Dr. Ruth Ford and students.

Dr. Ruth Ford and students.

Huntington University is preparing to launch its first doctoral-level program: in occupational therapy. Dr. Ruth Ford was hired to lead the program, and will assume the director’s role in January 2014.

Ford, who previously served as the associate dean of occupational therapy at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., comes to HU with 13 years in academia, including broad experience in the clinical and business aspects of the field. She has 37 clinical years of experience in management, acute care, rehabilitation, outpatient, long-term care, and home health. She has managed more than 500 occupational and physical therapists and speech language pathologists, and has opened multiple occupational therapy programs.

The program is being developed in a unique collaboration with Trine University, Parkview Health and the City of Fort Wayne. This doctoral program will be based in Fort Wayne, Ind., within the Life Science Education and Research Consortium of Northeast Indiana. It will build on Huntington’s undergraduate degrees in psychology, nursing, and exercise science. A bachelor’s degree and certain prerequisite courses are required for this program.

You can read more about the program on the Huntington University website.

John Beukema (right) has resigned as senior pastor of King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) effective January 12, 2014. He has accepted a position as senior pastor of Cypress Bible Church in Houston, Texas.

In an announcement to the board of administration and elders at King Street on November 6, Beukema said, “Early in 2012, I began to realize that God might have different plans for me, rather than to remain at King Street for the next 10 years. I began to pray for clear and specific direction.” He said his gift mix better suits investing in multiple churches for 8-10 years each.

Cypress Bible Church announced Beukema’s selection on November 7.

Beukema became senior pastor of King Street in 2005, after the previous senior pastor, Pat Jones, became the denominational Director of Healthy Church Ministries. At the time, King Street had a weekly worship attendance of about 1300, making it the largest United Brethren church in the world. Under Beukema’s leadership, King Street’s weekly attendance increased to about 1800, with four worship services every Sunday morning.

A recent ruling by a US District Court has raised questions about the status of housing allowance for ministers. Some UB ministers have called the national office, wondering, “How does this affect me? Do I need to do anything different?”

The short answer is: continue what you’ve been doing. Nothing will take affect until all appeals have been exhausted. That could take a couple years.

Ministers of all religious groups are allowed housing allowance to pay expenses related to their home—rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance, repairs, furnishings, property taxes, etc. The church must state in advance (preferably in board minutes) the amount of salary designated as housing allowance. That amount, then, is not taxable. For instance, if a pastor makes $40,000 and $15,000 is designated as housing allowance, the minister will be taxed on just $25,000 of income. (Here’s suggested wording for a board resolution.)

On November 22, 2013, a US District Court in Wisconsin ruled that the housing exemption violates the Constitution’s “establishment of religion” clause. The judge said it unnecessarily “provides a benefit to religious persons and no one else.” She felt that housing allowance provides an unconstitutional preference for religion, and that denying housing allowance wouldn’t infringe on freedom of religion.

You can read much more about housing allowance in this article on UBCentral.org.

Gary Gates (right), director of Ministerial Licensing, will represent the United Brethren denomination in January at a meeting of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. He’ll report on the prayer emphases in the United Brethren Church.

Gary prepared a simple survey. He would greatly appreciate it if you’d take a few minutes to give some of your feedback. You can use this survey form.

Thanks!

The group on an old Roman road.

The group on an old Roman road. (click to enlarge)

In the Ephesus amphitheater.

In the Ephesus amphitheater.

Steve Dennie, UB Director of Communications

A group of nearly 20 persons from the United States, most of them United Brethren pastors and wives, spent ten days in Turkey November 4-13, 2013. This “Seven Churches of Revelation Tour” was sponsored by Global Ministries, the international arm of the United Brethren churches in the US and Canada.

Several years ago, Global Ministries began pursuing ministry opportunities in Turkey—the first predominantly Muslim nation into which the UB church has ventured. They organized this trip not only as an educational experience for UB pastors, but to introduce UB leaders to ministry opportunities in Turkey. Global Ministries is partnering with IN Network, a mission agency which works in Turkey.

The United Brethren participants were:

  • Bishop Phil Whipple.
  • Jeff Bleijerveld, director of Global Ministries.
  • Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries, and her husband, Jason.
  • Gary Dilley, pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.), and his wife, Rhonda.
  • Mike Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ UB church (Byron Center, Mich.).
  • John Erwin, pastor of Hopewell UB church (Auburn, Ind.).
  • Patrick Daugherty, associate pastor of Atlantic Avenue UB church (New Castle, Pa.).
  • Micheal Dean, pastor of Sabetha UB church (Sabetha, Kansas).
  • Mark Ralph, pastor of Mt. Zion UB church (Wayne, Ohio).
  • Steve Henry, pastor of Victory Heights UB church (Franklin, Pa.), and his wife, Amanda.

Three ministers from other denominations tagged along at the invitation of IN Network.

Leading the trip was Dr. Mark Fairchild, who chairs the Bible & Religion department at Huntington University. His numerous trips to Turkey include two from last summer—one with the Biblical Archaeology Society, the other as a consultant, at the invitation of the Turkish government, to a committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools. He knows his stuff, and is recognized for knowing it.

(more…)

The new Gator for Camp Living Waters

The new Gator for Camp Living Waters

The Sunfield congregation has been busy for the past several months working on a huge secret–buying a John Deere Gator for Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich. The Gator will be used to transport campers and supplies, give tours, etc.

Sunfield held a potluck/hot dog bar this past Sunday, November 24, to present the Gator to the CLW director and board members. They were overwhelmed and very excited. Tears were flowing.

Camp Living Waters is a year-round camp in northern Michigan. It was one of two camps operated by the former Michigan Conference until 2005, when the conferences disbanded and the denomination’s various camps were spun off as independent entities.

During a January-term trip, Dr. David Alexander discovered a passion for India and overseas missions. So, when an opportunity arose last summer, he jumped at the chance to return.

Alexander, associate professor of philosophy, spent two months in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, in mid-2013 serving as a visiting professor of philosophy at Madras Christian College. He presented research, gave lectures, and participated in debates pertaining to religion and philosophy.

“India is a fascinating place,” Alexander said. “It is, in a real sense, a land full of tension or contradiction. It is beautiful. And yet, the land and the people are neglected and abused. Food is scarce all over the place. Radical wealth and radical poverty exist side-by-side. Devotion to Jesus and devotion to idols exist side-by-side. Love and hate exist side-by-side. Beauty and ugly, angels and demons, heaven and hell. It is simply shocking. And for that reason it draws me.”

Alexander’s passion for India developed after he took his first mission trip in January 2013 to the Home of Love orphanage. The experience shook him to the core.

“I became vulnerable to others in ways I have never been,” he shared. “Being in India with the girls at the home and the students from Huntington University helped me to see how much I need to love and to be loved. Tears poured down my face as I looked at 100 girls that love so much and so authentically.”

Doug Stull (right), senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley UB church (Logan, Ohio), informed us of the death of his mother. Lillian Stull Hudson passed away on November 17. She lived in Glencoe, Ohio. The funeral was held November 20.

Doug Stull has pastored the Shepherd of the Valley church since 1995. Condolences can be sent to him at 5445 Swartz Mill Road, Sugar Grove, OH 43155.