Interconfessional
We are interconfessional
That means we serve and work with all churches of all traditions and denominations—Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Emerging.
Interdependent
We are a Fellowship
Made up of independent national Bible Societies—choosing to join together as members in an interdependent global organisation.
Integrated
We are the integrated Bible agency
We are unique in operating across the full Bible Lifecycle, so that, with God’s help, we can meet people and cultures at their point of need.
History
William Wilberforce helped found the first Bible Society while working tirelessly for the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of slaves in Britain in 1804.
In 1946, immediately following World War II, a movement that had grown to little more than a dozen Bible Societies came together to found the global fellowship of ‘United Bible Societies’.
Today, by God’s grace, United Bible Societies (UBS) has grown to become one of the most globally expansive not-for-profits in the world.
The Bible Lifecycle
Dirk Gevers
Director General
Dirk Gevers is the Secretary General of United Bible Societies, providing strategic leadership to the global membership organisation. Before taking up this role, Dirk was CEO of the Bible Society of South Africa for 8 years and was with BSSA for 15 years. He has fulfilled various regional and national church leadership roles throughout his ministry. In recent years he has served the Fellowship as Vice-Chair of the Global Council and Executive Board, and Chair of the Solidarity Fund Oversight Group. With global experience working across diverse cultural and confessional contexts, Dirk brings both a strong theological background and a passionate focus on unlocking access to the Bible for people everywhere.
Rev. Dr Robert Cunville
President
Robert Cunville became President of United Bible Societies in 2010. He was born in Shillong, India, where he became the first member of the Khasi community to gain a degree in Theology. He has held many positions at Christian organisations and churches, and has also served for 35 years as an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Elaine Duncan
Chair of the Global Council
laine has been CEO of the Scottish Bible Society since August 2006 and was appointed to the Global Council in November 2017. Before serving the Lord in Bible Society ministry, Elaine worked with Scripture Union Scotland and prior to that with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (the IFES movement in the UK). This long service in Christian mission has been a surprise to Elaine as her own dream was to be a clinical psychologist after she graduated in psychology. She would be the first to say it is always best to say ‘yes’ to God and follow his lead!
We think global, act local
We’re a world-wide network of Bible Societies
operating in over 240 countries and territories
