30 Oct Talking About Leadership

About 40 people came to New Hope Church in Bryan, Ohio, on October 23 for the second of six regional meetings with Bishop Ron Ramsey. The first was held three days before in Huntington, Ind. This one included a surprise announcement.

As in Huntington, Bishop Ramsey and Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, explained the two referenda and various Discipline revision proposals which will come before the US National Conference next June.

Bishop Ramsey has previously made known his intention to serve only until 2009. What wasn’t known was that Pat Jones plans to leave the national office at the same time, neither staying in his current position nor allowing his name to run on the ballot for bishop. Pat made that announcement publicly at the regional meeting in Bryan.

Bishop Ramsey then led the group in a discussion about the upcoming leadership transition. He asked, “What do we need in terms of leadership?” The assembled pastors and laypersons addressed that question from various angles.

The next four regional meetings will be held:

• Thursday, November 6: Cochranton UB, Cochranton, Pa. (1-3 p.m.).
• Monday, November 10: Rhodes Grove Camp, Chambersburg, Pa.
• Wednesday, November 12: Lancaster UB, Lancaster, Ohio (1-3 p.m.).
• Tuesday, November 18: East Washington UB, Ashley, Mich. (10-noon).

The meetings are open to any UB ministers and laypersons. Please register in advance.