20 Oct 2004 VBS Project

The 2004 VBS project was the Living Water Christian School in Big Laurel, Kentucky. We are pleased that $11,000 was received.

09 Sep October Referenda Elections

Throughout the month of October, voting will occur in the US National Conference churches. Adult members will select laypersons and ministers to represent their conference at the 2005 US National Conference, and will also cast votes concerning three referendum items. Each church needs to appoint a board of tellers to oversee the voting. The conference will provide enough ballots for each member in your church, as well as other information. A number of resources concerning the voting are available online, though most will be sent to your church from the conference.

09 Sep Missionary Church Information

Various items regarding the initiative to join with the Missionary Church have been sent to all UB local churches in the United States, or will soon be sent. Other information is available on the UB website.

• Information Sheets. Four information sheets were sent to all churches at the beginning of August. They are designed to be duplicated and inserted in church bulletins, if appropriate, but can also be used in other ways. All four can be downloaded.
• “Joining Forces” Video. A 14-minute video has been sent to each church. It includes a short introduction by Bishop Paul Hirschy, and then statements from three Missionary Church officials regarding the vision and ministry of the Missionary Church. All churches are encouraged to show this to their congregation prior to the October elections, preferably as part of a church service or congregational meeting.
• Online Statements. A number of UB people have submitted statements regarding the possibility of joining the Missionary Church–both in favor, and not in favor. You can find them here.
• Missionary Church Materials. The Missionary Church headquarters provided a variety of printed materials which were sent in a packet to each UB church in the United States. The packet includes a brief snapshot of the Missionary Church district your church would most likely become part of, if the joining takes place. Pastors are encouraged to make this material available to their congregations.
• Informational Meetings. Several informational meetings have been scheduled, including five within Central Conference. Meetings have also been scheduled in several local churches, at the request of pastors.

28 Jul Finance Director Transition at HQ

The United Brethren Headquarters is undergoing a transition in the position of Finance Director. Janet Bilyew, our present Finance Director, will leave us at the end of July. Janet has worked at the UB Heaquarters since the early 1970s, longer than anyone else. She has accepted a position in Fort Wayne, just a few miles from her home. She will be greatly missed.

Janet’s replacement has been found in the person of Jane Jordan. She is moving to the Huntington area, and started with us on July 19. Her husband is in the Navy and is being transferred from Seattle; he is about reach to begin a six-month submarine tour. Jane will be in the Huntington area for an extended period before her husband is then transferred to Virginia Beach.

04 Feb Staff Changes at the National Office

At the beginning of the year, Darlene Burkett began serving fulltime as Administrative Assistant in Global Ministries. When you call Global Ministries with questions or requests, there’s a good chance you’ll talk to Darlene. Darlene actually started working part-time in the department during the fall. Darlene and her husband, Phil, are one of the two founding couples of the Macau mission work. Phil now serves as Minister of Music and Missions at College Park UB in Huntington.

As of February 1, Sherry Rupert is the new Executive Secretary to Bishop Paul Hirschy. She is from College Park UB in Huntington, Ind. Sherry replaces Susan Hoopingarner, who served in that role for six years. On February 1, Susan started a new job on the staff of Youth for Christ in Fort Wayne, Ind. We wish her well in that role.

04 Feb Information Meetings about the Missionary Church

A number of information meetings have been held about the proposed joining of the United Brethren church with the Missionary Church. Some have been held in local churches, some in regional settings. Michigan’s Mid-Year Conference, which met January 31, spent considerable time discussing the idea, mostly in a question-and-answer format. Three representatives from the Missionary Church’s Michigan District were on hand for that event.

Here are some upcoming meetings currently on the schedule:

• Feb 6-7: Southeast Annual Conference, Daytona UB, Holly Hill, Fla.
• Feb 16: Arizona Annual Conference, Fountain Hills, Ariz.
• Feb 17: Midwest Conference meeting at Southwest Community UB, Wichita, Kans. (6 pm).
• Feb 17: Midwest Conference meeting at Leavenworth UB, Leavenworth, Kans. (6 pm).
• Feb 20-21: Mid-Atlantic meeting in Chambersburg, Pa.
• Feb 22: Jerusalem Chapel UB, Churchville, Va.
• Feb 22: Fort Wayne Muncie Districts of Central Conference, College Park UB, Huntington, Ind. (7 pm).
• Feb 28: Sandusky Conference Leadership Day, Richfield, Ohio.
• Feb 29: Lake View UB, Camden, Mich. (5:30 pm).
• Mar 6:Rock River Church Extension District, Manlius, Ill.
• Mar 7: Van Wert District of Central Conference, New Horizons UB, Rockford, Ohio.
• Mar 14: Hopewell UB, Auburn, Ind. (6:30 pm).

11 Dec ELT Meets with Missionary Church Leaders

The UB Executive Leadership Team met on December 9 with the Missionary Church Transition Team. A process for joining the two denominations was agreed upon, and 36 questions which have arisen in United Brethren circles were discussed. On most of those issues, statements were agreed upon, and will be published here around mid-December. A mailing to United Brethren ministers is being prepared. The material–including all of the agreed-upon statements–will then be published on the website.

30 Oct Process in Motion to Join Missionary Church

On October 13, the UB Executive Leadership Team and the conference superintendents held a special meeting in Huntington, Ind., to consider options for the future of the United Brethren church. A special study committee, having studied several options, recommended that we pursue joining with the Missionary Church, an evangelical denomination based in Fort Wayne, Ind. After meeting with the superintendents on October 13, the ELT voted unanimously to pursue joining with the Missionary Church.

This set into motion a two-year process which will require affirmation by the US National Board in April 2004, a positive vote in a referendum by the UB constituency in October 2004, and a two-thirds vote by the US National Conference in June 2005. Only the US National Conference can make the official final decision. Much discussion about this is occurring online on the UB Discussion Board. Various resources will be posted here.

18 Sep Sue Cherry Leaving the National Office

Sue Cherry has been the “voice of the UB Headquarters” for 24 years. It was in 1979 that she began serving as receptionist. So when people called, her voice was usually the first voice they heard.

Sue concluded her service at the UB Headquarters at the end of August. She has been greatly appreciated, and will be missed.

Sue is the husband of Dr. Howard Cherry. They pastored several UB churches before Dr. Cherry joined the staff of the Huntington College Graduate School of Christian Ministries in 1979. They will remain active in various types of ministry.

18 Sep International Group Meets in Florida

This photo of the International Executive Committee was taken at the 2001 General Conference. L-r: Gary Dilley, Paul Hirschy, Francisco Raudales, Brian Magnus, Juan Pavon, Joe Bob Amara (then superintendent in Sierra Leone), Lloyd Spencer (then superintendent in Jamaica), and Peter Lee.

The International Executive Committee met September 15-16 at the Daytona UB church in Holly Hill. This group consists of the top leader from each UB national conference. The persons attending included:

* Sierra Leone: Albert Beckley, General Superintendent.
* Jamaica: Winston Smith, Superintendent.
* Honduras: Francisco Raudales, Superintendent.
* Nicaragua: Juan Pavon, Superintendent.
* Canada: Brian Magnus, Bishop.
* United States: Paul Hirschy, Bishop.
* Hong Kong: Peter Lee, Superintendent.

Also attending was Gary Dilley, the US Director of Global Ministries.

This was the first meeting of the International Executive Committee. The committee was established as part of the new international structure at the 2001 General Conference.

Brian Magnus, Bishop of the UB Church in Canada, was named chairperson of the IEC.