United Theological Seminary announces Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center
New center to house specialized programs for equipping the Church in creative ministry.
DAYTON, OH, OCT. 16, 2020 — United Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the establishment of the Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center, to launch in January 2021. The center honors Bishop Bruce Ough’s legacy of leading and supporting creative ministries and continues the Seminary’s commitment to providing innovative theological education.
Bishop Bruce Ough, resident bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The UMC
Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey has been named the center’s inaugural director. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Rev. Kibbey shares her passions for breakthrough prayer, missional movements and spiritual renewal as a speaker, coach and congregational consultant. For the past 10 years, she has served as Director of the Office of Missional Church Development for the West Ohio Conference of The UMC.
The Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center will provide learning opportunities to resource church leaders and congregations with creative, practical, effective tools for unleashing God’s Church as the spiritual movement of Jesus Christ. Such programs will include continuing education offerings and a new congregational renewal initiative.
Bishop Ough is episcopal leader of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, where he has served since September 1, 2012. Prior to his assignment to the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, he served for 12 years as the resident bishop of the West Ohio Area. From 2016 to 2018, he was President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and he will become Executive Director of the Council of Bishops following his retirement at the end of 2020.
“Bishop Bruce Ough has been an example of faithful and innovative Christian leadership during his career as a pastor, council director, district superintendent and bishop in The United Methodist Church,” says Dr. Kent Millard, seminary president. “United is honored to continue his legacy with the establishment of the Bishop Ough Innovation Center.”
About United
United Theological Seminary is a graduate professional school of The United Methodist Church offering masters and doctoral theological degrees and continuing education with programs offered on campus and online. United’s goal is to prepare faithful and fruitful Christian leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
