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16 Sep

September 16, 2005 |

The new Executive Leadership Team held its first meeting September 12-13 in Huntington, Ind. Ron Ramsey chaired the meeting. Tom Brodbeck was chosen as assistant chairperson, and Brian Hughes (Walbridge, Ohio) was named secretary.

Leadership Teams. A major item of business was to approve chairpersons and members of the various leadership teams: Healthy Church, Global Ministries, Education, Pastoral Ministry, Administration, and Church Multiplication. Much of that work was done, though a variety of positions remain to be filled.

Strategic Initiatives. Bishop Ramsey presented five strategic initiatives for the US National Conference, and the ELT approved them. The steps to accomplish these initiatives remain to be fleshed out. However, those five strategic initiatives are:

  1. Implement and encourage an atmosphere where multiplication of leaders and churches will be considered as normal.
  2. Encourage spiritual formation and renewal within the church of the United Brethren in Christ.
  3. Actively equp churches and pastors for effective ministries.
  4. Develop a plan to identify and retain those who are being called into fulltime Christian service.
  5. Discover, evaluate, and articulate the perceived brand image of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

2007 US National Conference. Bishop Ramsey recommended, and the ELT approved, the following: “That the 2007 National Conference be a two-day event held sometime during the period of June 18 through July 7, depending on availability of facilities.” Potential locations are being researched in Lancaster County, Pa., Baltimore, Md., Virginia Beach, Va., and Huntington University, Huntington. Ind. The National Conference would be promoted as a convention/family vacation, with business kept to a minimum and inspiration to a maximum. The event would include high quality music, speakers, teaching, and worship, and special events for children, youth, and pastors’ wives.

National Conference Covenant. The National Conference Covenant, approved by the 2005 US National Conference, represents a fundamental change in how we operate. Every local church will need to sign a covenant, which affirms their commitment to eight points. If a church refuses to sign the covenant, then they are saying, “We no longer want to be a United Brethren church.” The ELT agreed that the initial signing of the church covenant would be completed by all churches before January 1, 2006. Bishop Ramsey will be sending out copies of the covenant to each church. You can see a sample copy of the covenant here.

Clusters. Another fundamental change approved by the 2005 US National Conference was to reorganize the US churches into clusters, and to phase out the annual conference structure. This is still in its earliest stages. However, Pat Jones, the Director of Healthy Church Ministries, hopes to have the clusters formed by January 2006. A mailing concerning clusters went out in mid-September. All of those materials are also available on the website, along with other information about clusters.

16 Sep

September 16, 2005 |

Central Conference is sponsoring an October 6 event for ministers of Central, Michindoh, and Sandusky conferences which will focus on the creation of cluster groups. These three conferences are in close proximity, and since the clusters will cross conference boundary lines, churches within these conferences may want to link up.

In an email announcement, Superintendent Tom Brodbeck wrote, “All Central Conference ministers are strongly encouraged to be at Camp Cotubic (Bellefontaine, Ohio) on Thursday, October 6 for a day of information and inspiration. Pat Jones, the denomination’s new Director of Healthy Church Ministries, will be present to talk about the formation of clusters and the signing of the Local Church Covenant. We hope that by the end of that day all of our churches will be aligned into a cluster.

“We will meet from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm (Ohio time). Lunch will be provided by Camp Cotubic (cost to be announced later). You will need to RSVP before October 1 so that we have a good headcount. We are also inviting churches from Michindoh and Sandusky Conferences.

16 Sep

September 16, 2005 |

Terry Taylor has been appointed as the senior pastor at Innisdale Church (Alexandria, Ind.), effective September 11, 2005. He had been serving with Rev. Larry Schimmel (the former pastor) as an associate pastor.

16 Sep

September 16, 2005 |

Pastors and church treasurers will want to note that the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department has announced an increase to the optional standard mileage rates for the final four months of 2005. The rate will increase to 48.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven between September 1 and December 31, 2005. This is an increase of 8 cents from the 40.5 cent rate in effect for the first eight months of 2005.

16 Sep

September 16, 2005 |

The Zanesville United Brethren Church is organizing the 1st annual Tom Ponsot Memorial Classic Florida Scramble to benefit Camp Cotubic. It is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the Woods Golf Club in Van Wert, Ohio. Organizers are looking for hole sponsors at a cost of $100 a hole and are also in need of teams to participate. Tom Ponsot, a strong supporter of Camp Cotubic, passed away earlier this year. Persons interested in participating should send an email to Zanesville UB.

08 Sep

September 8, 2005 |

Huntington University will accept up to 20 college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Tuition, fees, room, and board will be waived for these students for the Fall 2005 semester. Students may enroll in classes, either full- or part-time, on a special emergency transfer basis until September 17.

Transcripts will not be required, but students are asked to present a current, valid ID from an accredited college or university damaged or closed by Hurricane Katrina. Students interested in enrolling should contact the Registrar at (260) 359-4011.

Huntington University is also organizing volunteers through the Joe Mertz Center to assist with clean up and recovery. Plans are being made to send work teams to the Gulf Coast region in October, January, and March. A special fund has been established to support these volunteer efforts. Interested donors should contact the Advancement Office, or direct their gifts to Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, Huntington University, 2303 College Avenue, Huntington, Indiana 46750.

Huntington University students and personnel are raising funds and collecting supplies for a variety of relief organizations and churches serving storm-stricken areas.

08 Sep

September 8, 2005 |

People continue asking about Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by the United Brethren church. United Brethren people have a history of responding with funds and as volunteers when disaster strikes. When hurricanes hit Florida, we worked through our UB churches there providing relief. After the tsunami last December, we worked through our workers in India. Because we do not have any close United Brethren connections in the area that has been hit by Katrina, we are referring people to other reputable organizations that are able to mobilize this relief effort. Several reputable organizations are listed below, on a post made August 31. We’d like to add one.

Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization led by Rev. Franklin Graham, is helping to facilitate groups of people who want to help Hurricane Katrina victims repair their damaged roofs and clean up their properties. Their website is www.samaritan.org. This is the same organization that many UB churches have partnered with in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Here is the note on their website: “Perhaps your church or group would like to send a work crew. We need groups of at least five individuals. The minimum age is 18. Construction skills are helpful but not necessary. If you are interested, call the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief staff at (828) 262-1980 or email disasterresponse@samaritan.org.”

31 Aug

August 31, 2005 |

United Brethren people have a history of responding with funds and as volunteers when disaster strikes. When hurricanes hit Florida, we worked through our UB churches there providing relief. After the tsunami last December, we worked through our workers in India.

Several UB people have inquired about ways to help victims of Katrina. Because we do not have any close United Brethren connections in the area that has been hit by Katrina, we are referring people to other reputable organizations that are able to mobilize this relief effort.

Please contact the organization of your choice. We suggest the following:

World Relief
World Vision
Samaritan’s Purse
Salvation Army
Red Cross
AmeriCares

29 Aug

August 29, 2005 |
  • Huntington College will officially re-open as Huntington University with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special chapel service on Thursday, September 1. The public is invited to attend. The ribbon-cutting will take place at the campus’ main entrance at the intersection of Guilford Street and Merillat Boulevard at 9:30 a.m. on September 1. The ceremony will be followed by an all-campus convocation at 10 a.m., in Zurcher Auditorium.
  • Ned Kiser, HU’s Vice President of Advancement since 1995, has accepted a position with Asian Access, a mission agency that seeks to develop leaders for churches across Asia. Kiser’s new position will allow him to continue living in Huntington.
  • Taking part in the Volunteer Plunge has become a rite of initiation for new students at Huntington University. For the past 12 years, Huntington University’s new students have participated in the Joe Mertz Center Volunteer Plunge. This year 18 teams of freshmen and transfer students will volunteer at various places in the Huntington community, bringing to life HU’s campus mission of impacting the world for Christ. The annual Volunteer Plunge is held in conjuction with the two-day new student orientation. Students will help clean, paint, participate in yard work and other various indoor and outdoor projects throughout the Huntington community. Service locations for the 2005 Volunteer Plunge include the Youth Services Bureau, the American Red Cross, Eastbrook Ranch, Connecting Friends, Love Inc., Horace Mann and Riverview Elementary Schools, Lincoln Elementary School, YMCA, Kid’s Kampus, the Dan Quayle Center, Huntington Head Start, Lancaster Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club, Huntington House, Good Shepherd Church, and the Park Department.