We are thrilled to announce Bob Beaty has been confirmed bishop of Susquehanna Conference, his term starting August 1, 2018, following Bishop Ken Hoke’s retirement end of July 2018.
On Sunday, November 13, 2017, the Susquehanna Conference bishop search committee and General Conference Board recommended Bob as bishop nominee to voting delegates of the Susquehanna Conference; by the following Monday, delegates had unanimously selected Bob as bishop.
“I’m personally delighted Bob and his wife, Heather, have been selected by the denomination,” said Alan Robinson, national director of the BIC U.S. “We feel strongly that Bob has the gifts and abilities for the role of bishop, and we foresee his having a fruitful ministry.”
As both a pastor and a leader on regional and national BIC U.S. governing boards and initiatives, Bob has demonstrated his passion to see individuals develop a relationship with Christ through the local expression of the church and his ability to equip congregations and their leadership to flourish.
Bob has pastored four congregations, including serving as lead pastor of two Brethren in Christ U.S. congregations: Solid Ground BIC Church, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (since 2011), and Zion BIC Church in Abilene, Kans. Prior to ministry in the BIC U.S., Bob pastored Free Methodist congregations for nine years.
Within the denomination, Bob has held leadership positions at national and regional levels. Since 2014, he has served on General Conference Board, the governance and decision-making entity for the BIC U.S. For the Pacific Conference, Bob has been a member of the board of directors since 2012. Finally, he has collaborated with other leaders to coach congregations and pastors — providing pastoral care, resources, and support — as a regional leader for the Growing Healthy Churches initiative in the Pacific and Midwest Conferences.
Other areas of ministry in which Bob serves: board member for the BIC Navajo Mission and chaplain for Azusa Pacific University’s School of Business and Management.
A graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary, Bob received his bachelor’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Bob and his wife, Heather — who is a member of the Commission for World Missions, which oversees BIC U.S. cross-cultural ministry — have two children, Tyler and Alana.
Susquehanna Conference bishop search committee:
As instructed by the Manual of Doctrine and Government, the bishop search committee is composed of the board of directors of the regional conference, as well as individuals invited by the board of directors for the search process. The Susquehanna Conference board of directors: Gary Lebo, Dillsburg BIC, Dillsburg, Pa.; Matt Tuckey, Engage Community Church, Carlisle, Pa.; Jean Thau, Fairview BIC, New Cumberland, Pa.; Curt Zimmermann, The Meeting House, Dillsburg campus, Dillsburg, Pa.; Victoria Grant, Pathway Community Church, York, Pa.; Gary Wolfe, Jemison Valley BIC, Westfield, Pa.; Michelle Rife, Saville BIC, Ickesburg, Pa.; Ryan Brown, New Life Community Church, Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs, Pa.; Scott Garman, Cedar Heights BIC, Mill Hall, Pa. The board of directors invited Layne Lebo, Mechanicsburg BIC, Mechanicsburg, Pa., to join the search committee.