PDF Leadership Groups
Various groups provide leadership for the United States churches.
The 2010 General Conference delegates pray over the delegates from Guatemala, as Guatemala is accepted as the 10th national conference.
General Conference
The United States churches are part of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, International. General Conference meets every three years, with two delegates from each of the national conferences.
Bishop Phil Whipple chaired the 2011 US National Conference. Here, he is flanked by assistant chairman Jeff Bleijerveld (right) and secretary Kevin Cherry.
US National Conference
All United Brethren churches in the United States are under the authority of the US National Conference, which meets every two years. Every active minister is a delegate, and each church can send at least one layperson as a voting delegate.
Executive Leadership Team
The Executive Leadership Team handles business for the US churches between sessions of the US National Conference.
Clusters
Every church is part of a cluster of 5-9 churches. The cluster is the basic unit for pastoral training and accountability.
Healthy Ministry Resources
The national office in Huntington, Ind., with about 12 employees, is known as Healthy Ministry Resources. The bishop and other denominational officials work there.
Leadership Teams
The US National Conference uses various leadership teams to oversee specific areas of ministry–Global Ministries, Higher Education, Pastoral Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Women’s Ministry.