their common interest in healing divisions in the church is an important bond.

Asked how the church can energize its young people - something he said he will work to do - Ufford-Chase answered: "Oh, goodness. It is hard to imagine what God might have in store for us, isn't it? I hope that we will take this opportunity seriously."

He said he hopes to double the number of people participating in Young Adult Volunteer programs.

Being the first two-year moderator presents both challenges and blessings, he said. He said his commitments to his BorderLinks ministry and to his family - his wife, Kitty, and their 9-year-old son, Teo - will require him to limit travel to two weeks of each month. He said he understands that the position of vice moderator will be "beefed-up" to ease the travel burden on the moderator. Ufford-Chase is known as "the Energizer Bunny" in his border ministry.

He said he loves to preach, and doing so on the road might moderate his tendency to "lecture" at home, and that might please his wife. That prompted Kitty Ufford-Chase to make a statement in support of her husband.

"I just want to say that .13 years ago, I picked Rick, and there's not been a moment since that time that I have regretted it," she said. "I know the church that picked Rick tonight will not regret it for one single moment for the next two years."

When asked how Ufford-Chase's closest allies will react to his pledge not to use the position of moderator to advance the cause of changing the denomination's ordination standards, the Moderator said, "My clear commitment is to be as absolutely fair as I possibly can, to make sure that everyone gets heard."

"When asked my personal opinion, I will share it," he said.

When asked to elaborate on his call for congregations and individuals to give up their lives to Jesus Christ and take risks, Ufford-Chase said, "For most of us ... taking risks means challenging ourselves to let go of comfort."

Ufford-Chase said serving as moderator, in his view, "is all about being pastoral."