Robert Paul Ward, DD, Adrian College. Born 1927. Graduate of Duke University and Yale Divinity School. He and his wife, Joan, have two daughters: Wendy and Carolyn.

Dr. Ward served Westlawn as associate pastor. He served Troy First and Marquette First as pastor and then served Ypsilanti First, Adrian First, Court Street in Flint and Grosse Pointe United Methodist as senior pastor. He served as District Superintendent of the Ann Arbor District from 1972 to 1978. Dr. Ward came to the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham as senior pastor in June, 1982.

Dr. Ward was elected a delegate to the General Conferences of 1980-1992 and the North Central Jurisdictional Conferences of 1968-1992. In 1988 and again in 1992, he was elected a director of the General Board of Church and Society. In 1992 the Detroit Annual Conference elected Bob as a nominee for the office of Bishop.

Under Bob's pastorate the church's financial and mission outreach grew. A Memorial Garden for the inhuming of ashes was created on the church grounds. Additionally, international pastors from Germany, South Africa and Great Britain shared our pulpit at the invitation of our senior pastor.

In June, 1993, Bob and Joan retired after 41 yeas in the active ministry and now reside in the Bloomfield Hills area.

In recognition of Bob's ministry among us, this library was designated as the Robert Paul Ward Library this sixth day of June, 1993.