04 May Gary Gates Takes on New Denominational Role

On May 3, Gary Gates (right), pastor of South Scipio UB church (Harlan, Ind.), began serving one day a week as the denominational Director of Ministerial Licenses.

Previously, most UB ministers were educated through Huntington University. The university then dealt with courses to take, transcripts, and everything else needed to keep the person on track for their licensing and ordination requirements.

Since Huntington University is discontinuing the pastoral track of the graduate program this summer, a lot of responsibility will fall back to the denomination.

The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team revised the licensing and ordination requirements to include a list of up to 25 core courses, which ministers can obtain from various places. The Director of Ministerial Licenses will monitor and give direction to UB men and women as they work toward licensing.

Gary’s responsibilities will include:

1. Help licentiates through the license and ordination process.
2. Evaluate schools and courses against the core topics necessary for national conference license and ordination.
3. Evaluate transcripts in a timely manner and communicate with candidates.
4. Serve as a liaison between the Bishop and the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team.
5. Serve as an advisory member of the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team.
6. Recruit instructors to develop the courses that are not readily available through colleges.

Gary will spend Mondays in the Healthy Ministry Resources office. He can be contacted in these ways:

Phone: 1-888-622-3019 (toll-free)
Email: [email protected]

29 Apr Ron Ramsey Joins Emmanuel Staff

On April 12, former bishop Ron Ramsey began a new role as a member of the staff at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.). He stopped by the Healthy Ministry Resources office to mention some of his responsibilities from what he describes as a still-evolving job description.

• Lead some portion of the worship service periodically–announcements, prayer, etc. Talk to people at altar.
• Preach a couple times a year.
• Teach GROW Discipleship classes. He’s been substituting for GROW teachers, but in the fall will probably start his own class.
• Do pastoral care: contact visitors and regular members, some hospital visitation, a little counseling.
• Participate in a mission trip at least once every two years (a requirement of all Emmanuel staff).
• Make contacts with cluster leaders. Senior pastor Denny Miller works one day a week as the denominational Cluster Coordinator. Bishop Ramsey says, “I’m really excited that I’ll work with Denny to contact cluster leaders. Bishop C. Ray Miller has been given half the list, I’ve been given half the list. We’ll call the cluster leader once a month and see how things are going, what’s happening in their lives, areas we can serve, needs they have, etc.”

Since leaving the bishop’s office last August, Ron has been speaking frequently in UB churches. He will remain free to do that occasionally.

29 Apr Update on Robert Shellhouse

Robert Shellhouse, a retired minister in Michigan, was taken to the hospital last week with what appeared to be a stroke. He sent this update on his health:

First of all, thank you for all your calls, cards, prayers, thoughts, and visits.  We greatly appreciate each one of you.

Monday, I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Gilbert. Other than my blood pressure being slightly elevated, I was coming along fine. I will not be able to drive for another week (per doctor’s orders), then slowly get back to it.

Today, I saw a speech therapist in Whitehall, Mich. She gave me some new strengthening exercises to work on as well as some eating instructions, i.e., one bite, two swallows. I will be having therapy twice a week for a couple of weeks, then back in a month for another throat xray. Singing is another exercise that will help strengthen my vocal chords and aid in swallowing. Maybe once my vocal chords are all “tuned up,” you will allow me to be in the choir!”