31 Dec The United Brethren Decade in Review

Everyone’s publishing “decade in review” lists–best movies, best sports plays, most significant news stories, ground-breaking new products, top scandals, etc.

How would we recap the decade for the United Brethren church? Here are ten UB highlights of the decade, in roughly chronological order.

2001 General Conference. This was a historic conference. We adopted a true international structure, with 7 autonomous national conferences joined together by the Confession of Faith and an international constitution. Huntington, Ind., stopped being the United Brethren “world” headquarters, and became just the US headquarters. No longer does United Brethrenism revolve around the United States. Colonialism: RIP.

Open Theism. A whole lot of turbulence arose around Dr. John Sanders, a professor at Huntington University who was a leading proponent of what is called Open Theism. United Brethren theology clashed, hard, with academic freedom. Both church and college came under criticism from the broader evangelical community. In the end, an exit strategy was worked out for Dr. Sanders, and both church and college began mending the wounds.

Joining the Missionary Church. In early 2003, the UB Executive Leadership Team voted to pursue merging our denomination into the Missionary Church, a like-minded, larger denomination based in Fort Wayne, Ind. As leadership pushed this initiative, a group called UB Hope arose to rally people against it. Ultimately, UB members voted it down in a referendum, 56%-44%. This set the stage for lots of soul-searching about why we exist and the adoption of a whole new structure.

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16 Dec A Cup of Christmas Tea

The Healthy Ministry Resources staff started the day with a tradition that goes back a number of years–a Cup of Christmas Tea. Donna Hollopeter started this back in the 1990s.

The lights were dimmed as we entered the conference room, with candles burning and instrumental Christmas music playing quietly. A nice, tranquil atmosphere.

After we were all seated, Donna read the Christmas story and prayed. Then she introduced the food at the front of the room–bread, cheeseballs, coffee cake, and much more. And then there were the teapots, five of them, all filled with a different kind of tea.

We filled out plates. Then, as we ate, Donna introduced “A Cup of Christmas Tea,” a poem written and read by Tom Hegg. We continued eating, often trekking to the front for more food or to try a different flavor of tea. Then we just sat around talking for a while. It was a great way to begin the day, and a reminder of why Christmas is special. Thanks, Donna!

09 Dec Homeward Bound

Two Healthy Ministry Resources wayfarers are returning to Huntington, Ind., today.

• Bishop Phil Whipple flies out of Phoenix this morning after several days in Fountain Hills, Ariz.
• Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, flies back after six days in Mexico.

09 Dec Two New Members of UB Youth Team

Two new persons have joined the denominational Youth Ministry Team:

• Marc Stephenson (left), Minister of Youth at Cochranton Community Church (Cochranton, Pa.).
• Mark Vincenti, Associate Pastor of Student Ministries at King Street Church (Chambersburg, Pa.).

They replace Roger Vezeau and Brian Kramer, who served on the youth team during the past four years.

16 Nov Some Backstory on Jane Mason

Jane Mason was the United Brethren archivist for over 20 years, finally stepping down in 1997 at age 80. She professionalized our a archive services, and was in charge when the archives was moved from the United Brethren offices to the lower level of the Huntington University library.

Jane’s daughter, Barb, wrote about her mom on her blog. For those of you who might know Jane, you’ll find Barb’s recollections interesting.

10 Nov On the Road: at Rhodes Grove Camp

After church on Sunday at Bethel Temple of Praise in Yonkers, N.Y., Sandy and I drove across New York City and through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. We arrived in Shippensburg at 6 p.m. I dropped Sandy off at our son’s home and I headed on to Rhodes Grove Campground. It was my first visit to the camp.

At 7:00 I arrived at the camp for a fireside chat session with some pastors and lay folks from Pennsylvania. I shared my story and talked about what I see for the United Brethren Church in the future. We had an enjoyable evening.

On Monday morning, I shared some devotional thoughts with a group that had come in for Mid Atlantic Resource Day. Then I headed back to spend some time with our son and daughter-in-law. Added to that opportunity was the chance to spend time with our granddaughter Aubrey. What fun it is to see her walking and growing up so fast.

Tuesday morning found us headed back to our home in Huntington. It has been a good trip.

09 Nov On the Road: With Our Church in Yonkers

Sandy and I arrived in Yonkers, New York, on Friday, November 6. On Friday night and Saturday, I led an evaluation of Bethel Temple of Praise, the UB church in Yonkers.

I was joined by Dan Palmer, an experienced church planter from Tennessee who and has a history of planting a multiethnic congregation. We had a good meeting with senior pastor Dalton Jenkins on Friday night.

On Saturday, a group of 15-20 people from the church came together. We asked some questions and did some teaching and sharing. Then Dan and I came back to the hotel and put together a report.

On Saturday evening, I met with the cluster that Dalton leads. Linton Thomas and Joseph Abu came to the meeting, and we had some good interaction.

Then, around 7 p.m., there was a fundraising rally. It was a night to remember. Many people, most of Jamaican descent, came from a number of area churches. The Bethel Temple of Praise church was packed as its praise team led off with several songs. Each church had someone sing a song. After each song, they went out to collect an offering, then return and report what they had raised. The emcee kept it moving with humor and a good-natured challenge to each church to out-give the last one.

On Sunday morning, I gave the sermon at Bethel, challenging the people to identify the lions in their lives that cause them to fear, and to become a lion chaser through the power of God.

30 Oct On the Road: Talking about Church Planting

Andy Sikora

Last night (Thursday), Sandy and I had supper with Andy and Merri Sikora, both Huntington University graduates who live in Berea, Ohio. Tom Blaylock was also there.

Andy is currently the Lead Teaching Pastor for the 707 Sunday night young adult ministry at Cuyahoga Valley Church in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Andy and Merri are going to plant a United Brethren church in Berea starting next fall. We had a great supper and conversation.

This morning Tom, Andy, and I met with:

• Rick Duncan, who pastors Cuyahoga Valley Church.
• Guy Stevens, who heads a church planting organization called NEO360, based in Cleveland, Ohio.
• Matt Jones, an intern with NEO360.

We had a great meeting as they shared their vision for impacting northeast Ohio with planting churches which not only see lost people come to Christ, but also impact their communities with their presence in every area. Exciting stuff. They want to partner with us to see a UB church planted.

We all want to work across denominational lines to accomplish the mission of impacting the kingdom of God.

01 Jul Move, Pitch, and Clean

The Healthy Ministry Resources staff spent Monday and Tuesday cleaning out the warehouse. We threw out gobs and gobs of stuff, and totally rearranged the space. We’re making room for the Huntington University Graduate School to put in a new classroom. Bishop Ron Ramsey and Pat Jones provided the muscle. Administrative Assistant Cathy Reich roamed the heights, stacking boxes atop an existing classroom and climbing through shelves to rearrange boxes. Jane Seely directed traffic, giving instructions about where things should go, since she’s the main person who works out there.

And Steve Dennie did the least-strenuous thing he could think of–take photos.

“Don’t you dare take a picture of me.” Pat Jones, Marci Hammel (below), and Cathy Reichare take a picture of me.” Pat Jones, Marci Hammel (below), and Cathy Reich

“You missed a spot.” L-r: Pat Jones, Ron Ramsey, Jane Seely, Cathy Reich (foreground).

Cathy, Marci, and Pat move one of the large cabinets.