The UB Church and the Missionary Church

From August 2003 until October 2004, the UB church pursued joining forces with the Missionary Church USA. The process officially ended on December 7, 2004, when Bishop Paul Hirschy announced that a referendum authorizing us to join with the Missonary Church had failed. The referendum needed a simple majority, but only received 44% of the votes cast by UB members in the USA.

Much information about this initiative was compiled on the website.

General Information

• Timeline
• Earlier talks about combining with other denominations.
• A brief explanation of the need.
• Documents from UBHope, a group opposed to joining the Missionary Church.
• Websites of both the UB church and Missionary Church.

Publications (in the order in which they were published)

• September 2003. Report of the Ad Hoc Study Committee, which recommended joining the Missionary Church.
• October 2003. The original letter/information sheet to UB pastors (PDF) about the ELT Decision. This is in PDF.
• November 2003. Bishop Hirschy's Bmail newsletter discusses the ELT decision.
• December 2003. Bishop Hirschy's monthly Bmail newsletter expands on the ELT decision.
• January 2004. Bishop Hirschy's Bmail newsletter further expands on the issue.
• January 2004. Issues and Answers (PDF): Statements Adopted at the December 9 Meeting (January 2003)
• January 2004. A Global Ministries perspective, by Gary Dilley.
• February 2004. Bishop Hirschy discusses issues related to divisiveness in his Bmail newsletter.
• April 2004. Seven conditions regarding Huntington College, formulated by Missionary Church representatives prior to the National Board.
• April 2004. Statements from the 2004 US National Board about the Missionary Church.
• April 22, 2004. Letter from Bishop Hirschy to UB pastors about the National Board actions.
• April 2004. Bishop Hirschy's Bmail newsletter, which talks about the National Board decisions and decisions by the Huntington College trustees.
• July 2004. Bishop Hirschy's Bmail newsletter touches on five reasons he favors joining the Missionary Church: positive growth pattern, missions, church planting, Healthy Church Initiative, and critical mass.
• September 2004. Interview with President Bill Hossler in the Connect newsletter.
• August 2004. Three PDF information sheets provided to local churches:
  • A Guide to the Three Referendum Items. (PDF)
  • Q&A: If We Join the Missionary Church (common questions people ask). (PDF)
  • Reasons for Joining the Missionary Church (August 2004). (PDF)
  • Musings on UB Heritage. (PDF)
• September 2004. Article by Bishop Paul Hirschy in the Connect Newsletter.

Committees Etc.

• Ad Hoc Study Committee
• Executive Leadership Team
• UB Superintendents
• December 9 Transition Team meeting
• UB/MC Transition Team
• Joining Transition Team and Working Committees
• 2004 National Board
• UB Hope steering committee

Pro and Con Statements on Joining the Missionary Church

• Endorsements from former UB leaders.
• In Favor: Miscellaneous statements from UB people. Page 1 | Page 2
• Against: Miscellaneous statements from UB people.

2004 National Board

• Report on the meeting, by Steve Dennie
• Property Referendum, as approved by the National Board.
• Referendum on Joining the Missionary Church, as approved.
• Referendum on National Conference Representation, as approved.
• Statements passed by the National Board regarding the Missionary Church.
• Letter and Bmail newsletter from Bishop Hirschy about the National Board meeting.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

The FAQ link (left) contains questions and answers regarding a wide range of issues, divided into five categories:

• Beliefs.
• The Process.
• Ministers.
• Local Church issues.
• Denominational issues.

Information about the Missionary Church

• General information about the Missionary Church.
• Similaries with the UB church
• Articles of Faith
• What becoming part of the Missionary Church involves and doesn't involve.
• Church Multiplication Training Center
• Healthy Church Initiative
• Pension Program
• Pastoral Leadership Institute
• Bethel College
• The 2 percent assessment formula
• US map of the Missionary Church.

Statistics

• 50-year chart of US and worldwide attendance
• Various statistical comparisons of the two denominations--US, ethnic, and worldwide.
• USA map of the two denominations.
• A chart comparing the international ministries of the two groups.
• 20 largest churches in each denomination.
• A comparison of the denominational budgets from 1981-2005.
• The 2004 (current year) budget and the assessment formula, and the same for 2005.