The Lord is Lord of All: Service of Ordination, Commissioning, and Licensing

Tonight we came together to praise God, to hear the holy word, and to seek for ourselves and others the power, presence, and direction of the Holy Spirit. We celebrated a sacred moment for 27 licensed local pastors, 18 provisional elders and deacons, two ordained deacons, and 16 ordained elders. 

The magnificent Ben Hill UMC Choir set the tone for the service. 

Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers preached on Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, Corinthians 12:4-14, 26-34. She described the vast and varied nature of our country, yet we are known as the United States of America. 

"We aren't all the same," she said. "We make jokes about the way of life in other parts of the country, but anywhere else in the world if we run into someone from another part of the U.S., we'll embrace like we're cousins. We're the same in our citizenship."

We understand that concept, she said, as we gather here tonight.

"We are all different, and yet the same Lord is Lord of all. And the same spirit breathes upon and empowers us all," she said. "This is the concept the Apostle Paul celebrates."

On our very best days, she explained, we not only believe this, but we act like this. 

"When forces threaten to divide you, remember and practice that 'love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.'"

After the last elder had been ordained, Bishop Sue shared that many years ago she was ordained by Bishop Cornelius Henderson, a beloved son of this Conference. He spoke often of his church, Ben Hill in Atlanta. Tonight, Ben Hill UMC's choir took part in this service as she ordained others. 

"God calls so many different people, and God keeps calling because the world cries out for those who will tend to the brokenhearted, to the weary, to the sick, to the lost," said Bishop Sue. 

We praise God for those who tonight said, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." 

LICENSED LOCAL PASTORS
Justin Edward Arnold    
Donna Kay Bell
Jessica Marie Blackwood
William Richard Brothers
Brian Patterson Butcher
Miki McNeal Chastain 
Bennett Robert Clough
Justin Russell Combs
Tyler Chase Crickenberger
Camille Henderson Edwards
Stacie Jordon Eller
Kimberly Sue Ellis
John Dale Giefing
Christopher Daniel Goss
Ronnie Max Hill
Esther Lee Ho
Tim Ho
Angela Mao Johnson
Debra Doris Lefevers
Clayton Warren Lord, Jr.
Sandra Johnson Macht
Drew Nix
Lisa Hebbard Powell
Jason Mitchell Rogers
Bobby Dwight Ross
Edwin Turnipseed
Karen Suzanne Wilson

PROVISIONAL DEACONS AND ELDERS
Calissa Nicole Kummer Dauterman
William Montana Hamby
Karen J Hoyt
Ryan Edward Young
Geoffrey Michael Beakley
David C Collins
Anne M Cumings
Todd Allen Dudich
Orlando Evans
Natalie Jean Wilson Faulkner
Chaloea Evette Hale
Marita Yvette Roberts Harrell     
Laurie Klingenberg
Joshua David McDaniel
Tasha Mercedes Wiggins    
Deborah Ruth Williams
Benjamin Waite Wills
Jason Edward Zemke

ORDAINED DEACONS
Jessica Elizabeth Chicken
Joseph Hugh Palmer

ORDAINED ELDERS
Kathryn Wilkins Brockman
Minho J Chung
Tariq Zayid Cummings Sr
Andrew Richard Cunningham
Patrick Daniel Faulhaber
Tyler Gregory Jackson
Philip Carr Kuntz 
Sung Won Nam
Dorcas Iris Rodriguez
Andrew Michael Rogers
Jeffrey William Rogers
Kaylen Thomas Short
Alexis Lang Smith
Lindsey Jean Solomon
Ralph Lenell Thompson, Jr.
Christopher Blake Trent