Presidential History

The leaders who guided the two primary organizations of the Urantia movement from their founding to the present day. Some dates are approximate where official records are incomplete.

Urantia Foundation

Incorporated January 11, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. Custodian of the text and publisher of The Urantia Book.

#1William M. Hales

1950 - 1973

First president. One of the original five trustees. Oversaw publication of The Urantia Book in 1955.

#2Thomas A. Kendall

1973 - 1983

Trustee since 1963. Vice President before becoming President. Dismissed in 1983 amid internal tensions.

#3Martin W. Myers

1983 - ~1990

Served in various capacities since 1971. Central figure in the tensions that led to the 1989 split. Eventually dismissed as trustee.

#4Patricia Mundelius

~1990 - 1997

Later served as Trustee Emerita. Honored for many years of service to the Foundation.

#5Richard Keeler

1997 - 2004

Presided during the copyright litigation era and early reconciliation efforts with the Fellowship.

#6Seppo Kanerva

2004 - 2008

Finnish reader and translator. First non-American president. Led the Foundation during a period of international expansion.

#7Mo Siegel

2008 - present

Trustee since 1998. Reader since 1969. Co-founder of Celestial Seasonings. Lives in Boulder, Colorado. Vision: Foundation as largest UB teaching center by 2122.

Urantia Brotherhood / Fellowship

Chartered January 2, 1955. Originally "Urantia Brotherhood," renamed "Fifth Epochal Fellowship" after the 1989 split, now "The Urantia Book Fellowship."

#1William S. Sadler Jr.

1955 - 1957

First president of the Urantia Brotherhood. Son of Dr. Sadler. Author of "A Study of the Master Universe." Died November 22, 1963.

#2Warren Kulieke

~1957 - ~1961

Early Brotherhood leader. Father of David and Mark Kulieke.

#3E.L. "Christy" Christensen

~1961 - ~1967

Also served as Secretary of Urantia Foundation. Member of the Contact Commission. Key figure bridging Foundation and Brotherhood.

#4Alvin Kulieke

~1967 - ~1973

Long-time reader and Brotherhood leader. Father of David and Mark Kulieke.

#5Paul Snider

~1973 - ~1979

Served during the period of growing tensions between Foundation and Brotherhood.

#6Gene Fiddler

~1979 - ~1982

Served during the pre-split era.

#7David Elders

~1982 - ~1988

President during the critical period leading to the 1989 split. Foundation President Martin Myers terminated all communication with Elders in February 1989.

#8Stephen Dreier

~1988 - ~1994

Presided during the transition from "Urantia Brotherhood" to "Fifth Epochal Fellowship" after the 1989 split.

#9Janet Farrington Graham

~1997 - ~2000

Discussed licensing terms with Mo Siegel. Led during early reconciliation era.

#10Avi Dogim

~2000 - ~2006

Reader since the 1970s. Founding member of the New York Society. Announced plans for new Fellowship edition of The Urantia Book.

#11Robert Burns

~2006 - ~2012

Led during period of increased cooperation between organizations.

#12Lila Dogim

~2012 - ~2015

Studies weekly in Russian with international readers. Worldwide Service Team chair.

#13Michael Challis

~2015 - ~2018

Served during the October 2016 unity meeting where both organizations expressed unanimous desire for unity.

#14Geoff Theiss

~2018 - ~2021

Led during COVID era adaptation to virtual study groups and conferences.

#15Sue Snider Seccombe

~2021 - present

Current president. Daughter of Paul Snider, continuing a family legacy in Brotherhood/Fellowship leadership.

Some dates are approximate. If you have corrections or additional information, please contact the Urantia Book Network.

Sources: Urantia Foundation archives, Fellowship records, SquareCircles movement history, UB Historical Society