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At the time, Todd Fetters was director of National Ministries. On Friday, August 7, Todd Fetters began his new role as Interim Bishop for the US National Conference.
The business meeting of the 2015 US National Conference.
Steve Dennie, Director of Communications
The business meeting of the US National Conference lasted throughout the morning and afternoon of Thursday, July 16. Several major proposals were on the docket. But the issue foremost in people’s hearts and minds was the resignation of Bishop Phil Whipple, which had occurred just one week before on July 8. What happened? And where would we go from here?
This issue was scheduled early in the business meeting—in fact, the first item of business after the preliminaries. The end result was the appointment of a new bishop.
The business session began with a hot breakfast for all delegates, sponsored by Logos Bible Software. There was some singing, then a brief presentation from Logos about the latest version of their software.
Around 9:30, the business session began. These persons served as officers:
Gary Dilley speaking on behalf of the Executive Leadership Team.
After approving the Rules & Procedures to govern the meeting, Todd Fetters turned the chair over to Paul Hirschy to process approval of the Executive Leadership Team minutes from the past two years—four regular meetings, plus a variety of decisions handled through online voting.
Jason Garwood, pastor of Colwood UB church (Caro, Mich.), asked if there would be some explanation of the resignation of Bishop Whipple. It was, indeed, the appropriate time for that.
Two members of the 2013-2015 ELT came forward. Darwin Dunten, pastor of Findlay First UB (Findlay, Ohio), moved that the conference go into executive session, with only delegates and advisory members present. All other persons were asked to leave the room, and they did. Then Gary Dilley, pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.), read a letter on behalf of the ELT about the circumstances surrounding the bishop’s resignation. There were questions and responses. Nothing was recorded in the minutes.
Bishop Hirschy closed the executive session at 10:30 with prayer. After a break, the delegates reconvened at 10:45. They quickly approved the work of the ELT.
Discussion continued about where to go from here. Eventually, this motion was made by Steve Fish, Teaching Pastor at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.):
“I move the United Brethren National Conference affirm the ELT’s decision to appoint Todd Fetters as the Interim Bishop, and that this body determine that time-frame to begin on August 7, 2015, until the meeting of the next United Brethren National Conference in 2017.”
So, Todd Fetters would essentially serve the remainder of Bishop Whipple’s unexpired term, starting August 7 and continuing until a bishop was formally elected at the 2017 US National Conference.
There was discussion about what title to use—“interim bishop,” or something else. The Discipline mentioned appointing an “acting bishop.” Jim Bolich, senior pastor of Prince Street UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.), made a motion to drop “interim” and just use “bishop.” A number of people voted for this amendment, but it lost on a much stronger voice vote.
Todd Fetters was asked to comment on what title he preferred. He said he felt ambivalent. He understood that regardless of what title was used, it would carry the same weight. He also recognized that he would be serving an interim term, not an elected term. Later in the meeting, he said, “To have an asterisk by my title–that’s fine. I’m happy to serve in that capacity. I’m okay with it, because it’s a great reminder of who I have to be. I’m all right with that, and I want you to be all right with that.”
Dan Paternoster (layperson, Fowlerville, Mich.) said “interim” didn’t make the position smaller, but identified the position while reserving the term “bishop” for persons elected to that position.
At 11:05, a vote was taken on Steve Fish’s motion, which remained in its original form after several attempted amendments. It passed with only one dissent.
We had a new bishop. (more…)
Seth and Becca Mallay and children.
Seth and Becca Mallay have joined the Global Ministries family as endorsed missionaries. They are members of Hillsdale UB church in Hillsdale, Mich.
The Mallays serve with World Medical Mission (the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse). They are preparing for medical mission work in Togo, a small country of 6.8 million people in West Africa. they will spend the entirety of 2016 learning French in France before arriving in Togo.
Seth is a family physician who will work at the Hôpital Baptiste Biblique in Adéta, Togo. He will provide a variety of medical care, while evangelizing to and praying for his patients in the hospital and clinic. Becca will work in education, discipleship, and children’s ministries in the community in and around the hospital compound.
Seth felt the call to become a fulltime medical missionary as a child, and remained committed to this call throughout medical school and residency. He is honored to be able to serve in a country like Togo, where basic medical care is still a desperate need and where a significant percentage of the population has yet to hear the Gospel.
Becca’s parents were missionaries, and she was raised on the mission field in Brazil. From a young age, she felt called to fulltime mission work in Africa.
When Seth and Becca met in Michigan, they immediately recognized their common calling and decided to pursue their future in medical missions together. They have four children.
Samaritan’s Purse
Attn: Post-Residency Program
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
Please make checks out to “Samaritan’s Purse” and write “Dr. Seth Mallay, Account # 005125” on the memo line.
You can also give to them through the World Medical Mission website by entering “Mallay” into the search bar under “FIND DR/MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.” Their names, account number, and photo will appear, along a place to enter your donation amount.
