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30 Mar

March 30, 2009 |

Phil Whipple

The US National Conference Nominating Committee has concluded its work, and has submitted the following:

  • A single nomination for bishop, 2009-2013: Phil Whipple (right), senior pastor of Colwood UB church in Caro, Mich.
  • The ballot for the Executive Leadership Team.
  • An explanation of the Nominating Committee’s task and the process they followed in putting together the ballot.

Phil Whipple is a graduate of Liberty University and of the Huntington University Graduate School. He took his first pastorate in 1984, but didn’t come into the United Brethren fold until 1990, when he became an associate at Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich.

The next year, he began seven years as pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.). Then, in 1998, he was assigned to Colwood. Under Phil’s leadership, the attendance has grown from 200 to over 500, and they have baptized 130 people.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have been married for almost 30 years, and have two sons, both of whom serve as Worship Arts pastors–Josh at Mongul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa., and Mike at Colwood.

You can read online Phil’s vision statement, which includes six roles he sees for the bishop and four areas for immediate attention.

30 Mar

March 30, 2009 |

whipple.jpegThe US National Conference Nominating Committee has nominated Philip Whipple for the office of bishop. The next bishop will serve 2009-2013.

Phil is senior pastor of Colwood UB church in Caro, Mich. He is a graduate of Liberty University and of the Huntington University Graduate School. He took his first pastorate in 1984, but didn’t come into the United Brethren fold until 1990, when he became an associate at Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich.

The next year, he began seven years as pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.). Then, in 1998, he was assigned to Colwood. Under Phil’s leadership, the attendance has grown from 200 to over 500, and they have baptized 130 people.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have been married for almost 30 years, and have two sons, both of whom serve as Worship Arts pastors–Josh at Mongul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa., and Mike at Colwood.You can read online Phil’s vision statement, which includes six roles he sees for the bishop and four areas for immediate attention.

Phil’s name will be the only name on the ballot, though nominations can also be made from the floor of the US National Conference. Rev. J. Michael Caley, chairman of the Nominating Committee, explains the process they used.

30 Mar

March 30, 2009 |

J. Michael Caley, Senior Pastor, Banner of Christ UB (Byron Center, Mich.)
The Nominating Committee was appointed last fall to fill two ballots for the June 2009 US National Conference:

  1. Bishop.
  2. Executive Leadership Team.

I was named chairman. We held our initial meeting January 15-16 in Canton, Ohio. Prior to these meetings, we received input from Bishop Ron Ramsey and Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries. In addition, we gathered information from various regions and clusters. Realizing that this was a God-sized task, we sought divine direction asking for clear consensus.

During the past four years, Bishop Ramsey’s leadership in growing healthy Great Commission churches has been positive. We clearly heard throughout the denomination the need for continuity. Understandably, a new bishop will bring his own leadership vision and administrative style to the task of growing healthy Great Commission churches.

The Nominating Committee received lists of all ordained United Brethren ministers eligible to serve as bishop, whether currently assigned, unassigned, or retired. From that list we developed a slate of individuals who possess the leadership qualities sought in a bishop.

We contacted seven individuals up through March 15, giving them the opportunity to pray and reflect upon their decision. Of the individuals we contacted, one felt a clear call of God’s leadership for the office of bishop at this time.

We planned, and preferred, to offer a ballot with a least two names (additional nominations can be made from the National Conference floor). However, we also prayed that, as a Nominating Committee, we would have consensus concerning the ballot. In presenting the name of Rev. Phillip Whipple as a nominee for bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, our prayer for consensus has been answered.

25 Feb

February 25, 2009 |

It’s raining…sort of. Here at the national office, we’re being bombarded with stuff. Stuff we requested, and set deadlines for. So that’s a good thing.

XLR8 Registrations. So far, 45 people have registered for the US National Conference in June. We’re just getting started with that. Of those, 15 signed up for the golf outing, and 18 signed up for the UB Historical Society banquet on Friday night (sounds like it’s going to have a real good turnout).

Church reports. The dealine for receiving the annual church reports is March 15. As of yesterday, we had received 57 reports. (Reminder: Bishop Ramsey has warned that if you don’t send your report to him by March 15, your church will be denied representation at the business meeting of the US National Conference.)

Pastor’s reports. Lots of reports from pastors, both assigned and unassigned, are coming in. Again, the deadline is March 15. So far, we have received 145 reports from ministers.

Church covenants. Earlier in the year, your church received a copy of the National Church Covenant, which all UB churches must sign every two years. The deadline for them is March 1. So far, we’ve received 50 signed covenants (about one-fourth of the total).

Referendum results. Churches are sending in the results of the referenda, which were voted on during February in UB churches.

05 Feb

February 5, 2009 |

janeseely_250.jpgJane Seely has joined the staff of Healthy Ministry Resources. She is pretty much taking the place of Phylis Stouder, who retired at the end of the year but who still comes around quite a bit to help out. Jane works with the bookstore to ship Sunday school literature and other materials, and also does miscellaneous stuff around the office.

Let’s start with connections. Jane is the sister of Mike Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ UB church in Byron Center, Mich. That makes her the aunt of Erinn Caley, who served here for six months as administrative assistant to Bishop Ron Ramsey. (Erinn now teaches at a school in Boston.)

Jane and her husband, Rodney, live in Huntington and attend First Nazarene Church. Rodney is a sales rep for a building materials wholesaler. They have three children. Michael, 26, and his wife, Heather, live in St. Paul, Minn., with their two children. Son David, 23, lives in Fishers, Ind. And Rachel, 12, is still at home.

04 Feb

February 4, 2009 |

February is when UB members throughout our churches vote on the two referenda items (proposed changes to the UB Constitution). Churches will handle it different ways, but technically, people should be able to vote throughout the month.

This is just a little reminder, with one Sunday in February gone.

If half of the UB members who vote approve a referendum, then it goes to the US National Conference. If two-thirds of the delegates approve that referendum, then it becomes official.

23 Jan

January 23, 2009 |

The nominating committee is finalizing the ballot for bishop, and is working on the ballot for the Executive Leadership Team. The US National Conference will elect 8 persons to the ELT, and the ELT will then appoint 4 more persons (one from each district).

We previously mentioned the four ministers appointed to the Nominating Committee. They, in turn, selected two laypersons to join them. Here’s the complete list:

  • J. Michael Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ UB (Byron Center, Mich.). Mike is the chairman.
  • Greg Voight, pastor of Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio).
  • Greg Reed, pastor of Morning Star Church (Kokomo, Ind.).
  • Todd Fetters, pastor of Devonshire Church (Harrisburg, Pa.).
  • Don Burkholder, layperson from King Street Church (Chambersburg, Pa.).
  • Brian Hughes, layperson from Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio).

31 Dec

December 31, 2008 |

The National Conference nominating committee always has an important job, especially when a new bishop will be elected. That’s the case right now.

Upon the recommendation of Bishop Ron Ramsey, Executive Leadership Team approved a nominating committee of three ministers:

  • J. Michael Caley (Banner of Christ, Byron Center, Mich.). He’s the chairman.
  • Greg Reed (Morning Star, Kokomo, Ind.).
  • Todd Fetters (Devonshire UB, Harrisburg, Pa.).
  • Greg Voight (Lancaster UB, Lancaster, Ohio).

They, in turn, selected several laypersons to serve on the committee. 

The nominating committee will put together a ballot for:

  • Bishop.
  • 8 members of the Executive Leadership Team (1 layperson and 1 minister from each of the four US districts). 

Keeps these folks in your prayers as they go about discussing candidates and contacting people. They already held one meeting. 

24 Nov

November 24, 2008 |

UBAttendances_500.jpg
(Click on the chart for a larger view.)

Ron Ramsey, Bishop
This chart shows the average attendance in United Brethren churches since 1960. In the United States (the blue lines), we climbed to a high point in the mid-1970s, fell to a low point in the mid-1980s, then gradually grew back to a new high in 2004. What does it all mean?

The sharp decline after 2004 no doubt relates to our efforts to join the Missionary Church, and the aftermath (when a number of churches withdrew). But it looks like we have stopped the hemorrhage, and are growing again (albeit with a smaller number of churches).

Notice the green line, too–the worldwide attendance. Although the United States attendance hasn’t grown very much, the overseas work has done well. And most of our overseas churches are an outgrowth of the US churches.

The ups and downs in charts like this are open to lots of interpretation. Factors such as leadership, emphases, generational changes, and demographics can all play a role. We welcome your own interpretations. Leave a comment.

07 Oct

October 7, 2008 |

PMLT_Oct2008_500.jpg

The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team. L-r: Craig Burkholder (mostly hidden), Lester Smith, Robert Bruce, Lee Rhodes (chair), Bishop Ron Ramsey, Charles Wheatley. Not pictured: Dennis Sites and Chris Little.

The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team met today. They actually started last night. Some of the issue they discussed:

  • Licensing status of various ministers. How to nudge forward (or get tough with) ministers who seem to be stuck in the process.
  • Various changes to the Pastoral Ministry Handbook (coming soon to the UB website).
  • Sabbatical policies for UB ministers.
  • Dealing with ministers in crisis.