Bishop Rueben Job, UMNS photo.

Bishop Bruce Ough will reflect on the life and witness of Bishop Rueben Job at this year’s luncheon meeting of the Dakotas United Methodist Historical Society, Wednesday, June 5, 12 p.m., at the beginning of the Dakotas Annual Conference session in Bismarck, North Dakota.  Everyone is invited to register for the meeting and the meal, which will cost $15. Register now for the luncheon and also for the entire annual conference session. 

Rueben Job (1928-2015) graduated from Westmar College in 1954 and Evangelical Theological Seminary (now Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) in 1957.  Ordained in 1957, he served as pastor for several North Dakota congregations, chaplain in the United States Air Force, and staff person for denominational agencies related to evangelism and discipleship. After working in the Dakotas again, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and became World Editor for The Upper Room.  He remained there until elected to the episcopacy in 1984.  As bishop, he served in Iowa from 1984 to 1992 when he retired.  During his episcopacy, he chaired the Hymnal Revision Committee that produced The United Methodist Hymnal of 1989.  His many books, including A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants and Three Simple Rules:  A Wesleyan Way of Living, focused on prayer and spirituality.

 Bishop Ough and Bishop Job both grew up in North Dakota. They worked together on the Dakotas Area Program Staff and in Iowa when Bishop Ough served as Council Director for the Iowa Annual Conference.