Rueben Job will have a constant presence in the lives of many even though he is no longer here with us on earth. Job authored 20 books and guided the publication of the United Methodist Hymnal. 

Bishop Rueben Job had an effect on the episcopacy especially those that served the Dakotas Conference.

Among them was Bishop Mike Coyner, Indiana Area, who served Reuben’s home conference—the Dakotas Conference 1996-2004 . In his January 5 blog, Coyner wrote, “during my very first quadrennium as a bishop I had the fortune of being assigned to a Covenant Group which included Rueben. What a blessing! When Rueben Job looked you in the eye and said, ‘I pray for you by name every day’ – you knew you were blessed!” 

Photo: Bishop Michael Coyner.  Photo courtesy of Indiana UMC.

Bishop Debra Lieder Kiesey of the Michigan Area served several years in the Iowa conference under Bishop Job’s oversight before being elected herself and appointed to the Dakotas Area from 2004-2012. She said that Reuben’s gentle manner and his deep faithfulness have been a role model for her. He also prayed for her.

“Knowing he kept me in his prayers these past 11 years has brought me comfort and strength,” Bishop Kiesey said. “His book, Three Simple Rules and his devotional guides will continue to deepen the faith for Christians and United Methodists in particular, for generations to come.”

Photo:  Bishop Debra Keisy visits with Bishop Rueben Job before worship at the 2005 Dakotas Annual Conference.  File photo.

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota shares the distinction of calling the Dakotas Conference home.  Both grew up in rural North Dakota. 

Ough was first introduced when he was appointed to Dakotas Area program staff. Rueben was serving as a district superintendent.  The two later became colleagues on the program staff for the Area office.

“There is probably no other individual that impacted my faith journey more than Rueben did,” said Ough. 

Bishop Job was a key support for Ough when he was facing a point of ministry crisis, “I credit Rueben with having saved me from probably leaving the ministry. He taught me the discipline of ‘staying attentive to God.’”

Photo:  Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area.  File photo.

Bishop Ough decribed Rueben as an individual who had a great capacity to love. “I learned so much about what it means to be completely open to people. I’m much more inclusive, much more patient, much more tolerant, I think, of people and their differences having learned from Reuben what it means to really love people.”

Reuben had a great sense of humor according to Ough. Most people don’t know that about him. He had a rather wry and dry sense of humor. “We did a lot of teasing each other. He found teasing enjoyable”.

All three Bishops Coyner, Keisey and Ough described his lasting spiritual legacy for them as, “A quiet, deeply spiritual person who modeled a prayerful life. A person who loved Christ so much that he truly became Christ for so many people. He reminded all of us to rely upon the strength of power of God's Spirit, rather than just doing ministry on the strength of our own abilities. A testament to the most basic beliefs of Christianity”

Bishop Ough will preach at the memorial service for Job at Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee January 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.