The bishopBlog is simply a way for me and members of my leadership team to communicate with the United Brethren constituency, a place to share whatever is on our minds at the moment. Maybe one of us stumbled across an interesting quote in a book this morning, or a pastor called with a success story to report. This is a place where we can do that.

In addition to myself, there are four other contributors:

• Gary Dilley has been Director of Global Ministries (our "missions guy") since 2001. Before that, he pastored churches in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
• Pat Jones serves as Director of Healthy Church Ministries. This is a new position created in 2005, and I appointed Pat to it. He previously served three different churches in Pennsylvania, most recently the King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa.
• Steve Dennie is our Director of Communications, which means he works with writing, editing, graphic design, and anything involving the internet.
• Tom Blaylock serves part-time as the denomination's Director of Church Multiplication. I appointed him to that position in the fall of 2005. He lives in Lansing, Mich.

I invite you, as a fellow United Brethren, to stop by anytime to see what's on my mind, and on the mind of the other these other men. Feel free to respond to anything we write. That's what the comments are for. Don't expect us to respond to your comments...but maybe we will.

The United Brethren church is in a time of transition, as we implement a totally new structure, a new way of relating with each other, and a new way of supporting our cooperative ministries. Much change is occurring. I hope that the words on this blog help keep you informed about what is happening, provide some encouragement, occasionally inspire you, and generally help us all feel a little bit more connected.

Ron Ramsey
Bishop, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA