Hilltop United Brethren church in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., has withdrawn from the denomination. A letter from the Leadership Council, dated January 22 and signed by senior pastor Michael Tucker and three other men, says:

"Hilltop Community Church wishes to withdraw from the United Brethren in Christ denomination, effective immediately. We have been granted our own 401(c)(3) tax exempt status with the IRS....We are not upset about any issue, and we hold no ill will toward the denomination. the decision was put to the congregation for a vote, and it was unanimously approved. We feel this move is the best for our church."

Hilltop began in the mid-1960s as First United Brethren Church under the leadership of Rev. Marvin Price. Using property donated by the McCulloch Corporation, First UB grew to become the largest church in what was then called Pacific Conference (later Arizona Conference). The most recent year for which we have statistics, 2005, shows an average attendance of 116. The only other churches remaining in Arizona are in Fountain Hills and Phoenix (the latter a Hispanic church).

Among the UB people with roots in Lake Havasu are missionaries Ruth Ann Price and Debbie Osberg; pastors Don Dennie, Stu Dennie, and Steve Gilbertson; and Communications Director Steve Dennie; and Huntington University's Rich McConnell.

The Hillsdale UB Church (Hillsdale, Mich.) dedicated its new Ministry Office Center on Sunday morning, February 25. The Ministry Office Center, located in the former parsonage, is located next to the church. It now houses a large classroom and offices for all of the church staff.

In a five–year period, Hillsdale's average attendance grew from 200-500. This created the need to add classroom, plus expand the lobby, nursery, and other areas. Moving the church offices into the former parsonage freed up space in the church building.

Bishop Ron Ramsey spoke at the dedication. An open house followed at both the Ministry Office Center and the renovated Student Ministries Center on the church's second floor.

Huntington University approved a 3% increase for fulltime undergraduate tuition for 2007-2008. Annual tuition at Huntington University is currently $18,420. The increase amounts to $280 more per semester for fulltime undergrads.

Across the United States, the average tuition and fees at four-year private institutions this year is $22,218, reflecting an average increase of 5.9% over 2005-2006, according to College Board’s 2006-2007 annual survey of colleges.

During Huntington University's January Term, many students take advantage of trips offered by departments or professors. This year's J-Term offered eight off-campus and 25 on-campus classes spanning the two-and-a-half weeks (January 8-24), giving students a chance to delve in-depth into a single subject.

One group traveled to Italy to study the country's rich art culture. The group consisted of 29 students, two faculty members, and three non-student adults. Over the course of their trip, the group visited Venice, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Rome, gaining an understanding of the historical art and architecture. The group visited such landmarks as St. Mark's Cathedral, the Guggenheim Museum, and St. Peter's Basilica.

Rebecca Coffman, professor of art, and Ken Hopper, assistant professor of art, designed the trip so that students would learn to appreciate the different art styles.

Junior Melissa Shepard, an entrepreneurship/small business major from Brooklyn, Mich., said of her Italy experience, "The friendships and experiences will be a memory that I will never forget, and when I look back on college as I grow older, I will always have Italy as a climax to my experience in college."

Huntington University has appointed Margaret Winter as the director for the new Department of Nursing. Winter will begin her position in the fall of 2007.

"The excitement of Huntington University and the community for a nursing program was obvious and contagious during my interviews," Winter said. "There is a good deal of support for beginning this program, and I am looking forward to the challenges and the achievements that will be a part of this developing opportunity."

For six years, Winter has taught in the Olivet Nazarene University Department of Nursing. Her specialty area is obstetrics, though she also teaches transcultural nursing and supervises pediatric clinicals. Prior to coming to Olivet, she taught nursing at Indiana Wesleyan University as adjunct faculty and at Scott Community College in Iowa. In addition to teaching at Olivet, Winter works at Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru, Ind., on the obstetrical unit and in the Day Surgery Department.

Winter holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science degree in nursing from Northern Illinois University. She is a doctoral candidate at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

"Margaret brings both clinical and educational experience to our program," said Dr. Norris Friesen, vice president and dean of the university. "I am not only impressed with her experience but also her commitment and passion to teach nursing. Margaret has a heart for missions and views nursing as a vital way to communicate the good news of the gospel."

Winter is a pastor's wife and works with her husband at the Church of the Nazarene in Peru. She is an advocate against child abuse and gives lectures on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

"Margaret comes to us with a wealth of experience in teaching, missions and service," said Dr. Pat Pierce, interim director of HU's nursing program. "She understands the Christian ministry of the university as well as the discipline of nursing and is an outstanding role model."

Four social work students at Huntington University completed January Term in Phoenix, Ariz., working in a community neighborhood ministries program and in a local agency called Southwest Leadership Foundations. 

Emily Risser, senior social work major, gave 10 days of volunteer service at the Neighborhood Ministries program where she worked with children in the surrounding community who attend a daily boys and girls club. 

Mack Miller, Nicole Callaway, and Jenna Rumple, all junior social work majors, were assigned to Southwest Leadership. Miller and Callaway provided service to the organization's community center called the KEYS. Callaway worked in a preschool for children ages two to five, and Miller worked in an afterschool program for kindergarten through third graders as well as in the youth development program for at-risk and adjudicated youth. Rumple worked in the recovery from homelessness program call The Bridge, which is a "hands-on" assistance program for at risk families to recover from homelessness for up to two years. 

This meets the requirement for completion of their junior social work practicum. The area of Phoenix was chosen to provide a diverse culture experience for students to assist them with gaining a perspective of the Hispanic culture. The trip was coordinated through Food for the Hungry, which is headquartered in Phoenix. Jamie Fiedler, a UB endorsed missionary serving with Food for the Hungry in Phoenix, provided staff support for the trip.

Dick and Donelle Raab were honored on their last official Sunday as pastor of Richfield Road United Brethren Church on Sunday, January 28, 2007. After a carry-in dinner, a program in which people from four of the five churches they served spoke concerning memories of their associations with them. They have retired after 42 and a half years of pastoral ministry and will be living at 1914 Jack Pine Ct. in Dorr, Michigan.

Dick Thorp has been named senior pastor of Calvary UB church in Bridgeport, Mich.