Council Bios

Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado. 
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.

Jorge and his wife Kathy serve the Dallas (TX) and Lawton (OK) congregations. Jorge was born in Portuguese East Africa, now Mozambique, and also lived and served the Church in South Africa. He is also responsible for God’s Work in the Portuguese language, and has been visiting Portugal, Brazil and Angola at least once a year. Kathy was born in Pennsylvania and also served for a number of years in South Africa. They are the proud parents of five children, with 12 grandchildren and live in Allen, north of Dallas (TX).

Aaron Dean was born on the Feast of Trumpets 1952. At age 3 his father died, and his mother moved to Big Sandy, Texas, and later to Pasadena, California. He graduated in 1970 with honors from the Church's Imperial Schools and in 1974 from Ambassador College.

At graduation, Herbert Armstrong personally asked that he become part of his traveling group and not go to his ministerial assignment.

Peter has retired as Operation Manager of Media and Communications Services.

He studied production engineering at the Swinburne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, and is a journeyman machinist. He moved to the United States to attend Ambassador College in 1980. He graduated from the Pasadena campus in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and married his college sweetheart, Terri. Peter was ordained an elder in 1992. He served as assistant pastor in the Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, California, congregations from 1995 through 1998 and the Cincinnati, Ohio, congregations from 2010 through 2011.
 

Andy serves as an elder in UCG's greater Cleveland congregation in Ohio, together with his wife Karen.

Ben is an elder serving as Pastor for the Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Oregon congregations of the United Church of God. He is an avid outdoorsman, and loves hunting, fishing and being in God's creation.

Len Martin was ordained in 1999 and is presently the pastor of the United Church of God congregations in London, KY, Knoxville & Kingsport, TN. Len has previously pastored congregations in Worcester, MA, Seabrook, NH, Cambridge, Columbus, Mansfield, and Dayton, OH.

Len holds undergraduate degrees in engineering and information systems as well as an MBA in Finance. Len and his wife have been raised in the Church of God and have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. They are very thankful for the Biblical truths on marriage, family, child-rearing and many other interpersonal relationships.

Darris McNeely is a retired elder in the United Church of God. He and his wife, Debbie,  have served in the ministry for more than 53 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris continues teaching at Ambassador Bible Center and is a member of the Council of Elders. Darris and Debbie continue to travel and keep up with the many friends and relationships around the world.

Tim Pebworth is the pastor of the Bordeaux and Narbonne France congregations, as well as Senior Pastor for congregations in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin. He is responsible for the media effort of the French-speaking work of the United Church of God around the world.

In addition, Tim serves as chairman of the Council of Elders.

Gary Petty is a 1978 graduate of Ambassador College with a BS in mass communications. He worked for six years in radio in Pennsylvania and Texas. He was ordained a minister in 1984 and has served congregations in Longview and Houston Texas; Rockford, Illinois; Janesville and Beloit, Wisconsin; and San Antonio, Austin and Waco, Texas. He presently pastors United Church of God congregations in Nashville, Murfreesboro and Jackson, Tennessee.

Gary says he's "excited to be a part of preaching the good news of God's Kingdom over the airwaves," and "trusts the material presented will make a helpful difference in people's lives, bringing them closer to a relationship with their heavenly Father."

Rex Sexton grew up in Illinois and graduated from Ambassador College in Big Sandy, TX in 1976.  He began a career as a construction engineer in the Nuclear industry at Hanford, WA , and was hired full time in the ministry in 1982, and earned a Certified Financial Planner certification in 1994.  He and his wife, Patricia, have served congregations in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.  In addition to pastoring responsibilities, they have also taught at and directed youth summer camps for many years.  Rex has authored many articles for church publications over the years and produced or appeared in several hundred Television programs.   

Paul pastors in Southern Ontario where he resides with his wife, Coreen, and their three sons.