United Church of God, AIA names Victor Kubik as new president
Long-time pastor, former Council member to assume new duties May 9
CINCINNATI, Ohio – After an extensive review of six finalists for the office of president, the 12-man Council of Elders of the United Church of God, An International Association, named Victor Kubik as the new president of the Church on May 8, according to Robin Webber, Council chairman. Mr. Kubik, who previously served as the operations manager of the Church's Ministerial and Member Services department, will take office May 9.
Mr. Kubik, 65, succeeds the late Dennis Luker, who served as United's president from 2010 until his untimely death in March. A long-time Church pastor for nearly four decades and a graduate of the former Ambassador College campus in Bricket Wood, England, Mr. Kubik has held a variety of administrative and ministerial assignments in the United Church of God.
"Vic Kubik's extensive international involvement, coupled with his long-time field experience as a pastor and his administrative work in recently leading the ministry of the Church during challenging times will all serve him well as president," said Mr. Webber. "The fact that he was able to work so closely with former president Dennis Luker for three years is also a major plus."
Mr. Webber added that the biblical qualifications of humility and service for the ministry are amplified in service as president of the Church. "We have seen firsthand that to be successful as president requires a high degree of spiritual devotion and yielding to God and the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. We have seen these qualities in Vic and Bev Kubik, and the Council is confident in their ability to serve."
"While others have provided solid leadership, I believe that Mr. Luker set a new standard of service as president in how he collaborated with the Council, in how he constantly urged us all to follow Jesus Christ as the living Head of the Church, and how he strongly encouraged people to grow and to demonstrate Godly love for all," said Mr. Kubik. "It is indeed a humbling experience to follow the service of a couple who did so much for the Church of God, and Bev and I will strive hard to meet the standards set by Dennis and LeeAnn Luker."
The new president noted further that the Church had "gained significantly in spiritual momentum" during Mr. Luker's tenure, and that he was "fully committed to maintaining and increasing that momentum."
Mr. Kubik, a U.S. citizen, was born in Hannover, Germany, in a United Nations Displaced Persons camp in the aftermath of World War II. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1949.
He is married to the former Beverly Skogen. They have three children and five grandchildren. Ordained an elder in 1972 (following three years as a ministerial assistant), Mr. Kubik's pastoral experience includes working with congregations in Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming, as well as working directly with members, supporters and Church congregations in Europe and Africa. He is fluent or near-fluent in the Ukrainian and Russian languages.
In 1999, Mr. Kubik founded a nonprofit organization called LifeNets International, which has helped thousands of people (including many members of the United Church of God) across the world. LifeNets is well-known for its high integrity of operations, and is a BBB-certified charity. The first director of Ministerial Services for the United Church of God, Mr. Kubik also served on the Council of Elders for 15 years until 2010. During that time he served on a number of internal Council committees, including chairing the Media and Ethics Committees. He was named as the Operations Manager for Ministerial and Member Services by Mr. Luker in 2010, a post he held until being named president of the Church.
The Kubiks live near the Church's Home Office. A long-time member of Rotary International (Rotary has directly supported many LifeNets projects through grants and volunteers), Mr. Kubik's pastimes include playing the piano, bicycling, hiking, and being with the people of the Church of God.
About the United Church of God, an International Association
Basing its beliefs on the biblical practices of the original 1st Century Church, the United Church of God maintains congregations in more than 40 countries around the world. Following the recorded example of Jesus Christ and the first apostles, the Church observes the seventh day Sabbath and the annual Holy Day seasons as outlined in the Old and New Testaments. The main offices of the Church are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Church produces the Beyond Today television program and publishes the Good News magazine. For more information about the Church and its activities, please visit www.ucg.org.
