Bruce R. Ough (born 12 February 1951) is a Bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

 of the United Methodist Church

United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...

, elected in 2000.

Birth and Family

Ough was married to Charlene Ann Feldner Henning 14 August 1976. They have three children: Lance, Stuart and Matthew.

Education

Bruce earned the B.A.

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 degree from North Dakota State University

North Dakota State University

North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...

 in 1973. His M.Div. is from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...

 (1978). He also did graduate work at Northwestern University

Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....

.

During his ministry, Rev. Ough completed the Upper Room's two-year Academy

Academy

An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...

 of Spiritual formation

Spiritual formation

Spiritual formation is the growth and development of the whole person by an intentional focus on one’s* spiritual and interior life* interactions with others in ordinary life...

 program, and has served on the leadership team for the Academy.

Ordained Ministry

Rev. Ough served as the Youth Ministry

Youth ministry

Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as Youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organization involves and engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community...

 Director of the Faith

Faith

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...

 United Methodist Church of Fargo, North Dakota

Fargo, North Dakota

Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...

 (1969–72). He was also the Camp Program Director of the North Dakota

North Dakota

North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....

 Annual Conference

Annual Conference

An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...

 (1975–77), as well as an Intern on the Dakotas Episcopal Area Program Staff (1976–77).

While in seminary

Seminary

A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...

, Rev. Ough served as Associate Pastor of the Grace U.M.C. in Chicago, Illinois. Following seminary he became the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries of the Dakotas Area (1978–82). He was then appointed the Director of the Oakwood Spiritual Life Center in the North Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

 Annual Conference (1982–85). Rev. Ough then moved to Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

 where he became the Council Director of the Iowa Annual Conference (1985–92). He was appointed Superintendent of the Cedar Rapids District of the Iowa Conference in 1992, serving until 1997. Rev. Ough's last appointment before election to the Episcopacy was a Pastor of St. Paul

Paul of Tarsus

Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...

's U.M.C. in Cedar Rapids (1997–2000).

Rev. Ough also served as an Adjunct faculty member of the University of Dubuque

University of Dubuque

The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...

 Theological Seminary (U.D.T.S.).

Service to the Greater Church

Rev. Ough was elected a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church, 1988-2000. He served on the North Central Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy. He was also a member of the U.D.T.S. Council of Advisors.

Episcopal Ministry

The Rev. Bruce R. Ough was elected to the Episcopacy and consecrated a Bishop in July 2000 by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. He had been nominated by the Iowa Annual Conference.