha Chi. He and Darlene Connor, a fellow music major, were married in 1979, and then relocated to Louisville, Kent., where he earned a Master of Church Music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

His first pastorate was at Gethsemane United Brethren Church in Jackson, Mich. He started as an associate pastor, and eventually became senior pastor. In 1986, he received the Master of Christian Ministry from the HU School of Christian Ministries.

In 1987, Phil and Darlene joined Luke and Audrey Fetters and a Chinese coworker in starting United Brethren mission work in Macau, a peninsula on Mainland China which, until 1999, was under the control of Portugal. Phil and Darlene served four years in Macau. They then accepted a UB pastorate in Toronto, Ontario, where they also helped start a Chinese ministry.

In 1996, Phil became Worship Arts Pastor at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind. During the next 14 years, he taught classes at HU at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and completed a Doctorate of Worship Studies from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

In 2011, Phil became lead pastor of Cass City Missionary Church in Michigan. He had a significant and powerful impact on many lives and was loved by his congregation as he continued to serve his Lord there. His ministry of 13 years in Cass City found him involved in community ministries as well, including directing community choirs.

Phil and Darlene celebrated 45 years of marriage this past May. Both children are married. Jeremy’s family lives in Baltimore, Md., and Carissa’s family lives in Portland, Ore.

27 Sep

September 27, 2024 |

Ewart Carlson Becker passed away, at the age of 87, on Monday, September 23, 2024 in his home in Traverse City, Michigan. 

Carlson was a longtime minister in the United Brethren Church, but prior to that he served as the senior pastor for Union Church in Huntington, Indiana (1964-68). His service as a UB minister began in 1968 when he stepped into the Minister of Camping position in the Michigan conference. He served at Camp Living Waters from 1968 to 1977. While there, he was ordained as an elder in the UB church (1970). In 1977, he moved to Huntington, Indiana to serve as the Director of Stewardship for the UB national office. Then in 1989, Carlson began four years of service as the Associate Director of Missions. The next move for Carlson was back to Michigan to serve as the senior pastor of Northland Church in Traverse City. 

He and his wife, Naomi, served side by side since their wedding day in 1959. In retirement, Carlson and Naomi were compelled to serve in Macau to provide pastoral leadership to Living Stone Church and to mentor another individual to take over leadership there. In 2008, the couple returned to their home in Michigan and remained active in their local church.

A Celebration of Life service for Carlson will be held on Saturday, October 19 in Traverse City, Michigan at Bayview Wesleyan Church (720 Wayne Street). Visitation begins at 10:00 am and the service will follow at 11:00 am.

More information can be found in his obituary. 



25 Sep

September 25, 2024 |

Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan is searching for their next student ministry pastor. The job description is below.

Embark on an exciting journey as the Student Ministry Pastor at Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan, to provide vision and leadership for Jr. High and High School Ministries. You will lead programming, recruit leaders, and encourage discipleship within a vibrant and faith-filled community dedicated to spiritual growth and deep relationships rooted in Christian values. The ideal candidate will excel in teaching, team building, and collaboration to equip and empower students effectively while aligning with the church’s focus on ministry work.

As a staff member of Fowlerville United Brethren Church you will:

  • Demonstrate a collaborative and relationally stable presence in student ministry, fostering positive connections and spiritual growth among students.
  • Join a community that prioritizes authentic worship, discipleship, and service to others, committed to sharing the Gospel and making disciples who reflect God’s love and truth.
  • Serve as a mentor, disciple, and leader to students, guiding them in their faith journey and empowering them to live dedicated lives for Jesus.

Apply now for the chance to be part of a ministry focused on fostering spiritual growth, inclusivity, and equipping the next generation for impactful service in the Kingdom.

17 Sep

September 17, 2024 |
Mt. Zion United Brethren Church, located in Adams County in Indiana, is searching for their next lead pastor to begin serving in January 2025.  This person will be a compassionate leader who is effective in planning and leading worship services and midweek lessons. They will be responsible for visiting those who are sick or shut in and will conduct weddings, baptisms and funerals.

Mt. Zion is a church of approximately 30 members and an average worship attendance of 20 people. The traditional church services are warm and welcoming and include hymns and communion on a regular basis. With a population in Decatur County of nearly 27,000 people, there are opportunities to grow and connect with a larger community.

This lead pastor role is a part time position at Mt. Zion and the desired start date is January 1, 2025. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity further, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a recent photo to bishop@ub.org.

17 Sep

September 17, 2024 |

The Reverend Richard Frederick passed away at the age of 87 years on September 11, 2024 at Heritage Pointe in Warren, Indiana. Richard attended Huntington College from 1955 to 1959 as an undergraduate and later received his Masters of Divinity there as well. He was ordained as an elder in the United Brethren Church and served at Dillman, Mt. Zion, Grayston Avenue UB and Lancaster UB churches. In 1985, Richard joined and was ordained in the United Methodist Church and pastored three more churches until he officially retired in 2016.

Richard’s funeral service was held on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Applegate Chapel at Heritage Pointe. You can learn more about Richard, his family and his legacy of ministry in his obituary.

28 Aug

August 28, 2024 |

We have received word that Ted Doolittle passed away on August 23, 2024 at the age of 67 in the comfort of his home in Toledo, Ohio. Doolittle served for 41 years as a United Brethren minister in six churches including Main Street Church (1980-82), Steubenville Church (1982-86), Oak Harbor Church (1986-94), First UB Findlay (1995-00), Mount Zion (2000-08), and Calvary Community Church (2008-2021). 

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 14 at 11 am at Mount Zion UB Church in Wayne, Ohio, with visitation hours on Friday, September 13 from 3 pm to 7 pm and again at 10 am Saturday.

Read more about Ted, his family and his ministry service here in his obituary.

27 Aug

August 27, 2024 |

Reverend Lee Roy Palmer passed away in his home in Carson City, Michigan on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at the age of 86. Palmer was a long-time minister in the United Brethren church serving in 4 churches from 1964 to 2011 including Kalamazoo (1964-67), Pleasant Valley (1967-81), Harrison (1983-03), and East Washington (2004-11). He also spent time on the mission field in Sierra Leone from 1981-83.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 7, at 11:00 a.m. at East Washington United Brethren Church in Ashley, Michigan. Additional times of visitation and sharing will take place on Friday, September 6, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. 

You can read more about Lee, his family, his ministry and the service details in his obituary.


16 Aug

August 16, 2024 |

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton will preside over Huntington University as the institution’s 13th president for one final academic year. She recently announced her plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 spring semester.  

Dr. Emberton came to Huntington University in 2013 from East Texas Baptist University where she served as provost and vice president for academic affairs. Under her leadership, Huntington University expanded its reach and academic offerings to two additional campuses in Fort Wayne, Indiana (2014) and Peoria, Arizona (2016). Annual enrollment also increased from approximately 1,100 students in 2013 to 1504 students in 2023. 

Bishop Todd Fetters has worked closely with Dr. Emberton for the last nine years and has developed, not just an ongoing institutional partnership, but a cherished friendship. When asked for comment, he had this to say,

“The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is grateful for Dr. Emberton’s leadership at Huntington University. She has led our denominational college through continual growth and innovation, making it stronger than ever. I admire the way she has led with vision, collaboration, humility and a deep faith. 

I admire the way Sherilyn has always connected to people, especially her love for students. Her pride in them has been abundantly clear. She wants the best for them! And then there is her humble Christian spirit, which is always present. 

Although I’m sad to see Sherilyn leave, I’m grateful for her service to our University and denomination and I’m confident that God has exciting things in store for her.”

You can find the official press release here to learn more about her time at Huntington University.



15 Aug

August 15, 2024 |

College Park Church in Huntington, Indiana has an opening for a Pastor of Student Ministries. The ideal candidate will be a high-capacity and self-directing individual, with a pastoral calling and deep passion for ministry to students and families. This individual will help to foster a team approach to leading the ministries they oversee as well as contribute to the overall leadership and direction of the church.

College Park Church is a congregation of approximately 275 people and sits on the edge of the campus of Huntington University. Their mission is to reach, teach and equip families to passionately follow Jesus.

To learn more about the church and read a more detailed job description, click here.