The New Man in the Corner Office

C. Ray Miller
Bishop, 1973-1993

August 1993

Ray Seilhamer is just what the UB church needs, and I enthusiastically support him.

On August 15, Dr. Ray Seilhamer will assume his new responsibilities as bishop. As this is being written, still in July, my office has already been cleaned out for a couple of weeks--no books on the shelves, no pictures on the desk. Some people at Headquarters kid me about being overly eager to get out of this place. I am looking forward to retirement. But I'm also overly eager for Ray Seilhamer to make that office his home.

For two months in 1957, I was Ray Seilhamer's pastor. At the time, I was returning to Pennsylvania Conference to become assistant pastor at King Street UB after serving several years as a pastor Huntington. My work in Huntington ended in June, and I wouldn't start at King Street until September, so l was basically jobless for the summer. Fortunately, it worked out that Walter Burkholder was elected Director of Christian Education at General Conference that June, and moved to Huntington the same week I left. I was able to serve as interim pastor at his former church, Orrstown UB, for the rest of the summer.

Lanie and I worked with the young people at Orrstown and frequently played ball with them. Ray Seilhamer was a member of that youth group, and he was a an excellent ballplayer. In one game, he was playing center field, and I knocked a ball over his head. The next time I got up to bat, he backed up--and I hit it over his head again. He was impressed that a preacher could actually be a good ballplayer. He was also impressed that Lanie was out there playing ball, too. When he and Ruth were planning to marry, he told her that she had to learn to play ball like Lanie.

I am thrilled by Ray's election as bishop. He brings so much experience and so many abilities to the position.

Ray was founding pastor of two churches, both of which are thriving today--Devonshire UB in Harrisburg, Pa., and Emmanuel UB in Fort Wayne, Ind. I was a conference superintendent when Devonshire began. King Street UB had pledged $10,000 a year for five years to start anew church. We saw Ray Seilhamer, who was then assistant at King Street, as the best person to get it going. He started VBS there in the summer, and people came from Dillsburg, Chambersburg, Franklintown, and other churches to help out.

In 1969, Ray became pastor of College Park UB in Huntington, and stayed until 1982. There, he was my pastor. I received so much from his ministry--probably far more than he learned from me at Orrstown. I used to kid him that I would come hear him preach, get his sermon outline, and preach it in other churches the rest of the month. Then I would come back to get another sermon from him. I always appreciated the fact that he was so practical.

During the last 11 years, Ray has been president of Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, Pa. He has turned that seminary around. The enrollment has increased significantly, doubling in some years. They have added new buildings and built a quality staff. A number of UB ministers, including my son Denny, have earned degrees from there.

All along, Ray has continued his involvement in the UB church, speaking and conducting seminars across the denomination. His seminars in the area of marriage have been especially popular and helpful.

Ray is a visionary--something the UB church desperately needs right now. And Ray has a heart for God and for people. His wife, Ruth, is an extraordinary prayer warrior who spends at least an hour in prayer every day, and sometimes two or more hours. Ray looks on her as the best intercessor he knows. That is really something to say for a spouse.

I am delighted by Ray's election, and will do everything I can to support him.