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09 May

May 9, 2009 |

Registrations now stand at 788, so the big 8-0-0- isn’t far away.

The number of ministerial and lay delegates has been running neck-and-neck, but now the laypersons have jumped out to a decent lead:

  • 180 ministerial delegates
  • 189 lay delegates

The UB Historical Banquet will be quite the deal, certainly the largest the UB Historical Society has had. Current signees: 135.

The golf outing has 25 people registered for Thursday and 27 for Saturday.

We’ve been publicizing the LEAD Team luncheon on Friday. We now have 22 people signed up to learn more about church planting.

05 May

May 5, 2009 |

youthworkers2009.jpg

Jerry Davis speaking to the UB youth workers.

I am attending the UB Youth Workers Summit, which started today at First UB church in Holly Hill, Fla. We have 33 United Brethren youth workers from as far away as Boston.

Dr. Jerry Davis, from Huntington University, is our speaker. The theme is “Rooted.”

  • Rooted in relationships
  • Rooted in worship
  • Rooted in scripture
  • Rooted in prayer
  • Rooted in Christ

04 May

May 4, 2009 |

We’ve added some information about XLR8:

A very complete list of restaurants near Sawmill Creek, where the conference will be held. Some of these may be closed, and probably some new ones have opened. But this list–quite lengthy–should be pretty close to reality.

Information on the four keynote speakers:

  • Tim Brown (Thursday and Friday).
  • Pat Jones (Friday night UB Historical Society Banquet).
  • Jeff Bleijerveld (Saturday night focus on missions).
  • Ron Ramsey (Sunday morning).

Ministers: set up a time with Denny Zimmerman to go over your pension account.

Sign up for the Friday luncheon on church multiplication.

01 May

May 1, 2009 |

The numbers for XLR8 keep climbing and climbing. Here in the national office, we’re very pleased, excited…and maybe a bit scared.

Here are the latest numbers:

  • Total registrations: 751
  • Ministerial delegates registered: 185
  • Lay delegates registered: 184
  • Attending the UB Historical Society Banquet: 125
  • Golf outing: 25 on Thursday, 25 on Saturday
  • Teens and children registered: 113
  • LEAD Team lunch on Friday: 11

We’ve got an interesting neck-and-neck race between laypersons and ministers to see who has more voting members.

15 Apr

April 15, 2009 |

We recently posted the nominees for Bishop and Executive Leadership Team, along with an explanation from the Nominating Committee That ballot is only tentative and not considered complete until the current Executive Leadership Team approves it. My bad. The ballot will be reviewed and approved by the ELT when it meets next Tuesday, and then we will publish the official one prior to National Conference.

I also want to comment on having just one nominee for Bishop. In case anyone questions whether that is procedurally allowable, the answer is “yes.”  There is no Constitutional or Discipline requirement to have more than one candidate for a position. That concept is found in our Standing Resolutions.  Current Resolution 23 states:

23. The Nominating Committee will nominate at least twice the number of persons required for all positions.

But Rule 24 states:

24. The Nominating Committee may move to suspend the preceding rule as it sees fit.

The Nominating Committee did due diligence in seeking qualified candidates for the position of Bishop, and after asking a number of individuals to consider the nomination, found one qualified candidate who was willing to serve. By consensus, they submitted one name and will take action at National Conference to move that Rule 23 be suspended for the ballot for Bishop.

I applaud their efforts. In their search, they had in mind a list of qualifications for the position. It was desired to see someone who has a proven track record of leadership.  Who knows what it was to lead a church to grow. Who is committed to Great Commission ministry. Who knows what it is to work with a team. Who has the gift of administration. Someone who has a heart for the church, and believes in the ministry of the local church.

It is imperative that we don’t compromise qualifications for the sake of a perceived procedural need. Our procedures allow for a single name to be placed in nomination.

My desire is that we all pray fervently for the work of our upcoming National Conference and for those who will lead us in the future. The task before them is great, but our God is greater.

15 Apr

April 15, 2009 |

Tom Datema alerted me to a seminar–in just two weeks–by the guys at Midnight Oil Productions. Tom and I heard these guys at a ChurchMedia.net conference. They’re tremendous. Both were once on staff with Ginghamsburg Church in the Dayton, Ohio, area, as part of the group that designed worship experiences. They are especially good when it comes to using imagery and metaphor. Their seminar was perhaps the best one on this subject I’ve ever attended.

The cost is $99 per day, and they’re taking walk-ins, so you don’t even need to register in advance. And if Dayton is too early, they’re doing this seminar in other locations.They are doing two one-day seminars back to back:

  • Monday, April 27: Creative Worship. Philosophy and tips putting together engaging digital-age worship experiences.
  • Tuesday, April 28: Design Matters. About creating media for use in worship services.

10 Apr

April 10, 2009 |

Registrations for XLR8, the US National Conference, are pushing toward 700. Here are the current figures (which we also update fairly regularly on the conference homepage):

  • Total registrations: 661
  • Ministerial delegates registered: 167
  • Lay delegates registered: 167 (interesting that they’re the same)
  • Attending the UB Historical Society Banquet: 111
  • Golf outing: 24 on Thursday, 24 on Saturday
  • Teens and children registered: 96

03 Apr

April 3, 2009 |

The Global Ministries Leadership Team concludes its two-day spring meeting today. A lot of interesting stuff in the works, including the approval of several new missionaries. You’ll be hearing about some of this soon.

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.