10 Jun Phil Whipple Elected as US Bishop 2009-2013

Bishop Ron Ramsey (right) prays over Phil and Sandy Whipple during the June 7 installation service for the newly-elected bishop.

After a near-unanimous vote of 336 delegates, Phil Whipple, pastor of Colwood UB Church (Caro, Mich.) was elected bishop of the United Brethren church 2009-2013. He will take office August 15.

The voting occurred about 9:30 Friday morning, June 5, as one of the first items on the agenda of the US National Conference business meeting. The results were announced just before lunch.

Bishop-elect Whipple spoke briefly to the assembled delegates and observers (over 500 people). Then Bishop Ron Ramsey asked the former UB bishops, all of whom were in attendance, to come forward for a prayer time. They included Raymond Waldfogel (1969-1981), C. Ray Miller (1973-1993), Wilber L. Sites, Jr. (1977-1989), Ray Seilhamer (1993-2001), and Paul Hirschy (2001-2005). They laid their hands on Rev. Whipple, and Bishop Emeritus Raymond Waldfogel led in prayer.

Bishop Ramsey led the official installation service on Sunday morning, June 7. Assisting in that service were:

• Roxton Spear, who spent four years serving on staff with Phil at Colwood UB, and now pastors the Mongul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa.
• Russ Tibbits, chairman of the governance board at Colwood.
• Lester Smith, pastor of Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.). Les is responsible for hiring Phil into the United Brethren church.
• Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries.

Phil grew up in a strong Christian family, and sensed God’s callto the ministry at age 17. He graduated from Liberty University, and took his first pastorate in 1984.

Phil entered the United Brethren fold in 1990, when Lester Smith hired him as an associate pastor at Richfield Road UB in Flint, Mich. A year later, he was stationed as pastor of Pleasant Valley UB in Lake Odessa, Mich. He remained there for seven years, and was then assigned to Colwood. At Colwood, the church’s morning attendance has grown from 200 to over 500, and they have baptized over 130 people.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have been married for almost 30 years. They have two sons, both serving the Lord in ministry. Josh is Youth and Worship Arts Pastor at Mongul UB in Shippensburg, Pa. Mike works part-time at Colwood as Worship Arts Pastor, and as a custodian.