Nominating Committee

The General Conference Nominating Committee, chosen by the Executive Leadership Team in April 2001, has completed its work in nominating persons for three elected positions. These persons will be elected during General Conference, which meets June 25-29 in Huntington, Ind.

At the direction of Bishop Ray A. Seilhamer, the Nominating Committee followed instructions to proceed on the assumption that the proposed new United States structure would be approved at General Conference. That structure includes a Bishop, a Director of Global Ministries, and a Director of education. Under the proposed structure, there would be no Church Services department, and thus no Director of Church Services.

Following are the persons nominated for these position. Other persons can be nominated from the floor.

Bishop

Bishop Ray Seilhamer decided not to let his name run for a third term as bishop, and instead will become Associate Dean of the Huntington College Graduate School of Christian Ministries in August. His term as bishop ends on August 15.

Gary Dilley and Paul Hirschy have been nominated to serve as bishop for the 2001-2005 quadrennium.

Gary Dilley pastored several churches in Michindoh Conference and served as conference superintendent. He is currently pastor of First Love UB in Reynoldsburg, OH, and has served on the Executive Leadership Team since 1993. Gary and Rhonda Dilley have two children.

Paul Hirschy served nine years as a UB pastor before coming to the United Brethren Headquarters. He has been Director of Church Services since 1981. Paul and Barb Hirschy have three children, and are members of College Park UB church in Huntington, IN.

Global Ministries Director

Philip Burkett and James Elliott have been nominated to lead the US missions program. Kyle McQuillen is retiring after eight years in that role.

Phillip Burkett is Minister of Music and Worship at College Park UB church in Huntington, IN. He was born in Sierra Leone, where his parents were missionaries, and later spent three years as a teenager back in Sierra Leone. In 1986 he and his wife, Darlene, were one of the founding couples of the Macau work and they later helped to establish the Toronto Chinese U.B. church. Phil and Darlene have two children.

Jim Elliott and his wife, Karen, served from 1988-1997 as missionaries with Trans World Radio, first in Swaziland and then in Guam. He is currently Director of Community Relations and Major Gifts at Huntington College. The Elliotts have two children and attend College Park UB church in Huntington, IN.

Education Director

The Nominating Committee chose to follow past precedent and request a suspension of the rules to allow only one candidate for the position of Director of Education. That candidate is Dr. G. Blair Dowden, president of Huntington College.

The elections cannot be held until the United States structure has been decided upon. The elections will probably be held on Thursday, though it's possible they could at least start on Wednesday.

Highlights of each day's proceedings will be placed on the UB website at the end of each day. Go to: www.ub.org

Please be in prayer for the General Conference, that wise decisions will be made and that a good spirit will prevail. Mention it in your services on June 17 and June 24.