Elder, Deacon Among Those Commissioned Sunday
Sunday morning, in a Service of Licensing, Commissioning, and Ordination, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball called on candidates to be messengers of peace and good news, “messengers who work to sow in their actions the seeds of love instead of the seeds of occupation, polarization, and division.”
Before her sermon, Steiner Ball referenced resolutions that had been presented during 2023 Annual Conference, some of which called into question whether or not clergy are living up to the vows they took at their own ordination service. Standing, clergy in attendance then renewed their vows and the commitments they made when they were first ordained, promising to seek peace, justice, and freedom for all people, and to be faithful to the United Methodist Church and its discipline, among other vows.
Drawing from Romans 10:11-15 and the Isaiah 52:7 theme of the 2023 Annual Conference, Steiner Ball asked those in attendance to consider the beauty of their own feet.
“Throughout this Annual Conference we’ve heard witnesses to good feet mission and ministry, good feet mission projects who feed and shelter and clothe and provide medical care; good feet ministries that pick up those who are dealing with substance use disorder and bring them to the places where they can hear the word of God and, more importantly, experience the love of God.”
“It’s that love, not necessarily the words, but the experience of love, of presence with, that makes all the difference and transforms lives,” she added.
“But how beautiful are your feet? It’s a serious question. … I’m talking about where your feet go and the state and the actions of your travel,” she said.
“Gospel messengers: They get themselves out of the way for the sake of making Christ known. … What might messengers say from a holy God to a sinful people so that they don’t actually avoid the approach of the messenger as a carrier of wrath and judgment? … God’s message to the sinner is one of grace and grace and more grace. And God sends messengers to offer grace and to offer glad tidings and release from those things that oppress us and exile us, and to proclaim tidings — not of wrath and condemnation — but tidings of good things.”
The bishop asked laity and clergy to put the needs of others before their own and to build bridges instead of throwing up walls.
“Forgive us for not getting out of Christ’s way so that Christ may be known,” she said. “ … We have the best news ever to bring to this tear-stained, hurting, broken world.”
“There are millions of people out there who are blind and ignorant and lost who have been harmed deeply and are in such pain that they can’t see beyond themselves,” she said, “and there are people out there who are dead in life but are still having breathe who have no idea who Jesus Christ is.”
The Bishop reminded candidates that in their good news delivery, they are to ask people to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. She also told them we all should call upon the name of the Lord “before we think or speak or act.”
“If we’re not calling upon the name of the Lord before we do any of those things, oh, we put ourselves in temptation’s way,” she said.
And that good news of salvation, she told those in attendance, is for all.
“It’s not for a few. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord no matter who they are … whoever so believes on Jesus shall be saved,” she said. “So don’t limit the places you go and the witness you share, but make sure wherever you go that it is Christ’s message, God’s grace, Christ’s glad tidings and peace that you bring.”
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Sunday’s service also included a remembrance of baptism and the Service of Licensing, Commissioning, and Ordination.
“We all start here,” Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball reminded those in attendance as she dipped a hand into the baptismal font. “Remember your baptism and be thankful.”
Bradley G. Davis was ordained as an elder. An elder is called to share in the ministry of Christ and of the whole church through Word, Sacrament, Order and Service.
Betsy M. Evans was ordained as a deacon. A deacon is called to share in Christ’s ministry through Word, Service, Compassion and Justice.
Robert Dean Cole, John Stephen Langenstein, and Lawrence Wesley Rebelo were commissioned as provisional members.
“We rejoice in the Spirit’s work in their lives and the lives of those who come to serve and lead among us,” Steiner Ball said.
By the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the church has always sent disciples into various forms of ministry and mission, including specific service as missionaries, work team members, and certified workers in specialized ministries. One aspect distinguishing the commissioning of provisional members from ordination of elders and deacons is duration. Commissioning sends persons to a term of service, while ordination sets persons apart for lifelong service.
Rev. Gwen Wolford, co-director of the 2023 LIcensing School, presented candidates who successfully completed the 2023 Pastoral Ministry Licensing School of the West Virginia Conference.
Kyle Ashley, Karen Frazier, Linda Friend, Robert Haynes, Sonya Hughes, Amy McNeil, Cindy Morgan-Roberts, Timothy Ours, Susan Pierce, Monica Salvo, Pamela Todd, Samuel Wigal, David Wilson, and Timothy Wine received the license of local pastor.
“May they be unwavering in their dedication to you, bold in proclaiming and living the gospel, humble and compassionate in leading your people, and faithful with all that is entrusted to their care,” the Bishop prayed.
Annual Conference Director of Music Dan Stokes led the choir and congregation in song, accompanied by members of The West Virginia Brass Quintet, who also performed gathering and recessional music.
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