New Faces at the Home Office

Linda Api

Linda was born and raised in Southern California. In 2021, she and her husband, Jesse, began the process of relocating to Cincinnati to provide housing for the ABC students. As of now, all of their children and their spouses reside in Ohio, with the exception of their daughter, who lives in Florida.

Linda holds a liberal arts degree from Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, and later earned a bachelor of science in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles. She is also a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of California. Her professional career spans over 40 years in the field of accounting, primarily within the real estate and service industries.

Outside of work, Linda enjoys spending time with Jesse and the extended family they share. Both have a love for traveling, gardening, home renovation, volunteering in different capacities and car repair.

At the home office, Linda is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Financial Services Department. Her duties include preparing financial reports for the President, the Council of Elders and department heads, as well as supporting the ministry and members in areas such as offerings, tithes and Feast of Tabernacles business office functions.

Linda says, “In my new role, I aim to enhance the department’s accessibility and service to both the ministry and members, making interactions as smooth and efficient as possible. We are actively evaluating our processes to improve overall effectiveness and efficiency. I am grateful for the opportunity God has given me to serve through the use of my skills, and I look forward to building stronger connections with both the home office team and those we serve on a personal level.”

Ted Budge

Ted Budge was recently appointed Treasurer for the United Church of God. Ted, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Kim (Popham) Budge, originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, were married in 1985. Both are alumni of Ambassador College and now live in Pasadena, California, where they are in the process of rebuilding their home after it was lost in the Eaton Fire.

Kim has worked in the educational field as an elementary school teacher and a school administrator. In 2013, she earned a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from United States Congresswoman Judy Chu for her leadership and community outreach at New Horizon School.

Ted and Kim have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. Since 1993, Ted has served as an elder in Southern California.

Ted has a B.S. in psychology from Ambassador College, a B.S. in business administration (accounting) from California State University, Los Angeles and an M.S. in taxation from California State University, Northridge.

Ted Budge began his career in the accounting department of the Worldwide Church of God while also teaching accounting at Imperial High School. He and his wife were also actively involved in the Summer Educational Program (SEP) in Orr and Pasadena. Ted primarily served as a business manager and office manager. Additionally, he contributed as a counselor and participated in the canoeing and waterskiing programs. Kim worked as a counselor and in the canoeing and communications programs, and served at SEP locations as a counselor in Alaska, South Africa and New Zealand.

Ted took on the role of the first Controller at the United Church of God. He transitioned to public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This experience paved the way for his move to the University of Southern California (USC), where he advanced through increasingly senior positions at the Medical School as well as the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. In his last full-time position at USC, he served as a Senior Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer of the Keck School of Medicine, overseeing financial and administrative operations. Now semi-retired, Ted continues to contribute to the non-profit sector in various capacities, including serving on the Board of Directors of two non-profit organizations.

As Treasurer, Ted will support the Council by offering guidance and insight on matters related to policy, planning and operations. He will be responsible for monitoring the financial health of the organization (“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks” Proverbs 27:23), ensuring accurate financial reporting, sound budgeting practices and adherence to all applicable financial regulations and standards. In this role, Ted will collaborate closely with Linda Api, Financial Services Operations Manager, to effectively manage the Church’s financial affairs.

Ted loves to travel, spending time with family and friends, camping, as well as golfing as time provides, and notes: “It has been 30 years since I served as Controller in the Home Office, and I’m honored by the opportunity to once again contribute—this time as Treasurer. I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the years to support and further the mission of the Church. I'm also eager to reconnect with those I have worked with in the past and to build new relationships as we move ahead together.”