General Board of Global Ministries The United Methodist Church 475 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10115 Contact: Elliott Wright Tel: 212-870-3921 Email: ewright@gbgm-umc.org

New York, NY, September 1, 2009--The Rev. Edward W. Paup has resigned as general secretary of The United Methodist Church's mission agency in order to attend to a serious health issue. He has been on leave for medical reasons since August 10.

Bishop Bruce Ough of West Ohio, president of the General Board of Global Ministries, announced the resignation, effective immediately, on behalf of the agency's executive and personnel committees.

"The results of examinations indicate the presence of a brain tumor that will require close and constant monitoring in the days ahead," Bishop Ough said. "Treatment and prognosis are unclear at this time. We understand that no one can both tend to serious health matters and conduct the demanding day-to-day business of Global Ministries."

Rev. Paup was elected general secretary in March 2008, and came to work at Global Ministries on September 1, 2008. He resigned from the episcopacy, having served in the Pacific Northwest region, to accept the executive leadership post at the mission organization.

Bishop Ough asked the directors, staff, and the church at large to join him in prayer for Rev. Paup and his family. "As people of faith, we believe in the healing love of God through Jesus Christ and the ministries of the church," he said, continuing:

Ed came to us a year ago and has helped Global Ministries to face and address the related challenges of organizational restructure and economic downsizing, or "rightsizing," to use his term. The operational audit we have experienced has set us on a course that will enable the agency to define and conduct its future work with enthusiasm and energy, and within the economic means provided by the church. Ed's vision of our potential will be his legacy.

The agency president said that an interim general secretary will be named in the near future to provide leadership until a successor to Rev. Paup can be selected.

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Date posted: Sep 01, 2009