30 Mar Nominations for Bishop and ELT

The US National Conference Nominating Committee has concluded its work, and has submitted the following:

• A single nomination for bishop, 2009-2013: Phil Whipple (right), senior pastor of Colwood UB church in Caro, Mich.
• The ballot for the Executive Leadership Team.
• An explanation of the Nominating Committee’s task and the process they followed in putting together the ballot.

Phil Whipple is a graduate of Liberty University and of the Huntington University Graduate School. He took his first pastorate in 1984, but didn’t come into the United Brethren fold until 1990, when he became an associate at Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich.

The next year, he began seven years as pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.). Then, in 1998, he was assigned to Colwood. Under Phil’s leadership, the attendance has grown from 200 to over 500, and they have baptized 130 people.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have been married for almost 30 years, and have two sons, both of whom serve as Worship Arts pastors–Josh at Mongul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa., and Mike at Colwood.

You can read online Phil’s vision statement, which includes six roles he sees for the bishop and four areas for immediate attention.