From scarcity to abundance: #PNWAC25 ends with celebration of ministry

By Rev. Leigh Ann Robinson

Saturday morning, the final day of the 152^nd session of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, closed with the Service of the Ordering of Ministry. A photo album with images from the service is available here.

During the service, Revs. Carrie Bland and Meghan Lambert were ordained as elders, Revs. Leslie Kollreno and Job Pangilinan were commissioned as provisional members preparing for ministry as elders, and Rev. Kelly Marciales was commissioned as a provisional member preparing for ordained ministry as a deacon.

The Bothell United Methodist Church bell choir opened the service beautifully with “Called to the Light,” accompanied by Kyle Hanks on piano. PNW Conference Lay Leader Falisha Hola explained commissioning and ordination and then invited the congregation to join her in the call to worship.

As the congregation sang, the elders in their red stoles and the bishop processed in. Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth called the gathered to remember their baptism and affirm common ministry in preparation for the commissioning and ordination. With an enthusiastic chorus of “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” as a response to each, all were invited to accept their assignments, appointments, and call to ministry and to affirm support for one another.

Those to be ordained and commissioned were presented and responded to the questions of general examination. Bishop Bridgeforth then introduced Rev. Janelle Kurtz, incoming chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, who offered her reflection on Luke 9:12-17, the scripture that had been used throughout the session. She noted the temptation to be stuck with the disciples in scarcity at the story’s beginning or to rush to the end, gathering the broken pieces.

In her message, Rev. Kurtz encouraged those being commissioned and ordained to be present “where precisely the miracle unfolds to meet the need in real time”—to remember the invitation and have their fill, too, instead of stewarding scarcity or feeding only on leftovers. She reminded them that no souvenir or memento can ever stand in for the experience or for their calling and their “yes” to that call.

The sermon was followed by the children’s choir in tie-dye shirts singing “5 Loaves, 2 Fishes” with a chorus of “one little boy gave up his lunch and Jesus let 5000 munch!” Next, Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos, PNW Director of Hispanic/Latinx Ministries, introduced the offering for Central Washington Justice for Our Neighbors, which provides immigration legal services to immigrants and refugees in Central Washington. Members were encouraged to give during this time of heightened need.

Bishop Bridgeforth led the gathered community in an emotional and moving commissioning and ordination, laying on hands and presenting the newly commissioned and ordained servants of God to the PNW Conference.

The service concluded with a celebration of the Great Thanksgiving, presided over by Bishop Bridgeforth and Rev. Janelle Kurtz. Bishop Bridgeforth, Rev. David Valera, Brant Henshaw and Rev. Justin White offered thanks to all who helped make the 2025 annual conference a success.

The gathered community was blessed and sent out with the joyous hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” after the announcement that Spokane Valley UMC would host the 2026 Pacific Northwest Annual Conference from June 23 to 25, 2026.