11 Jun Five Changes Made to the UB Constitution

The 2007 US National Conference, meeting on June 1 in Huron, Ohio, gave official approval to five changes to the Constitution. All five proposed changes, called referenda, were advanced by the 2005 US National Conference and voted upon by members of all UB churches in the United States during February 2007.

Each referendum received at least 90% of the votes cast. Here are the complete results:

The delegates responded by giving their assent with comparable percentages (a two-thirds vote is needed to make a referendum official).

The ramifications of these referenda are:

1. Referendum 1 removed some language from the preamble which the new structure adopted in 2005 makes obsolete (specifically, reference to annual conferences).
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11 Jun Two Items Removed from National Church Covenant

The US National Conference approved two changes to the National Church Covenant, which United Brethren churches must sign every two years (2007 was the first year for that). The covenant consists of eight points. By action of the 2007 US National Conference, points 5 and 8 have been removed.

Point 5 says, “They are intererested in partnering with other like-minded churches.” It was explained that this point is vague and nobody is sure exactly what it means (nor how to force churches to comply with this).

Point 8 says, “They support the work of the camps, university, and other ministries of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.” This line was added from the floor of the 2005 National Conference. Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, explained that this is the only part of the covenant which is programmatic in nature, in that it requires supporting two “programs” of the church–the camps and university.

He pointed out that most of the camps are now separate entities from the denomination, organized with their own board of directors; so that part was already obsolete. He stressed that there is no intention of weakening the relationship with Huntington University.

This issue received a good deal of discussion at the spring 2007 Executive Leadership Team, and the ELT passed on the recommendation that item 8 be removed. The original desire with the covenant was to keep program issues out and stick mainly to matters of philosophy and relationship. If we include the camps and college, why not also specifically name Global Ministries and church multiplication, which are arguably more central to the work of local churches? Other potential additions might include Women’s Ministries, Bible quizzing, and the Youthworkers Summit.

There was some discussion, but not much. Both points 5 and 8 were removed. So when local churches are asked to once again sign the covenant in early 2009, it will look like the following, but without the two points in bold:

Every congregation shall…reaffirm their support of and membership in the US National Conference by signing a covenant which includes affirmation of these points:

1. They are committed to the Confession of Faith.
2. They agree with the core values of the United Brethren in Christ, International.
3. They agree to abide by the Constitution and Discipline of the US National Conference.
4. They are passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission through their local church.
5. They are interested in partnering with other like-minded churches.
6. They support the ministry and mission of the United Brethren Church, USA, through the annual partnership fee.
7. They will participate in a cluster.
8. They support the work of the camps, university, and other ministries of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

07 Jun New Executive Leadership Team Elected

Delegates to the US National Conference elected eight of the 12 members of the Executive Leadership Team. The ELT, the highest governing body between sessions of the National Conference, meets twice a year.

The delegates chose one layperson and one ordained minister from each of the four regions. Four of the persons chosen are new. The representatives from the East and North regions remain the same, but both persons elected from the Central and West regions are new–and in both cases, both the minister and layperson come from the same church. That’s just the way it worked out.

East Region

• Todd Fetters (senior pastor of Devonshire Church, Harrisburg, Pa.).
• Annette Sites (pastor’s wife, Jerusalem Chapel, Churchville, Va.).

Central Region

• Marty Pennington (senior pastor, Mainstreet Church, Walbridge, Ohio).
• Timothy Krugh (layperson, Mainstreet Church, Walbridge, Ohio).

North Region

• Phil Whipple (senior pastor, Colwood Church, Caro, Mich.).
• Dan Paternoster (layperson, Fowlerville UB, Fowlerville, Mich.).

West Region

• Stan McCammon (senior pastor, Good Shepherd Church, Huntington, Ind.).
• Cathy Reich (layperson, Good Shepherd Church, Huntington, Ind.).

Bishop Ramsey and the Executive Leadership Team will appoint four more persons to the ELT, one from each region (2 laypersons, 2 ministers). Bishop Ramsey is chairman of the ELT, but no other employees from the national office or denominational positions are voting members.

07 Jun Ron Ramsey Re-Elected as Bishop

Ron Ramsey was re-elected as bishop of the US National Conference during the business session on Friday morning, June 1. He was the only nominee placed before the conference.

When Bishop Ramsey was elected in 2005, the understanding was that he would serve a four-year term. However, the Constitution required that each National Conference elect a bishop, and since national conferences now meet every two years instead of every four years, it presented a temporary problem.

That particular item in the Constitution was removed through one of the five referenda this year, but since changes won’t take effect until August, it was still necessary to elect a bishop. And so, a ballot with just one name was presented, and Bishop Ramsey was chosen unanimously.

The delegates also approved a statement in the Discipline saying that the National Conference will elect a bishop to a four-year term. We will elect a bishop again in 2009, but after that, the next election will be in 2013.

21 Nov Central Conference Moves to Dissolve

The conference council of Central Conference met Saturday, November 18, to sign the papers to officially dissolve the conference effective January 1, 2007. The annual conference voted in July 2005 to disband, but couldn’t do so until the conference was dismissed from a lawsuit. The conference council was authorized to take care of any business in the meantime.

In September, the conference was dismissed from that lawsuit (which involves the Good Shepherd UB church in Greenfield, Ohio), and Superintendent Tom Brodbeck quickly took the steps needed to dissolve.
Several items of business needed to be handled by the conference council:

• Legal papers were signed to make Camp Cotubic (Bellefontaine, Ohio) an independent entity (as has been done with the former Mid-Atlantic Conference and Michigan Conference camps). There will be two separate corporations: one to be a holding company for the property, the other to handle operations.
• The Center for Church Planting in Central Ohio (CCPCO) will continue to function. The title to the property at Kettering, Ohio, once a UB church, was transferred to the CCPCO. Another church has been meeting there since 1985, having purchased the property for $256,000. They still owe $120,000, and pay $2000 a month. Payments will now go to the CCPCO.
• The Harwood Loan Fund, which has provided ministerial scholarships since the 1960s, will be used to establish a $10,000 scholarship at Huntington University. Superintendent Brodbeck will take care of setting this up.
• The council distributed other cash assets, including $3000 to Laurel Mission, $7000 to Camp Cotubic, and $2500 to Scioto Youth Camp.

01 Nov Erinn Caley Leaves as Administrative Assistant

Erinn Caley came to the United Brethren Headquarters in March 2006, serving as Administrative Assistant. In that role she carried out a variety of duties for Bishop Ron Ramsey, Healthy Church Director Pat Jones, and Communications Director Steve Dennie. Erinn is the daughter of Mike and Lynne Caley, who serve the Banner of Christ UB church in Byron Center, Mich.

On October 31, Erinn began a new job: as an English teacher at Whitko High School in South Whitley, Ind. Her high competence, graphic design expertise, and good humor will be missed at the Headquarters. Bishop Ramsey is interviewing applicants for the position. In the meantime, your calls to Bishop Ramsey or Pat Jones will be channeled to other staff members.

24 Mar Michigan Conference Moves Toward Disbanding

Michigan Conference’s mid-year session was held in February at Brown Corners UB church in Clare, Mich. The delegates took action to disband the conference as of July 2006, in compliance with the vision of the 2005 US National Conference.
The delegates heard reports and recommendations from conference ministries. Here is a summary of the actions taken:

• A new association consisting of Michigan Conference churches will be formed. Articles of incorporation and bylaws are being developed. Information on the new association will be mailed to local churches in time for their June board meetings.
• The Lane-Dulcenia Home, Carson City Christian Camping Center, the insurance program, and oversight of a fund balance for quizzing will come under the umbrella of the new association.
• Camp Living Water (Luther, Mich.) is working on a name change and will consider if and how they might wish to participate in the association.
• The conference’s Cabinent of Missions will disband, and the Roger Carey Scholarship Fund will be administered under the authority of the Michigan Regional Women’s Missionary Fellowship.
• The Board of Church Multiplication has eliminated the paid position of Director of Church Planting in Michigan Conference. The new church being planted in Portland will proceed as a locally sponsored effort by Sunfield and the Wesleyan denomination.
• $100,000 earmarked for the Portland plant has been reallocated to church planting projects in Michigan, under the oversight of the national Church Multiplication Leadership Team. If any money is left after five years, the CMLT will have the freedom to use the funds for church planting anywhere.

08 Mar Bishop’s Report to the ELT

Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, reporting to the Executive Leadership Team

The Executive Leadership Team met March 6-7 at the United Brethren Headquarters in Huntington, Ind. Bishop Ron Ramsey presented his report covering his first six months in office, August 15-2005 to February 28, 2006. Here are excerpts:

These first 6 months were spent generally:

• In getting moved and settled in Huntington.
• Becoming involved in a steep learning curve as to the status of the various areas of emphasis.
• Becoming acquainted with the condition of churches and pastors.
• Picking up stationing committee duties for churches needing pastors.
• Learning the routines and procedures of the office and staff.

The transition has gone well. There are always some bumps and surprises along the way, but all in all it was a good initial beginning. Pat Jones and I have formed a solid team and positive working relationship. Along with Gary Dilley, Steve Dennie, and Marci Hammel, we have a strong administrative team in place. Adding Tom Blaylock as a part time Director of Church Multiplication was a good decision and we will see benefits from that decision.

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07 Mar Pastoral Ministry Team – What It’s Been Doing

The PMLT meeting in February. Chairman Tom Brodbeck is on the right.
The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team was created by the 2005 US National Conference to oversee the licensing and ordination process and give leadership to the professional development of our ministers. Bishop Ron Ramsey appointed Tom Brodbeck as chairperson.
This group has met twice, most recently on February 27-28, 2006. Tom Brodbeck reports the following:
Summary of Decisions Made.

• We reaffirmed the action of the US National Conference that the sections on “Ministry” from the 2001-2005 Discipline, plus the denomination’s official statements on theological issues, will constitute the Pastoral Ministry Handbook. Theological issues included so far are: Depravity, Divine Foreknowledge, Destiny of the Unevangelized, the 1974 statement on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and an 1977 statement on the Word of God. We are in the process of editing the sections from Discipline for posting on the website.
• We appointed PMLT team members as chairmen of regional Ministerial Licensing and Ordination Teams. With this format, we will be able to have up to ten regional teams trained and ready to interview and assess ministerial candidates, with a consistency in interview style and outcome. Each chairman is submitting names to the bishop for approval as additional team members. Each team will establish two interview dates (one in May, one in October) to be announced to the church.

“To Do” List

• Review the delivery system and expected outcomes for United Brethren Church history.
• Review and confirm the names of the ministers who are in licensing process from each of the conferences
• Re-think all of the licensing options provided within the US church.
• Review and revise recruitment materials and develop (with the Bishop) a comprehensive strategy for recruiting new ministers.
• Design and develop ways of tracking and advertising quality continuing education opportunities for elders.
• Review and revise the current roll of ministers