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02 Apr

April 2, 2026 |

Heidlersburg Church of United Brethren in Christ, located in the historic community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is searching for its next senior pastor. The ideal candidate is a person of faith who is an effective preacher and communicator, dedicated to the Word of God. This leader must be mature, emotionally secure, and compassionate—someone who can navigate conflict with grace, minister effectively to people in crisis, and make regular calls to hospitals, nursing homes, and shut-ins.

The Heidlersburg family is a warm, loving congregation with approximately 90 people in attendance on a Sunday morning. The congregation has a good reputation in the community and is known for their hospitality. They host a variety of ministries, from Vacation Bible Schools to mission trips with other local churches. 

The church is located in a growing community with an increasing number of housing developments expected in the next 5 years. The facility is well-maintained and features a 180-seat sanctuary with recently updated HVAC and electrical systems, as well as a brand-new audio-visual system. As the church looks forward, they desire a visionary leader who will work alongside them to expand their community outreach, expressing their heart for evangelism and missions.

This is a full-time position offering a comprehensive salary and benefits package—including a housing allowance and denominational health and pension benefits based upon denominational guidelines.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity further, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a recent photo to [email protected].

31 Mar

March 31, 2026 |
Rev. Don Ross, 77, passed away March 25, 2026, while under hospice care in Port Orange, Fla. From 1978-2019, he pastored six different United Brethren churches in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. His longest tenure was 17 years at the Morocco UB church (Temperance, Mich.), 1986-2003.
Funeral: 11am on April 1, 2026. Viewing one hour beforehand.
Location: Faith UB church, 4700 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange, FL 32129.
Don was born in Van Wert, Ohio, and went on to earn a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Fort Wayne International Business School. After sensing God’s call to the ministry, he entered Huntington University, where he finished with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained in 1984.
Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arlys, and sons Donald and Richard, along with 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, it is requested that donations be made in Don’s name to: Laurel Mission, 77 Cr-1507, Big Laurel, KY 40808.
The online obituary for Don Ross can be read here: https://obituaries.baldwincremation.com/donald-paul-ross

30 Mar

March 30, 2026 |

Today’s the day—the new ub.org is live.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve shared updates about what’s changing and how the new site is designed to make things easier to find and easier to use. Now it’s time to explore it for yourself.

From the beginning, this project has been about one simple goal: creating a clearer, more accessible online home for the United Brethren Church.

What You’ll Notice Right Away

As you begin using the new site, a few things should stand out immediately.

A more visual experience
Pages are designed to help you quickly recognize where to go next, with clearer sections, better use of images, and less clutter.

Simpler navigation
No matter where you are on the site, key links like Resources, Find a Church, and Staff Openings are always within reach.

A more connected experience
Everything now lives in one place. Resources, events, and news updates are no longer spread across multiple sites, making ub.org a more reliable starting point.

A Few New Features to Explore

In addition to the updates we’ve already shared, there are a few other improvements you’ll discover along the way.

  • Improved search functionality to help you quickly locate articles, documents, and pages
  • Cleaner page layouts that make longer content easier to read and navigate
  • Optimized mobile experience, so the site works just as well on your phone or tablet

Start Exploring

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few good places to start:

  • Browse Resources to explore articles, videos, and podcasts
  • Use Find a Church to locate congregations near you
  • Check out the latest Events right from the homepage

This new site is designed to serve you—and we hope it makes your experience simpler, clearer, and more helpful every time you visit.

Take a few minutes to look around. We’re glad you’re here.



18 Mar

March 18, 2026 |

As we move closer to the launch of the new ub.org, we want to take a moment to highlight a few of the updates that have already been shared—so you know exactly what to expect.

Resources and Articles

One of the biggest changes is the move away from multiple websites. When the new site launches, ubcentral.org will no longer be operational. Instead, videos, podcasts, and articles will all live in one place at ub.org/resources, making it easier to find the content you’re looking for without having to navigate between sites.

Find a Church

You’ll also notice improvements to how you find churches. The new “Find a Church” feature, linked directly at the top of every page, allows you to quickly see congregations closest to you or search by city or zip code. Whether you’re helping someone get connected or exploring churches in another area, the process is simple and intuitive.

Other Changes

Several other areas of the site have been streamlined as well. Staff openings will now be located in one consistent place—just click “Staff Openings” at the top of any page. The events page has been redesigned to be easier to navigate, with the next upcoming event featured directly on the homepage.

In addition, important documents like the Discipline and the Pastoral Ministry Handbook will be accessible in a variety of ways. Not only will they be available as downloads, but you’ll also be able to jump directly to specific sections through clickable links in the table of contents and in the sidebar navigation.

Each of these updates reflects the same goal: making ub.org the central location for all United Brethren related information and making it more accessible for everyone who visits.

We’re looking forward to sharing the new site with you soon.



17 Mar

March 17, 2026 |

 

Youth leaders and students across Northeast Indiana—don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something powerful.

On April 10, Huntington University will host Outpour Worship, a regional worship night designed to unite students and churches for an unforgettable evening of praise and worship.

The lineup features Grammy Award winning artists Joe L Barnes (Maverick City Music) and DOE (2025 Best Christian Music Album), along with local artists City Movement (City Church).

But why Outpour and why now? 

Chris Freeman, senior pastor at City Church in Fort Wayne, answers that question this way, “I believe we are at a pivotal moment in history, where Christians have the opportunity to set aside personal preferences and come together as the body of Christ. Outpour Worship invites us to unite with one heart, one voice and one worship to the One who loves us most.”

This is a great opportunity for United Brethren church youth groups to join together with students and leaders from across the region to participate in a unified worship experience that lifts up the name of Jesus.

Doors open at 5:30 PM, preshow begins at 6:00 PM, and the concert starts at 7:00 PM.

Group discounts are available—use code OgpHu@10 when purchasing tickets for your youth group.

To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, visit Huntington University’s event page.

13 Mar

March 13, 2026 |

Dates and locations of the Strong Church Formation workshops

In 2025, the US National Conference landed on a new definition of a local congregation. Our Discipline now states that, “A congregation is a gathered expression of people of the global community that embodies the life of Christ in the world” (¶401.1). 

We believe this change offers United Brethren churches, regardless of size, the “freedom to pursue the expression of ministry and worship that will enable them to fulfill God’s call upon them” (Discipline, ¶401.2). This year, we want to help churches navigate this change by providing a series of resources on Strong Church Formation.

The first of these resources is a set of workshops titled, Growing in Maturity, designed to shift our focus from metrics as the key measure for a strong church, to maturity characterized by spiritual vitality, relational connectedness and missional engagement. The key question we will ask in this series is not “How can we grow bigger as a church,” but rather “How can Christ grow bigger in me/us?” 

These workshops will be hosted regionally and open to all of our pastors, church leaders, national conference delegates and anyone else who is interested in attending. 

We have three workshops scheduled so far with additional dates and locations (more to the east) coming in the summer and fall. Workshops will be held on the following Saturdays from 9:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm, with lunch included.

  • May 16, 2026 at Fowlerville United Brethren Church (Fowlerville, MI)
  • May 30, 2026 at Living Grace Community Church (Fort Wayne, IN)
  • June 13, 2026 at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, OH)

More details on each of these events will be available soon, but for now, mark your calendar for the Strong Church Formation: Growing in Maturity Workshop closest to you. 



12 Mar

March 12, 2026 |

The deadline to register for the Ministry Leader Summit is approaching quickly, and we want to make sure you have the details you need—especially when it comes to what’s included and how hotel reservations will work.

What’s Included

Your $75 registration fee covers several parts of the summit experience designed to make the week both meaningful and refreshing. Attendees will receive:

  • Daily à la carte breakfast

  • At least two hosted dinners

  • Seminars and workshops throughout the summit

  • Monday night’s hotel stay (April 27)

If you hold a ministerial license, attending the summit will also provide six contact hours toward your continuing education requirements.

Please note that travel, lunches, personal spending, excursions, and most lodging costs are not included.

Take-aways from the last Ministry Leader Summit

Hotel Reservations

All attendees will stay at the Best Western Aku Tiki Inn in Daytona Beach at the event’s group rate of $209 per night (including taxes).

As part of the summit, Monday night’s stay is covered. Attendees are responsible for the remaining three nights—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

To keep the process simple, the UB National Office will handle all hotel reservations. When you register, you’ll indicate your arrival and departure dates as well as any roommate request. Our office will then make the reservation on your behalf.

After registration, you will receive an invoice from the National Office for your lodging costs (all nights except Monday). Payment is due by April 13, 2026.

If you plan to arrive early or stay an extra day or two, you can note that on your registration and our office will include those nights in your reservation.

Finally, please remember that cancellations must be made by April 13 to avoid being charged for one night’s lodging.

If you’re planning to attend but haven’t registered yet, be sure to do so before the March 25 deadline.

Register here!

11 Mar

March 11, 2026 |

Many pastors, leaders, and church staff regularly rely on key documents like the Discipline and the Pastoral Ministry Handbook. With the new ub.org (just weeks away), these resources will be more useful and accessible than ever.

What’s Changing

On the new site, these documents will still be available as downloadable PDFs, but the full text of each document will also now be available on a single web page. The page will include clickable links, both in a side bar menu and in a table of contents at the top of the page, that will allow you to jump directly to the section you are interested in without opening a new page. 

So whether you’re preparing for a meeting, answering a question, or doing deeper reading, these documents are designed to work the way you need them to.

–––––

This update is part of our ongoing effort to make the new ub.org not just a place to find information—but a place where resources are practical, accessible, and easy to use.

03 Mar

March 3, 2026 |

Rev. Paul J. Baty, 85, passed away February 28, 2026, in New Castle, Ind. For the past 14 years, he has pastored the Pleasant Hill United Brethren church in Muncie, Ind. He preached his final message there on February 22.

Funeral service: noon on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Sproles funeral home  (2400 S. Memorial Dr., New Castle, IN 47362). Visitation 4-7 pm Tuesday, March 3, at the funeral home.

Baty grew up in New Castle and went on to serve four years in the US Marine Corps (as did his brothers). In 1996, he retired after 30 years with New Castle Chrysler Corporation.

He is survived by his wife, Parma Lou, whom he met at a county fair in 1957 and married four years later. They were married for 64 years and had three daughters.

You can read the online obituary here: https://www.sprolesfamilycares.com/obituaries/paul-baty/#!/Obituary

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Correction: This article originally stated, as posted in the obituary, that Rev. Baty pastored the Mt. Pleasant Church in New Castle. That has been corrected. Rev. Baty pastored the Pleasant Hill United Brethren Church in Muncie.

26 Feb

February 26, 2026 |

Rev. Robert Luke Mentzer, 84, passed away February 25, 2026, in Orbisonia, Pa. He was a United Brethren minister for 36 years in Shippensburg, Pa.

Celebration of life service: 11 am Saturday, February 28, 2026. Viewing 9:30 – 11:00.

Location: West Side Brethren in Christ Church, 2665 Lincoln Way West, Chambersburg, PA 17202.

Rev. Mentzer cites his home church as St. James United Brethren in Chambersburg, Pa. In 1963, he earned an Education degree from Shippensburg State College in Shippensburg, Pa. He entered the United Brethren ministry in 1971, and for the next 36 years, pastored the Mainsville UB church in Shippensburg. In 1976 he completed the pastoral corespondance course from the Huntington University Graduate School of Christian Ministries, and he was ordained in 1978.

After leaving Mainsville church in 2007, Mentzer served 15 years as pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in Lemasters, Pa. He served both churches bi-vocationally, teaching social studies, geography, and American history in public schools for 40 years. Along the way he also coached wrestling and refereed baseball games.

Robert and Judy (Marshall) Mentzer were married for 62 years and had two children.

It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, love gifts be sent to his home church:

St. James United Brethren Church

2398 Warm Spring Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202