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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.

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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

25 Feb

February 25, 2026 |

One of the most common reasons people visit ub.org is simple: they’re looking for a church.

With the upcoming launch of the new ub.org, finding a United Brethren church will be easier—and faster—than ever.

How to Find a Church

On the new site, there will be an option at the top of every page that says, “Find a Church.” When you click that link, the churches closest to your current location will automatically appear, complete with address, any website or social media information that church has provided us, and a clickable map to help you find directions.

You will also be able to search by church name, city, or zip code to find other congregations.

Results are clear, searchable, and easy to explore.

Whether you’re helping someone find a church near them, traveling and looking for a UB congregation, or simply learning more about churches across the denomination, the new directory is designed to help you find the information you need faster and more easily than ever.

20 Feb

February 20, 2026 |

Last week we shared some information about the new ub.org website that will soon be launched with a new visual layout and easier navigation so you can find what you are looking for faster. One of the biggest changes you will see that will help make that happen is the way resources will be organized.

Currently, all articles live here on ubcentral.org. Our videos are housed on Vimeo.com. And all of our podcasts can be found on the most popular podcast directories (Apple, Spotify, etc.). So, while all of it is currently accessible, you really have to know what you are looking for and where you need to look for it.

When the new site launches, all videos, podcasts, and articles will be available and searchable under the resources tab at ub.org.

What This Change Means

There are a few things to note as this change takes place, the biggest of which may be that ubcentral.org will no longer be operational. All the content will still be accessible and new content will be written, but it will be available under the resources tab on the new site.

Other Benefits of this Change:

  • One main website to remember
  • Easier access to trusted content
  • A consistent place to find new and archived resources
  • Job postings linked directly from the homepage

If you’ve visited ubcentral regularly, the biggest change will simply be where you go—not what you’ll find there.

In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight more updates and show you other areas of the site designed to make your experience even smoother.



13 Feb

February 13, 2026 |

Pleasant Valley United Brethren Church in Lake Odessa, Michigan, 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 and committed to evangelism. This leader must be mature, emotionally secure, and compassionate—someone who can effectively minister to people in crisis while maintaining a strong presence through pastoral calls to hospitals and shut-ins.

Originally established as a Sunday School class in the early 1880s, Pleasant Valley is an historic church with a friendly congregation primarily composed of active retirees who love the Lord and their community. They are a debt-free church with a facility capable of accommodating significant growth. The congregation is known for its hospitality, talented musicians, and community-focused ministries.

The senior pastor role at Pleasant Valley is a part-time position. The church provides a parsonage (including utilities) and a salary/benefits package that serves as a starting point based on denominational guidelines. They desire to grow spiritually and numerically, and look forward to a pastor who will work alongside them to reach their community.

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].