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Reverend Samuel George Ziegler (1884-1980), Evangelical United Brethren pastor and General Church officer, was born to Daniel and Polly Lou Ziegler in Hanover, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1884. His parents raised him religiously as part of the United Brethren Church. From age 15 to 19, he worked in a shoe factory in Hanover. At age 19, he began high school at York Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1908. Ziegler earned his Associate’s Degree in 1911 from Lebanon Valley College and Bachelor’s Degree in 1914 from Bonebrake United Theological Seminary. Ordained in 1911 by the Central Pennsylvania Conference, Ziegler served pastorates in Duncannon, Pennsylvania and in Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland. The honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree was conferred upon him in 1922 from Lebanon Valley College in Lebanon, Ohio. He was elected to the office of General Secretary of the United Brethren Foreign Missionary Society by the United Brethren General Conference of 1921, and served the position of Associate Secretary of the Division of World Missions until his retirement in 1958. His interdenominational responsibilities included: member of the Board of Directors M.E.M., member on Committee on Cooperation in Latin America, member on Africa Committee, F.M.C., member on Committee World Literacy and Christian Literature, and member of Board for Christian Work in Santo Domingo.

Dr. Ziegler had three sons, one daughter, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. At the time of his death he was a resident of the Otterbein Home, Lebanon, Ohio. He married the former Ethel Redding, in 1911. She also graduated from Bonebrake Theological Seminary as a deaconess, and died in 1974.

Winslow Wilson (1912-1997), Methodist Episcopal Church minister, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 6, 1912. His parents were devoted members of the Dayton's Bluff Methodist Episcopal Church. He lived in St. Paul through college where he attended Hamline University and served as a member of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. He then attended the Boston School of Theology, where he graduated in 1936 and was subsequently ordained into the Minnesota Conference. Wilson served as pastor at churches in Kellogg and Brownsdale, Minnesota, as well as Cumberland, Superior, Black Falls, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. He served as a District Superintendent in 1960-66 and again in 1972-75. Wilson also served on the Wisconsin Annual Conference Program Staff from 1968-72, along with The United Methodist General Board of Social Concerns. Wilson helped establish the Pine Lake Methodist Church Camp, a spiritual retreat in Wisconsin. As a conscientious objector, Wilson served a year and one day in the Federal Correctional Institution of Sandstone, Minnesota after he refused to register for the draft. Following his release he remained an active pacifist, participating in numerous protests against the Vietnam War. Wilson belonged to the International Fellowship of Reconciliation for more than sixty years and attained the level of 32nd degree Mason. Wilson died on May 17, 1997 at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin after a brief illness.

Colin Wilbur Williams (1921-2000), a Methodist Church Minister, was born in Victoria, Australia. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Wesley College, Melbourne University before entering Drew University in 1947 in pursuit of a Bachelor of Divinity degree which he earned--summa cum laude--in 1950. He then returned to serve the Methodist Church in Melbourne from 1952 to 1954 before continuing his studies towards a Ph. D. degree at Drew Theological Seminary in 1954. It was during this period--1955 to 1958--that Williams taught historical theology at Garrett Theological Seminary and also lectured at Drew Theological Seminary. Upon completion of his Ph. D. in June, 1958, Williams once again returned to Australia where he was appointed Professor of Theology at Queens College, Melbourne University. He served in this capacity from 1959 to 1962, leaving to join the National council of Churches in Christ in 1963 as Executive Director of the Central Department of Evangelism. Among his most notable professional accomplishments was his position as tenured faculty in the Yale Divinity School where he also served as Dean from 1969 to 1979. After his ten year service as dean, Dr. Williams continued to teach at Yale until 1983 when he was appointed the first Exectutive Vice President at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies. He has been recognized and honored by Yale for the "extraordinary contributions" to the Yale Divinity School and by Drew University because of his "extraordinary range of accomplishments." Among his numerous publications are John Wesley's Theology Today, 1960, Where in the World, 1963, and What in the World, 1965. Dr. Williams married Phyllis Miller in 1949. They have three daughters.

Hazen G. Werner (1895-1988), American bishop, was born on July 29, 1895, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Samuel E. and Emma E. (Graff) Werner. From Albion College he received the A.B. degree in 1920; from Drew Theological Seminary, B.D., 1923. On May 22, 1924, he married Catherine Stewart of New York City. They had two children. Hazen Werner was admitted on trial in the Michigan Conference in 1920, ordained deacon, 1922, and Elder in 1924. He was pastor of Westlawn Church, Detroit, 1924-1928; Cass Avenue Church, Detroit, 1928-1931; Court Street Church, Flint, Michigan, 1931-1934; Grace Church, Dayton, Ohio, 1934-1945. From 1945 to 1948 he taught practical theology at Drew Theological Seminary. Werner was elected bishop of The Methodist Church in 1948 by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference, and was appointed resident bishop of the Ohio Area. In 1951 he was a delegate to the Ecumenical Methodist Conference, Oxford, England, and in 1956 a speaker at the ninth World Methodist Conference. He was chairman of the National Methodist Family Life Conferences in Chicago, 1951; Cleveland, 1954; Chicago, 1958; and Chicago, 1962. In 1964 he was appointed chairman of the World Family Life Committee as well as chairman of the General Committee on The Advance. As a Bishop for the United Methodist Church, he served as a member of the Board of Education, the Board of Trustees, and the Commission on Promotion and Cultivation. He also served as a member of the Ewha University (Korea) Foundation from 1972 to 1982.

Paul Arthur Washburn (1911-1989) was an American bishop and former Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB) minister, and executive secretary of the Commission on Church Union of the EUB Church. He was born in Aurora, Illinois, on March 31, 1911, the son of Eliot Arthur and Lena (Burhnsen) Washburn. He was a graduate of North Central College and of Evangelical Seminary. Ordained by the Illinois Conference of The Evangelical Church, he served as pastor of congregations in Eppards Point Township, Rockford, and Naperville, Illinois. He has served on the following General Boards and Agencies of the former EUB Church: The General Program Council, Council of Administration, Council of Executive Officers, and the Commission on Church Union, of which he was the executive secretary. Bishop Washburn was a delegate to every General Conference of his Church from 1946 to 1962. He was a member of his Church's Commission on Federation and Church Union beginning in 1958, and a representative of the denomination to the Consultation on Church Union. He was a trustee of North Central College and of Evangelical Theological Seminary. He also served as Guest Lecturer in Religion and Pastoral Theology at Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois; North Central College; and Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 1959, and again in 1960, he served as Lecturer in Homiletics at the Rural Leadership School of Michigan State University. He was married to Kathryn Fischer and was the father of two daughters and two sons. At the Uniting Conferenc of the Methodist and EUB Churches held in Dallas, Texas, in 1968, Dr. Washburn was elected a bishop on the first ballot in an election held at the last session of the General Conference of the EUB Church on Monday, April 22, 1968. He was solemnly set apart that same day for the duties of the episcopacy by the bishops of the EUB Church, with Bishop Roy H. Short of the former Methodist Church participating at the invitation of the EUB bishops. Bishop Washburn was assigned to the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church and at the Jurisdictional Conference held at Peoria, Illinois, was assigned to the Minneapolis Area.

William Ralph Ward (1908-1988), an American bishop, was born in Boston on October 16, 1908, the son of William Ralph and Janie (Johnston) Ward. He received the A.B. from Baker University and the S.T.B. and S.T.M. degrees from Boston University.

On June 3, 1933, he married Arleen Burdick (1909-2000). They were the parents of three sons.

William Ralph Ward was ordained to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1932. His pastorates included Waldoboro, Maine, 1931; Porter Church, East Weymouth, Massachusetts., 1932-1933; Hingham, Massachusetts., 1933-1934; First Church, East Weymouth, 1934-1940; Newport, Rhode Island, 1940-1941; Manchester, Conn., 1941-1948; and Mt. Lebanon Church, Pittsburgh, 1948-1960.

In 1960 he was elected bishop and assigned bishop of the Syracuse Area. In 1972 he was became bishop of the New York Area, which post he held until his retirement in 1980. During his tenure in the New York Area he served as President of the Council of Bishops. After Bishop Ward's retirement he continued to serve in leadership posts, including the Board of Global Ministries and as Bishop in Residence at Drew University.

Ward's activities included the General Board of Christian Social Concerns; vice-president of the General Board of Missions; president, Division of National Missions; honorary life member, Women's Society of Christian Service, president of the Pittsburgh Area Council of Churches, 1957-1958; chairman of the Denominational and Interdenominational Staff Conference, 1964; director of the New York State Council of Churches; a delegate to the Oxford Institute on Methodist Theological Studies, London, 1958; member of the World Methodist Council; member of the Commission on Promotion and Cultivation, and president of the denomination's Program Council, 1968-1972. In 1970 he was also a member of the Quadrennial Emphasis Committee, the Social Principles Study Commission, the Interboard Committee on Town and Country Work, the International Methodist Historical Society, and the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches. He was an Edmund Beebe Fellow at Boston University, a trustee of Hartford Seminary Foundation, 1944-1949; and a trustee of the following: Syracuse University, Bethune-Cookman College, Drew University, Folts Home for the Aged, Methodist Home for Children, Williamsville; Clifton Springs Sanatorium, and Blocher Homes. He was the recipient of the Freedom Foundation award, 1951 and man of the year award, B' nai B'rith, Pittsburgh, 1954. He was a member of the Newcomen Society in North America, Zeta Chi, Theta Chi Beta. He was heavily involved in the 1970's in establishing a TV and Radio Presence for the United Methodist Church. In the late 1970's Ward as bishop of the New York Area was engaged in dealing with the racial conflict that engulfed our nation.

Ward was a prolific writer of articles and sermons. He contributed articles to The Upper Room, Prayers for Today, Christian Advocate, and to numerous other publications. He is the author of Authentic Man Encounters God's World. His latest work was in 1986 entitled, Faith In Action, a history of Methodism in New York State.

Pelatiah Ward was born in Dover, Dutchess County, New York. The year of his birth is not known. While studying/practicing law at Poughkeepsie, New York, a religious experience eventually led to his call to the Methodist ministry. Ward decided to enroll in Amenia Seminary, located in New York State, for theological preparation. He joined the New York Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1846 and served several churches including Dutchess, Lee, Salisbury, New Concord, Chatham, Harlem, Yonkers, and Yorkville. Ward was active in local temperance movements. He was a part-time lecturer at Spencertown Academy. In 1861, Ward was the pastor at Ellenville, New York. It was during this pastorate that Ward volunteered to serve in the Union Army. As a part of his enlistment he encouraged others to join as well. One hundred and thirty men joined him. His original intent was to go as a chaplain, but the men voted that he be their commander with the rank of captain. Their first engagement was at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 3, 1862. During the battle Ward was wounded three times. He died of those wounds on September 2, 1862.

Raymond J. Wade (1875-1970), American Bishop, was born in LaGrange, Indiana, on May 29, 1875. He was educated at DePauw University and held honorary degrees from DePauw University, Taylor University, and Albion College. Wade joined the North Indiana Conference in 1894 and had pastorates in several Indiana churches. From 1915 to 1920 he was district superintendent of the Goshen District. Wade also served as corresponding secretary of the Commission on Conservation and Advance (1920-1924), was executive secretary of World Service Commission (1924-1928), and was secretary of the Methodist Episcopal General Conference (1920-1928).

Elected bishop in 1928, Wade was assigned to the Stockholm area which included the entire Kingdom of Sweden at that time. While in Europe, he was president of the University of Scandinavia's School of Theology at Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1928 to 1939. Wade supervised the work of the Methodist Church in several European countries until his return to the United States in 1940. He retired in 1948 after eight years of service to churches in the Detroit area. Wade died in 1970.

Myrtle L. Wade (1889-1969) was president of the World Federation of Methodist Women during the time her husband, Bishop Raymond J. Wade, was in Sweden. Myrtle Wade was the second wife of Bishop Wade. They were married in 1913.

Emily Smith (1865-1963) was an English born missionary who served in northern Africa. She began her mission work in 1892 with Dora Welch under the auspices of the English Society North Africa Mission. In 1908 they transferred to the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Smith and Welch did evangelistic and educational work with Moslems in Kabylia and Algiers until their retirement in 1933 whereupon they returned to England. The history of their work is recounted in Stranger Than Fiction: Adventure in a Moslem Land, a book they co- authored.

The idea for the World Federation of Methodist Women (W.F.M.W.) began in 1923 when Ohio Wesleyan University student Helen Kim, later President of Ewha University in Seoul, Korea, was asked to speak before the Des Moines, Iowa, branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. During her preparation she had a vision of a world fellowship of Christian women. When she presented her address entitled, "To the Women of the World," Kim outlined her plan to bring together delegates from all kinds of women's international organizations.

In 1927 during the tenth anniversary celebration of the China Woman's Society, Chinese women began to develop plans for an international organization. Two years later the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society acted on the plan and organized its International Department. On October 26, 1939, the first assembly of the W.F.M.W. met with delegates from twenty- seven lands signing the charter and constitution. The W.F.M. W. was officially recognized by the 1940 General Conference of the Methodist Church. Other assemblies were held in 1944, 1948, and 1952. Reorganization took place in 1956, and a new constitution was signed by forty-one units. At that time the W.F.M.W. became affiliated with the World Methodist Council and continued to advocate for women and provide leadership and training.

Frederick W. Umbreit was a pastor in the Evangelical Church and treasurer and business manager of North Central College and Evangelical Theological Seminary, both in Naperville, Illinois.

Barbara B. Troxell (1935-2018) is a United Methodist clergywomen, academic, former district superintendent, and leader. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in King's Highway Methodist Church where her father was the choir director. Troxell graduated high school from the Berkeley Institute in Brooklyn in 1952, her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Swarthmore College in 1956, and in 1959 her Bachelor of Divinity (with an emphasis in New Testament and Religion and Psychology) from Union Theological Seminary.

Troxell was ordained deacon in The Methodist Church in 1958 and elder in 1961. She was appointed pastor at Commmunity Methodist Church in 1960 in Cold Spring Harbor, New York followiing a year abroad doing graduate theological courses at New College at the University of Edinburgh. She served three years at Community before transitioning to campus ministry, first at Ohio Wesleyan University as the Executive Director of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and the Associate Chaplain for three years. She would leave Ohio for Stanford University to become the Executive Director of the YWCA there until 1970.

In 1970, Troxell went back to the local church to serve as an associate pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, California. During this time she held consulting and part-time instructor roles at the Pacific School of Religion and California State University. In 1978 she was appointed as the Golden Gate District Superintendent of the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Troxell was the first woman district superintendent in the Western Jurisdiction. She would serve as a DS until 1983, and during this time discerned a calling to run for the episcopacy, a discernment that led her to not put her name forward.

Troxell was the chair of the California-Nevada Commission on the Status and Role of Women from 1974-1976 and served as a member of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) from 1972-1980. She would then go on to serve as a member of the former General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns from 1980-1988. She was a delegate to the 1980 General Conference and the 1980 and 1984 Western Jurisdictional Conferences.

In 1984, Troxell was brought on staff at Pacific School of Religion as Dean of Students. In 1987 she served for a year as the Associate Pastor at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church in Oakland, California. In 1988, she would move to the Chicago area, and eventually was hired and appointed as the Acting Director of Field Education at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. After a year she became Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Director of Field Education and Spiritual Formation. She would retire from Garrett in 2000 as the Associate Professor of Practical Theology. She would be granted the title Professor Emerita of Spiritual Formation in 2003. During her time there she co-authored the book "Shared Wisdom: A Guide to Case Study Reflection in Ministry."

Troxell's research focused on questions of practical theology, spirituality and authority - primarily the relation of clergywomen to authority. Troxell led retreats for a number of organizations both before and during her retirement, including the Council of Bishops. Troxell currently resides in Claremont, California with her husband Rev. Gene Boutilier a United Church of Christ pastor.