Paul Hirschy

Bishop Emeritus

Paul Hirschy is Bishop Emeritus of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA. He was elected to that position in June of 2001, and served until 2005. Before becoming bishop, he had served as the denominational Director of Church Services since 1981.

Paul grew up on a farm near Monroe, Ind., and his family was active in the Monroe UB church. He graduated from the Huntington College seminary in 1969, and went on to pastor the Park UB church in Bluffton, Ind., for nine years.

Paul came to the UB Headquarters in 1978 to manage the printshop. The printshop was closed in 1981, but General Conference elected him that year to serve as director of Church Services. That role gave him oversight of a wide range of ministries designed to assist churches--youth ministry, the family, Sunday school, teacher training, and Bible quizzing. The denominational bookstore and marketing operation was also part of the Church Services department.

In June 2001, the United States church adopted a new structure which entailed disbanding the Church Services department. However, most of those functions remain under the supervision of leadership teams.

Paul has three children--Jason, Heather, and Amber. His wife, Barb, is an elementary schoolteacher in Huntington.