Dr. Bill Ury

bury@wbs.edu
601-366-8880 ext. 129

M. William Ury, Ph.D. is Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, where he has served since 1989. He received his doctorate in 1991 from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His B.A. degree in History was completed in 1978 from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. Beginning his M. Div. degree in Israel, he studied for a year at the Institute of Holy Land Studies on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

While in Israel, he studied the historical and theological backgrounds for both the New and the Old Testaments. Besides classroom activities and leading study tours, he took part in excavations in the Jerusalem area which revealed support for Scripture in several areas. It was during this time that the need for further understanding of Biblical theology was recognized and pursued upon return to Asbury Seminary. While at Asbury, he focused on biblical studies as the foundation of theology.

Immediately following completion of his M. Div. degree in 1983, he entered Drew University in the area of Theological and Religious Studies with an emphasis in Systematic Theology. Because of a strong commitment to theology, Mr. Ury pursued Biblical Theology and Systematics while completing his M.Div. and M.Phil. degrees. During both endeavors he served as a teaching assistant and later as a Graduate Teaching Fellow in the area of Early Church History under Dr. Robert Bull of Drew University. His dissertation is entitled, "The Role and Meaning of 'Person' in Light of the Doctrine of the Trinity: A Historical Investigation of a Relational Definition," and was written under the direction of Dr. James Pain and Dr. Robert Bull of Drew University and Dr. Dennis F. Kinlaw of Asbury College.

While in Graduate School, he and his wife, Diane, served as associate pastors in a Chinese-American United Methodist Church in Chinatown, New York City. Their desire is to someday return to the mission field in order to theologically train leadership for the edification of the Church and the advancement of the Kingdom.

Leaving the East and returning to Kentucky, the Ury's took a position in the Student Development Office of Asbury College. The two years there served as excellent preparation for the aspects of the teaching ministry that must occur outside as well as within the classroom.

The next year proffered a unique experience as Bill studied as a Resident Scholar for the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, under the auspices of St. John's University in central Minnesota. The Benedictine tradition and the exposure to other faith communities served well as a backdrop for further graduate research and writing as well as ministry within a broader spectrum of Christianity.

One of the motivating factors in Mr. Ury’s ministry is a commitment to making disciples of the next generation. As a result, he serves on various boards of institutions whose purpose for existence is similar to that of intentional and personal transmission of the covenant. He has served on the boards of OMS International, YMCA, Hiwassee College, John Wesley College and the Asbury College Alumni. Currently, Mr. Ury serves on the Board of Directors of the Barnabas Foundation, a ministry centered in Wilmore, Kentucky but which reaches now to several continents. The purpose of the Foundation is the spiritual and theological formation of church leaders with specific emphasis on the Wesleyan heritage. Mr. Ury has been a part of that ministry for eighteen years, as well as assisting in ministries which include: conferences, retreats, revivals, and continuing education seminars for pastors and missionaries.

The Urys are called to evangelism, education, discipleship, and renewal within the Wesleyan world and from its unique perspective, but have been specifically called to minister within the United Methodist Church. Bill has ministered at various levels of church life for twenty-three years. Both Bill and Diane are fully committed to any and every ministry within Methodism which clearly aligns itself to the historic bases and contemporary expressions of consensual Christianity and the Wesleyan tradition.

Concerning family background, Mr. Ury was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1956. At age four he was taken to Taiwan where his parents served as missionaries with the Methodist Church for seventeen years. That situation presented myriad opportunities for travel, and exposure to a variety of cultures, religions and ideas. Although Asia has been a primary focus of prayer and concern for both Bill and Diane, they are committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ anywhere and in any way possible.

Bill married the former Diane Nelson of Lapeer, Michigan and a graduate of Asbury College, in 1984. They have three daughters and a son: Joanna Elizabeth, Maighdlin Grace, Meredith Diane, and Seth Nelson. The Urys attend Christ United Methodist Church, where Bill has taught Sunday School weekly, preached, and led seminars for ten years. The Ury family resides in Madison, Mississippi. Wesley Biblical Seminary, where Bill serves, is an interdenominational institution of graduate theological reflection in the Wesleyan tradition. Wesley is a unique base for ministry as its guiding principles and commitments are identical to the Ury's foundational theological and ministry perspectives.

Mr. Ury's interests were expanded by his missionary background. He delights in learning the intricacies of the concepts which form culture. His training lends itself to a desire to critique the theological bases for various societies, both past and present. He loves history and Biblical languages. His hobbies include: conversing, jogging, and soccer. Mr. Ury has preached in many states for various occasions. He is a member of several scholarly organizations.

At present Dr. Ury finds a complementary ministry to teaching in leading several accountability groups, having also served as the Director of Discipleship Ministries at Wesley Seminary. Other ministries in the community are enabled by two media outlets: from 1993-2000, Bill spoke on two local radio stations (WJNT 1180 AM and WFMN 97.3FM) once a week bringing updates on religious issues. Since 1997 he has been privileged to be the seminary preacher on a nation-wide program entitled, “The Hour of Holiness,” broadcast on American Family Radio. Dr. Ury is the author of a variety of articles and several workbooks. He is the co-author of In His Image: A Workbook on Scriptural Holiness, written with Dr. Allan Coppedge. Bill’s calling and personal desire is to incorporate sound, rigorous Christian theological thinking with pastoral care and personal compassion.
 

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