News and Views

By Linda Worthington
UMConnection Staff

The Rev. Marvin Wamble celebrates after being ordained an Elder during services Saturday morning, June 4.

Family and friends filled the ballroom of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., for the worship service of ordination and commissioning that is the highlight of the Annual Conference Session for many people. The occasion is the culmination of years of preparation and a lot of prayer.

Noting a boxed Bible on the kneeler, the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, co-chair of the worship committee, explained that it was the Bible that belonged to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in 1730.

First, Bishop Marcus Matthews presented the 11 to be commissioned as Elder or Deacon, the first phase of the program toward full membership.

He then named those to be ordained as full member Deacon or Elder.

“Those authorized by the Church … have discerned that they are persons of sound learning and of Christian character, and possess the necessary signs of God’s grace, and have demonstrated a profound commitment to serve Jesus Christ,” the bishop said.

In an ordination liturgy, all the candidates were asked of their calling to ministry, their belief in God, Christ and Scriptures, their intentions to pray, to study and be loyal to The United Methodist Church.

To each question, the candidates together replied, “I will, with the help of God.”

Bishop James R. King Jr., the episcopal leader of the South Georgia Conference, preached on what he called “Keep Moving,” advising his hearers of the necessity, benefits and power from movement. His illustrations and anecdotes often brought laughter. “There is no place to park,” he said. “You can’t just pull over and say, ‘I got it.’”

Keeping with the Annual Conference theme of “You Have the Power,” King, quoting Jesus, said, “You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you.” Having your own mission is important, he said. “If God has not given you a mission, why do you need power? If God has given you a mission, God has given you power for the journey.”

He listed and illustrated “holy habits” to follow to keep the Holy Spirit alive and enable the newly commissioned and ordained to live out their missions in God’s service. These included:

• Prayer;
• Reading Scripture;
• Times of worship;
• Spending time with your family;
• Taking some moderate exercise;
• Taking care of yourself – eating fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water;
• Refresh everyday; de-stress.

After the ordination of two Deacons, the service for the full member Elder candidates began. Bishop Matthews described, as he had for the Deacons, the duties to fulfill their callings as Elders, and prayed for all of them, which “we believe have been called by the Holy Spirit.”

Bishop Marcus Matthews places a stole around the Rev. Lisa Ann Jordan, the second Deaf female Elder in the UMC. Bishop Peggy Johnson, right, interpreted for Jordan.

Each ordinand came forward when called, accompanied by clergy sponsors and knelt at a kneeler where evangelist E. Stanley Jones had his conversion experience. With the laying on of hands, each new clergyperson received a red stole, symbol of their office.

When Lisa Ann Jordan was called, she was accompanied by Bishops Yeakel and Peggy Johnson. Johnson signed the service for her. Another special sponsor was the Rev. Nancy Webb, a blind Elder, who came with Shannon Elizabeth Sullivan.

The Rev. Theresa Thames, who is credentialed in another denomination, was accepted as a full member, adding her to the 18 women and men who were ordained as Elders in 2016.

Following the final ordination, the bishop invited the laity to hear and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry.

As they sang, “Here I Am Lord,” several people came forward where they were met by the district superintendents who listened, accepted and prayed for each person.