Commissioned
Cecilia Granadosin • Rachon Hanson • Alissa Bertsch Johnson • Kevin Lee • Ruth Marston
Ordained Elders
Shalom R. Agrarap • David G. Elmore • Julia Marie Yoder Elmore • Mausia K. Folau • Molly D. Fraser
Lee Carney Hartman • Geoff A. Helton • Paul A. Mitchell • Julia C. Reinholz • Jennifer K. Smith
Deacon
Kathryn L. Stickney
The Service of Commissioning and Ordination at #pnwac12 | By Jesse N. Love
On Saturday, June 23 those to be commissioned or ordained were recognized by Bishop Grant J. Hagiya at this year’s Annual Conference Session.
The service began with the Call to Worship with Gloria Kymn. Kymn declared this moment as an important call and a holy time for many of our upcoming clergy.
During this evening’s processional, young people led clergy down the aisles holding symbols of our faith. These items included the candle (light of Christ), the Bible (the word of God), the paten and chalice (covenant of God), and pitcher & basin (reminders of the call to servant leadership).
Bishops Grant Hagiya of the Seattle Area and Thomas Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area performed The General Examination of the candidates for commissioning, ordination and recognition. Golden Neal presented the scripture reading, Matthew 25: 31-46.
Bishop Hagiya welcomed those who have come forward to be recognized. Jokingly, he reassured any nervous candidates that he too is under pressure of making sure he gets their names right during the exam. Humor aside, Bishop Hagiya’s message for the Commissioning and Ordination Service was a time of reflection on the deeper meaning of being called into servant leadership.
Hagiya shared this to be a special moment – taking him back to his own ordination service in 1976. Back then, he had not yet fully understood what ordination truly meant until facing a growing crowd filling seats during the service. Here it was when he realized it wasn’t just “another life-moment.” He stated, for those entering into the ministry of Jesus, now is the time to take the mantle of leadership and to lead God’s people. For the Church, this is a time to ‘revel’ with the coming of new spiritual leadership. For all, it is time to “take stock in who we are and who we belong.”
Bishop Grant asked those to be recognized:
“Why are you here? Why are you willing to give your life up to service and not entitlement, to one of suffering not ease, to one of faithfulness not accolades? Certainly, it can’t be for the money.”
Hagiya began reciting from Matthew 25: 35-39:
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me,” recites Bishop Hagiya. He admits how difficult it is to live up to these commandments.
Hagiya shared some personal stories in ministry of people who have been brought to him in his career before becoming Bishop. He reminisced on when he had encountered a woman who had tried to ram through a door of his church and almost engaging then the Rev. Hagiya in a fight. In trying to help the woman, Hagiya was left struggling with the meaning of this encounter.
Hagiya then shared that in the challenge to help others, the truth is many are turned away more than helped. In the demand of ministry, the goal of helping people while inspiring others is not easy. During times of sacrifice, service, and hard work for others, the question of “Do I have to…?” arises:
“Do I have to Lord? Do I have to? Do I have to answer this call at 3 a.m. from my bi-polar member to help chase away her demons? Do I have to drive this homeless person 25 miles to this downtown shelter after a 10:30 p.m. board meeting? Do I have to leave the comforts of my home late at night because this dysfunctional church family is at each other’s throats again and they need someone to sort this out for them? Do I have to, Lord? Do I have to?”
Hagiya shares the Lord will answer in Matthew: “Just as you did it to the least of these my brothers and my sisters, you did it for me.” As we are judged by “the standards of God’s courage”, we are reminded of Jesus’ inevitable crucifixion and the “costly grace” that has the final word.
Ministry is not all “fun and games” Hagiya points out. Much of the work involves sacrifice and being compassionate as Jesus. In closing, Hagiya commanded those to never forget who they are and whom they belong to; each must start and end with their knees before the Lord.
Bishops Hagiya and Bickerton laid hands on each of the elders and as they were commanded to share Christ’s ministry in their work ahead.
Elders, newly commissioned servants and a deacon were presented to the Conference with cheers. Katie Stickney dismissed the congregation to serve God and neighbor.
Offering from this service helped to support the Imagine No Malaria Campaign helping to end preventable deaths of Malaria in Africa.
View this service at http://bit.ly/ac2012_ordination
Jesse N. Love serves as the Print & Publications Manager for the PNWUMC.
