Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center

By Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey, Director of the Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center

United’s new Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center celebrated its official dedication on May 20, 2022, featuring Bishop Bruce Ough in person to cast vision for resourcing God’s Church afresh.

President Kent Millard presents Bishop Bruce Ough with a certificate commemorating the Center's dedication

The Innovation Center’s artist-in-residence, Maria Bellini, offered an accompanying art show. Live jazz music enhanced the ambiance, as dozens of persons crowded the newly renovated Innovation Center’s office suite to celebrate, to walk and pray blessings through its spaces, and to be reminded anew that all holy innovation comes through prayer as we ask God for new possibilities, new ideas and open doors for new opportunities.

Artist-in-residence Maria Bellini welcomes guests at the art show

Since the start of 2022, the Innovation Center has already engaged more than 1,000 participants (pastors, leaders, congregational members) through more than 40 live online webinars, training events and courses — all designed to set the stage for prayer-fueled creativity, learning and equipping for the increased vitality of leaders and congregations everywhere.

Every semester more new students enroll and join the Innovation Center’s growing Doctor of Ministry focus group, “Open the Floodgates,” through United’s doctoral program. Each student shares a passion for breakthrough prayer as the foundation for innovating unique church strategies for the future.

And through a new partnership with the Center for Spiritual Formation in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in September 2022 the Innovation Center enrolled an inaugural group of 28 individuals in its two-year “Ministry of Spiritual Direction” intensive online program.

These and other new initiatives have and are providing an ongoing source of hope and encouragement outwards beyond the physical walls of the seminary, as United’s Innovation Center extends opportunity, learning and guidance to an expanding number of churches and leaders of all backgrounds, contexts and locations — all hungry for hopefilled perspective and innovative next steps forward.

Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey leads a Litany of Innovation: "...[W]e press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We move forward -- called, equipped and emboldened by our God of Innovation!"

Need assistance, or have ideas yourself? Check out the Center’s latest offerings listed at united.edu/innovation-center, or email director Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey at snkibbey@united.edu.