13 May Over 200 Already Registered for Women’s Conference

A denominational Women’s Conference is held every two years. The 2014 conference is still four months away, but already we’re anticipating a record attendance. Rooms are going quickly. The original goal of 200 has been upped to 250. Consider:

• In 2012, we had 211 women attend the conference.
• This year, we already have 209 women registered…with four months to go!

The 2014 Women’s Conference will be held at the Saw Mill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio (where we held three UB national conferences). The dates: September 19-21. To read more about the conference, and to register, go to UBWomen.org.

12 May 16 Attend Worship Summit in Florida

Sam Ward, from Emmanuel UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), leading a discussion time at the Worship Summit.

The Worship Summit attendees on the beach.

Sixteen persons attended the third Worship Pastor’s Summit on May 5-7 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The event was designed for worship pastors and spouses. The participants came from churches in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

This year’s summit followed the same format as the previous two by starting on Monday evening and ending on Wednesday night. John Authenreith, worship arts pastor at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio), was the main facilitator for the event and kept things rolling and on time. Wednesday night kicked off with an open worship time during whic each attender shared a worship song that is connecting with their congregation. After a short break, the pastors came back and shared testimonies and life verses to build community.

Tuesday and Wednesday were times for keynote speakers Matt Chandler and Craig Groeschel, who spoke to the group via DVD. These addresses were followed by by discussion and also focused discussions led by John Authenreith and Sam Ward, pastor of Creative Worship & Drama at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

Networking was also a big part of the week. There were many conversations over meals and around the hotel about adapting liturgical elements for today’s church, technology, leading rehearsals, musical excellence, etc. The summit attenders plan to continue these conversations and group learning via their Facebook page.

Wednesday night, the 16 attenders spent time in communion and prayer as a symbol of unity in Christ.

09 May 43 Persons Attend Michigan Pastors Summit

All of the ministers together. Front (l-r): Mike Sturgill, Brent Liechty, Rocky Spear, Jerry Drummond, Don Ross, Eldon Grubb, Jim Pryor, Andy Stahl. Back (l-r): Phil Whipple, Tim Sherman, Greg Voight, Mark Ralph, Ricky Hull, Todd Fetters, Todd Greenman, Devon Strine, Ted Doolittle, Dan Kopp, Joe Leighton, Ron Watterly, Nick Woodall, Ron Evans, and Dan VanArsdalen.

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, spearheaded the Pastors Summit.

Lisa Fetters led sessions for pastors’ wives.

Joe Leighton, pastor of Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio), tells his “Because of Jesus…” story.

The Pastors Summit ended with a prayer time.

The second Pastors Summit was held May 5-7 at the Gull Lake Ministries camp in Hickory Corners, Mich. The event was for senior pastors and spouses from churches with an average attendance under 150. It drew 43 persons–five persons from the national office, 24 senior pastors, and 14 pastors’ wives. The ministers and spouses included:

• 10 pastors and 6 spouses from UB churches in Michigan.
• 11 pastors and 7 spouses from UB churches in Ohio.
• 2 pastors and 1 spouses from UB churches in Indiana.
• 1 pastor from Pennsylvania.

The Pastors Summit followed the same format as the summit held the previous week in Pennsylvania, beginning on Monday evening and concluding by noon on Wednesday. Bishop Phil Whipple was the speaker for the three sessions. He opened on Monday night by telling about his journey as a minister, from his call to ministry through serving various churches both before and after joining the United Brethren denomination. It was fascinating stuff. On Tuesday he addressed principles he has learned along the way, and then spoke primarily about brokenness.

Coaching was a big part of the Pastors Summit. Pastors could sign up for a coaching session with one of the five trained coaches, all UB ministers:

• Dan Kopp, pastor of NorthPointe UB church (Lewis Center, Ohio).
• Greg Voight, pastor of Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio).
• Rocky Spear, pastor of Mongul UB Shippensburg, Pa.).
• Mark Wilson, pastor of Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).
• Jerry Drummond, a retired UB minister from Ashley, Mich.

Dan Kopp, Greg Voight, and Rocky Spear all served as coaches in Pennsylvania. The participants who signed up for coaching spent two sessions with their coach–an hour on Tuesday afternoon, and an hour on Wednesday morning. There will also be some follow-up interactions.

The Gull Lake lodge, where meetings and meals were held, included a large gymnasium and a four-lane bowling alley. After the Monday night session, nine men reconvened on the basketball court for about 90 minutes. Most were pretty rusty, and far removed from the Glory Days of Youth, but it was quite fun. They on Tuesday night, 11 pastors and three spouses donned their bowling shoes for the evening. Two persons worth mentioning:

• Eldon Grubb, pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.), had the night’s best cumulative score.
• Devon Strine, pastor of Mount Pleasant UB church (Angola, Ind.), had the night’s single highest game score.

The Pastors Summit ended Wednesday morning with a group session during which pastors were invited to give a brief (no longer than 4 minutes) testimony which completed one of these statements: “Because of Jesus…” or “If it hadn’t been for Jesus….” The group was continuously in transition, since coaching sessions were going on at the same time; every hour, some ministers would leave and others would return.

The event concluded with a prayer time led by Bishop Phil Whipple.

Below are a few photos from the Pastors Summit. Many more–nearly 100–can be found on the UB Facebook page.

09 May Photos from the Pennsylvania Pastors Summit

A new album has been posted on the United Brethren Facebook page. It includes nearly 100 photos from the Pastors Summit held April 28-30 in Chambersburg, Pa. Check it out. About 45 UB ministers and spouses attended.

06 May Worship Summit Underway in Florida

Sam Ward, Pastor of Creative Worship at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) leads a session at the Worship Summit.

The 2014 UB Worship Summit is currently underway in Daytona Beach, Fla. This is a conference for UB ministers working in staff positions with music and worship. It is held every two years.

Thirteen persons are attending. The Worship Summit began on Monday and will continue through Thursday (May 5-8). The participants are:

• Sam Ward, Pastor of Creative Worship at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Tom Mahas, Youth/Worship Pastor at Bethel UB church (Elmore, Ohio).
• John Authenreith, Pastor of Worship Arts at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio).
• Kurtis Charleville, Youth & Worship Director at Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.).
• Luke Spurgeon, associate pastor at Mt. Olivet UB church (Franklin, Pa.).
• Dan Friend, Pastor of Music at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Chris Kuntz, Worship Pastor of the Family Life Service, Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Kevin Mattison, Technical Director at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Jessi Hott, Worship Intern at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
• Matthew Hann, Associate Pastor of Care and Worship at Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.).
• Monty Seaman, Worship & Connections Pastor at Mongul Church (Shippensburg, Pa.).
• Holly Seaman, Mongul Church (Shippensburg, Pa.).
• John Plumley, Worship Director at Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).

06 May Second Pastors Summit Underway in Michigan

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, is spearheading the Pastors Summits.

Brent and Loretta Liechty, from Pathway UB in Jackson, Mich., are leading music for the Pastors Summit.

Bishop Phil Whipple is the keynote speaker at the Pastors Summit.

A group of 42 United Brethren pastors and spouses are attending.

The second Pastors Summit is underway at Gull Lake Ministries campground in Hickory Corners, Mich. This event is for pastors and wives from churches with an attendance under 150. An identical event was held last week at Rhode Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa.

There are 42  people attending–about the same as at the Pennsylvania summit. The attendees, most of them senior pastors and spouses, come from Ohio (18), Michigan (16), and Indiana (8).

01 May The Pennsylvania Pastors Summit

Bishop Phil Whipple speaking to the group on Monday night.

Dan Kopp (left), pastor of NorthPointe UB church (Lewis Center, Ohio), with William and Mary Flamer, ordained ministers from Philadelphia, Pa.

The Pastors Summit attendees.

Drawings for prizes were a part of each session. Charles Milliken, pastor of the church in Franklintown, Pa., reads a name while Todd Fetters holds up the prize options.

Bishop Emeritus Ray Seilhamer, who now pastors New Hope UB church in Huntington, Ind., closed the Summit with a prayer time.

Steve Dennie, Communications Director

Four Pastors Summits will be held during 2014. The first was held earlier this week, Monday – Wednesday. It was for senior pastors and spouses from churches with an average attendance under 150.

A total of 44 persons attended, including 39 pastors and spouses from seven different states–Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Michael Mattox, pastor of New Life UB church in Chanute, Kansas, came all the way out. Michael was assigned to that church at the end of 2013.

Todd Fetters, Director of National Ministries, spearheaded the event. Although he didn’t lead a session, he organized everything–the schedule, the coaching combinations, the music, etc.–and emceed the sessions. His wife, Lisa, led a session for pastors’ spouses–about a dozen of them–on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

The Pastors Summit opened with supper on Monday night, followed by the opening session. Mark Young, pastor of worship at Mount Pleasant UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.), led the group in worship.

Bishop Phil Whipple was the speaker for the three sessions. He opened on Monday night by telling about his journey as a minister, from his call to ministry through serving various churches both before and after joining the United Brethren denomination. It was fascinating stuff. On Tuesday he addressed principles he has learned along the way, and then spoke primarily about brokenness.

It was a rainy few days, so folks stuck pretty closely to the Miller Lodge, with its hotel-like accommodations. However, with Tuesday afternoon and evening free, some of the attendees ventured out to Gettysburg (45 minutes away), or simply to the mall or other local sites.

Coaching was a big part of the Pastors Summit. Pastors could sign up for a coaching session with one of the five trained coaches, all UB ministers: Dan Kopp, Greg Voight, Rocky Spear, Mike Brown, and Greg Helman. They had two sessions with their coach–an hour on Tuesday afternoon, and an hour Wednesday morning. These proved to be very helpful. Coaching is not counseling, and it’s not being told what you need to do. Rather, the person comes with an issue or situation, and the coach, through questions, helps the person come to a resolution of some kind–a way to deal with the situation. The coachees expressed much appreciation for what they gained from the sessions.

The Pastors Summit ended Wednesday morning with a group session during which pastors were invited to give a brief (no longer than 4 minutes) testimony which completed one of these statements:

• Because of Jesus….
• If it hadn’t been for Jesus….

The group was continuously in transition, since coaching sessions were going on at the same time; every hour, some ministers would leave and others would return. A fluid format was needed, and this proved to be just the thing.

All but two of the ministers presented something, a slice of testimony from their lives. It was most definitely a highlight of the event, as the ministers revealed interesting, occasionally surprising, and sometimes soul-baring parts of their lives, and explained how Jesus had worked in specific situations.

Another Pastors Summit, also for pastors of churches under 150 attendance, will be held next week at the Gull Lake conference center near Kalamazoo, Mich. The same number of people are signed up–about 45 total.

(Click on the photos below for a larger view.)

10 Apr June 2-3: UB History Course in Indiana and Michigan

The United Brethren History Course is a requirement for ministerial licensing in the United Brethren denomination. However, people who just want to learn more about United Brethren history are free to take the course.

During the past two years, 110 people have attended the course in 12 different locations. The next edition will be held at the beginning of June in Huntington, Ind., with a remote site in Sunfield, Mich.

Date: June 2-3, 2014 (Monday and Tuesday)
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: United Brethren National Office in Huntington, Ind.
Remote location: Sunfield UB church, 8436 W. Grand Ledge Highway, Sunfield, MI 48890
Phone: (517) 566-8481

The instructor is Robert Bruce (right), Pastor of Caring Ministries at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

Registration Cost

• $200, if you are seeking a ministerial license.
• $100 for everyone else.
• $20 for “Trials and Triumphs,” a history of the United Brethren church. ($14.95 for the book, $5.05 shipping for US, $12.95 international). The book will be sent from the national office. Or, stop by the office and pick up a copy, to save shipping. You MUST have a copy of the book for the class. Order a copy from Church Services by calling toll-free: 888-622-3019, ext. 301.

Payment
Course payment must be sent one week prior to the class, unless other arrangements are made. Send to:

United Brethren in Christ
302 Lake Street
Huntington, Ind. 46750

Make checks payable to “United Brethren in Christ.”

09 Apr Associate Staff Summit: May 12-15

Are your church staff signed up for the Associate Staff Summit? Time is running out. The early registration deadline is April 15.

This event is held every two years for persons serving in such staff roles as pastoral care, assimilation, adult education, visitation, counseling, missions, discipleship, children’s ministry, etc.

Location: the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The keynote speaker is Mike Bonem, author of the book “Leading from the Second Chair.” He will focus on the role of leaders in secondary positions–perfect for the Associate Staff Summit.

The registration cost is either $250 (2 persons in a room) or $400 (1 person in a room). Registration includes lodging, 3 breakfasts, and 3 dinners. The cost rises $50 per person after April 15. For more information and to register, go to UB.org.

08 Apr Paul Hirschy Wins the March Madness Bishop’s Challenge

The 2014 March Madness Bishop’s Challenge is now history. It started with 68 UB ministers and assorted others filling out an NCAA bracket on ESPN. It should be noted that NOBODY picked either UConn or Kentucky to win. However, we do have a points leader for everything leading up to the final.

And the winner is: Paul Hirschy, one of our former bishops. Paul is currently associate pastor at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind. Congratulations, Paul!

In second place was Cal Hodgson, pastor of Heritage UB church in Dansville, Mich. And tied for third were Bishop Phil Whipple and National Ministries director Todd Fetters.