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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.

Marian Warner (1917-2013), Methodist missionary and educational administrator, was born in Fairfield, Iowa, and grew up in Davenport, Iowa. She received her education in the John Fletcher College (1925); State University of Iowa ( B. A. in 1929; M. A. in 1943). She taught in Davenport, Iowa (1926-1928). Miss Warner was sent in October 1929 as a regular missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church to India. She served Queen's Hill School, Darjeeling, India (1930). She was assigned as principal of the Middle School and Hostel in Baihar, India (1931-1950). It is recognized as the coeducational school for Balaghat, Jabalpur and Narsinghpur districts. After 19 years of service, she was appointed vice principal of Hawabagh Women's College, a teacher's training school, in Jabalpur (1951-1967). It is now a part of Saugor University in Jabalpur, India. Warner retired from the Indian Mission field in June 1968.

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.