Ordination vows anchor pastors to Christ
BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF
The Grand Ballroom at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel was filled June 4 with family, friends and church members who came to celebrate and worship with eight men and women being ordained as Elders and one being ordained a Deacon.
Seven men and women were also commissioned as Elders, the beginning of what was formerly called a probationary period, at the start of their ministerial careers. One ordained Elder transferred membership to the Baltimore-Washington conference and one candidate was recognized as an associate member.
Bishop John Schol greeted the congregation with words of inclusion. “You can’t come to be an observer,” he said. “You must participate.”
It would have been hard not to participate with the rousing, exuberant and worshipful music of the Mark Miller band; and with the liturgical recognition of common ministry and reaffirmation of baptism.
Bishop Hans Växby from the Eurasia Area, who had that morning preached at the Service of Remembrance, and Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Houston Annual Conference participated in the ordination service.
While ordaining Christopher Michael Bishop and Kathryn Jane Posey Bishop, who are married, Bishop Schol joked that “It will take three bishops to ordain two Bishops.”
Bishop Huie serves a conference of 713 congregations with 290,000 disciples, Bishop Schol said as he introduced her. “She has deep passion for the poor, for making disciples, a strong intellect and a big heart.”
Huie spoke on “Not Losing Heart,” telling of her family’s love of rock climbing, which she used as a metaphor throughout the homily.
“Rock climbing is risky” she said. “Lots of slippery places. Some climbers aren’t experienced enough, not skilled enough, and they run out of energy. But it’s not as hazardous as it appears because of the pitons.”
Pitons are metal spikes with an eye at one end that the climber drives into the rock wall to hold the ropes on which to climb.
Two good supports are needed in ministry, as in rock climbing, she said: the right equipment and a
support team.
Adapting from Eugene Peterson, Bishop Huie described pastors “as the rope between God and people.” Every day pastors make the climb, she said. It requires ability, adaptability and skill. “In the most difficult places, a pastor radiates joy and God’s grace,” she said.
“Ordination vows function like pitons,” she said, “so when we hit times of frustration and weariness, they hold us anchored.
“The regular practice of our ordination vows anchors us to Jesus Christ and the intentional practice of those vows (which include prayer, Scripture study and service) keep us functioning as pastors,” she said.
“You are embarking on an awesome expedition,” Bishop Huie said. “You are representing the people of God and God to the people. Hammer in the pitons of discipleship, practice the promises you make today, and hold tightly to the larger community.”
“Empower them, and those who will walk with them to guide their ministry,” Bishop Schol said in the commissioning prayer to the seven candidates: Paul Wesley Johnson, Jason Jordan-Griffin, Martha Meredith, Elizabeth Amanda Sayers, Harry E. Smith Jr., Jennifer Lyn Stallings and Alicia Vanisko. Calling each one by name, the bishops laid their hands on the candidate as family and friends stood in silent tribute.
Frances Waldren Stewart was recognized as an associate member.
Nancy Ann Lanman, one of the older members ordained this year, has spent many years in service, working with Church World Service, UMCOR and Justice for Our Neighbors.
It was an emotional experience for her as Bishop Schol prayed, “Give this servant grace to be faithful to her promises, constant in her discipleship, and always ready for works of loving service,” and the bishops and sponsors laid hands on her, ordaining her as a Deacon.
“Make them faithful pastors, patient teachers, and wise counselors,” the bishop prayed for the eight men and women who were ordained Elders. “Enable them to serve without reproach, to proclaim the gospel of salvation, to administer the sacraments of the new covenant, and to offer with all your people spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you.”
Those who knelt before the bishops and their sponsors as they laid their hands on each one were, in addition to the two Bishops, Jennifer Dawn Cannon, Jerry Leslie Lowans, Brenda Joyce Mack, Cynthia Michelle Moore, Glen Travis Strickler and Patricia Sue Rivenbark Watson.
The Rev. William Thomas Chaney Jr., who held Elder’s orders in another denomination, was recognized as a member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
More than 20 people came forward at the altar call at the end of the service, expressing their interest in pursuing a call to ministry.
UMCONNECTION STAFF
The Grand Ballroom at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel was filled June 4 with family, friends and church members who came to celebrate and worship with eight men and women being ordained as Elders and one being ordained a Deacon.
Seven men and women were also commissioned as Elders, the beginning of what was formerly called a probationary period, at the start of their ministerial careers. One ordained Elder transferred membership to the Baltimore-Washington conference and one candidate was recognized as an associate member.
Bishop John Schol greeted the congregation with words of inclusion. “You can’t come to be an observer,” he said. “You must participate.”
It would have been hard not to participate with the rousing, exuberant and worshipful music of the Mark Miller band; and with the liturgical recognition of common ministry and reaffirmation of baptism.
Bishop Hans Växby from the Eurasia Area, who had that morning preached at the Service of Remembrance, and Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Houston Annual Conference participated in the ordination service.
While ordaining Christopher Michael Bishop and Kathryn Jane Posey Bishop, who are married, Bishop Schol joked that “It will take three bishops to ordain two Bishops.”
Bishop Huie serves a conference of 713 congregations with 290,000 disciples, Bishop Schol said as he introduced her. “She has deep passion for the poor, for making disciples, a strong intellect and a big heart.”
Huie spoke on “Not Losing Heart,” telling of her family’s love of rock climbing, which she used as a metaphor throughout the homily.“Rock climbing is risky” she said. “Lots of slippery places. Some climbers aren’t experienced enough, not skilled enough, and they run out of energy. But it’s not as hazardous as it appears because of the pitons.”
Pitons are metal spikes with an eye at one end that the climber drives into the rock wall to hold the ropes on which to climb.
Two good supports are needed in ministry, as in rock climbing, she said: the right equipment and a
support team.
Adapting from Eugene Peterson, Bishop Huie described pastors “as the rope between God and people.” Every day pastors make the climb, she said. It requires ability, adaptability and skill. “In the most difficult places, a pastor radiates joy and God’s grace,” she said.
“Ordination vows function like pitons,” she said, “so when we hit times of frustration and weariness, they hold us anchored.
“The regular practice of our ordination vows anchors us to Jesus Christ and the intentional practice of those vows (which include prayer, Scripture study and service) keep us functioning as pastors,” she said.
“You are embarking on an awesome expedition,” Bishop Huie said. “You are representing the people of God and God to the people. Hammer in the pitons of discipleship, practice the promises you make today, and hold tightly to the larger community.”
“Empower them, and those who will walk with them to guide their ministry,” Bishop Schol said in the commissioning prayer to the seven candidates: Paul Wesley Johnson, Jason Jordan-Griffin, Martha Meredith, Elizabeth Amanda Sayers, Harry E. Smith Jr., Jennifer Lyn Stallings and Alicia Vanisko. Calling each one by name, the bishops laid their hands on the candidate as family and friends stood in silent tribute.
Frances Waldren Stewart was recognized as an associate member.
Nancy Ann Lanman, one of the older members ordained this year, has spent many years in service, working with Church World Service, UMCOR and Justice for Our Neighbors.
It was an emotional experience for her as Bishop Schol prayed, “Give this servant grace to be faithful to her promises, constant in her discipleship, and always ready for works of loving service,” and the bishops and sponsors laid hands on her, ordaining her as a Deacon.
“Make them faithful pastors, patient teachers, and wise counselors,” the bishop prayed for the eight men and women who were ordained Elders. “Enable them to serve without reproach, to proclaim the gospel of salvation, to administer the sacraments of the new covenant, and to offer with all your people spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you.”
Those who knelt before the bishops and their sponsors as they laid their hands on each one were, in addition to the two Bishops, Jennifer Dawn Cannon, Jerry Leslie Lowans, Brenda Joyce Mack, Cynthia Michelle Moore, Glen Travis Strickler and Patricia Sue Rivenbark Watson.
The Rev. William Thomas Chaney Jr., who held Elder’s orders in another denomination, was recognized as a member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
More than 20 people came forward at the altar call at the end of the service, expressing their interest in pursuing a call to ministry.
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