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Tom Mahas, youth pastor at Bethel UB (Elmore, Ohio), was approved for his local church license December 17, 2009. Cluster Leader Brad Kittle, pastor of The ROCK (Findlay, Ohio), will present it to him soon.
Tom is the guy who headed up the youth activities at the 2007 and 2009 US National Conferences.
The Huntington University Graduate School announced this week that it will discontinue the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, the program that prepares students for pastoral ministry. Classes will be offered through June 15, 2010.
Ministers can still receive plenty of training at Huntington University. The Masters programs in Youth Ministry Leadership, Counseling, and Education will continue. So will the undergraduate level programs in Bible and Religion, and Ministry and Missions. But the Ministry Leadership program is no longer viable.
The Ministry Leadership program is fairly small: 1 fulltime student, and 29 part-time students. Of those, less than half are United Brethren (1 fulltime, 12 part-time). Many of them receive deep tuition discounts. The program has one fulltime director, 4 adjunct faculty, and one support person.
Dr. G. Blair Dowden, in a letter he sent earlier this week to students in the program, wrote:
“Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly and is part of a comprehensive budget adjustment involving all parts of the university. Factors such as university-wide enrollment, reduced giving from donors, and changes in state financial aid have forced the university (and many other universities) to take unprecedented measures to balance our budget. The decision to discontinue specific programs was made only after much deliberation and prayer….
“I am saddened by the loss of the Ministry Leadership program at Huntington University, and I regret the position this creates for you and the other students enrolled in the program. Please know that we will work with each of you to find the best solution for completion of this degree or a comparable degree at another university.”
We need to recognize the financial issues that brought this to a head.
For over 100 years, Huntington University has been the primary training ground for United Brethren ministers. However, for many years now, the university has lost money on its graduate-level pastoral ministry track. They have tried different approaches, and have accepted the financial losses because of their commitment to the United Brethren church. But it finally reached the point where they had to pull the plug.
While I’m saddened by this decision, I understand why it is necessary. I do not fault Huntington University. They tried to make it work.
I feel for the students currently in the program. A couple of them have contacted me already. They are halfway through the program, and are understandably concerned. Have I wasted time and money? Will the credits I’ve earned transfer to another school? What about the tuition discounts I receive as a United Brethren student?
Mike Cook, the Director of Graduate Ministries, is investigating options for them. Huntington University plans to help these students in a number of ways, including negotiating transfer agreements with other Christian colleges and universities.
On a positive note: we can now take a fresh look at pastoral training. This will be healthy and exciting for us.
The United Brethren denomination has a responsibility to train its ministers effectively. Yes, they can earn degrees at any number of other institutions. But we need to decide what exactly we want for United Brethren ministers, and then steer them in the right direction.
It’s easy, when you have a college with a pastoral training program, to just let them do it. Our approach has been: whatever program Huntington University offers, that’s what our ministers need. We’ve been a bit spoiled.
But now, we must reexamine that question. Which colleges have pastoral training programs that fit what we’re looking for? Should we offer training beyond formal education–mentoring, workshops, seminars?
It will be healthy for us to take a fresh look at pastoral training. The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team will lead the way. My hope is that this spring, we can develop a game plan that does two things:
Yes, it’s sad to see the pastoral training program come to an end. It’s been an important aspect of our relationship with Huntington University, training hundreds of UB ministers over the years.
But at the same time, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at the crucial task of ministerial training. That will be good for us.
Fountain Hills Community Church (Fountain Hills, Ariz.) voted to close on December 8, 2009.Bishop Phil Whipple was on hand to lead the meeting.
Fountain Hills UB, in the Phoenix area, was founded in 1974 by Rev. Ed Mast. Other pastors over the years have included Don Dennie, Steve Gilbertson, and most recently, Jim Fitz.
That leaves just one United Brethren church in Arizona: Templo Cristiano Corona de Victoria, a Hispanic congregation that meets in the building which formerly housed the Anglo Faith UB church. Nohemi Peralta is the pastor.
Jeff Keplar was granted a local church ministerial license by Emmanuel Community Church (F0rt Wayne, Ind.).
Troy Hogue was granted a local conference ministerial license by Victory Heights UB (Franklin, Pa).
The Huntington University Athletic Department teamed up with Love INC to sponsor local families for Christmas. Each of the 15 athletic teams purchased gifts and food for Huntington County families. Staff members from the President’s Office and Public Relations Office joined the student-athletes’ holiday project. Through these efforts, the children of 13 families will have presents to open on Christmas morning.
Morocco Church (Temperance, Mich.) is reaching out to the community and sharing the joy of Jesus! For the last few years, Morocco has invited the Ida High School Jazz Band to perform, and they did that again on December 14.
After the band played several Christmas hymns and songs with a jazz flare, everyone went to the fellowship room for free hot coca, punch, and lots of goodies. It’s a great way to celebrate Christmas and get people into the church, which was beautifully decorated for the holidays.
Mark Ralph will become senior pastor of Lakeside Evangelical Congregational Church (Transfer, Pa.) effective January 1, 2010. Since 1975, Mark has been a pastor at Brown Corners UB (Clare, Mich), Shepherd Street UB (Charlotte, Mich.), and a UB church planter in Birmingham, Ala. Most recently, he was senior pastor of Sunfield UB (Sunfield, Mich.) 1997-2009. Mark has roots in the Evangelical Congregational Church, where his father was a pastor for 28 years. Mark himself pastored in the EC church 1981-1983.
We reported yesterday the death of Dave Jackson. Here are the arrangements for his funeral:
Extended information about Dave can be found on the website for Myers Funeral Homes.
Last Thursday, Dec. 3, Bishop Phil Whipple was a guest on the popular Mid-Morning show on WBCL, a Christian radio station in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was joined by two Huntington University graduate school professors, Mike Cook and Jerry Davis, along with another Fort Wayne pastor. The topic: “Healthy Church, Healthy Pastor.”
In March 2010, Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs will begin offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) for registered nurses.
Classes will be held on Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. on the university’s main campus.
The RN to BSN program seeks to build on the experience and education nurses already have gained in the field, and to teach nursing theory, leadership, and care through a Christian lens.
Students will complete the nursing core in less than two years. The program consists of 17 courses comprising 49 credit hours. These courses include Bible and writing as well as nursing courses such as research, ethics, and current issues in nursing. 
Transcripts from previous educational institutions will determine the amount of transferable coursework and the courses needed for graduation.
“Our program is designed for adult learners who work and have family responsibilities,” said Diana Shenefield (right), an R.N. and instructor in nursing.
She added that the university’s smaller size allows for a more student-centered approach to learning.
“Students have more of an opportunity to speak out in class,” Shenefield said. “They can ask questions as well as engage the professor in dialogue in and outside of class.”
