15 clergy members to retire June 4 in Corpus Christi

 

During the ceremony each retiree is to have an opportunity to address clergy and laity representatives of the region’s 348 congregations about his or her tenure in ministry. Those brief remarks are to be recorded for the conference archives.
The list of retirees includes 10 elders, three deacons and two licensed local pastors. They are:
> The Rev. Elmer L. Beck, 67, pastor of Harlandale UMC, San Antonio, since 1997. The Little Rock, Ark., native began his ministry in 1960 as a licensed local pastor in the Little Rock Conference. He later served in the Texas Conference before transferring to Southwest Texas in 1976.
In Southwest Texas, he was appointed to congregations in Benavides, Big Wells, Bronte, Cordele, Dilly, Freer, Flatonia, Hondo, Ganado, McAllen, San Benito, Thompson, Waelder and Yancey before going to Harlandale.
Beck was ordained a deacon in 1965 and an elder in 1974.
> The Rev. Karl W. Brown, 65, campus minister at Texas State University, San Marcos, since 1973. The Mercedes native began his ministry in 1962 in the Northwest Texas Conference.
He transferred to Southwest Texas in 1966 and served congregations in Barnhart and Mertzon. He went into campus ministry in 1968 at Texas A&M University, Kingsville.
Brown was ordained a deacon in 1962 and an elder in 1966.
> The Rev. Marian D. Fielder, 65, pastor of Lakehills UMC since 2003. She began her ministry in 1988. She served congregations in San Antonio, Smithville and Taft before going to Lakehills.
Fielder was ordained a deacon in 1988 and an elder in 1990.
> The Rev. James E. Jacob, 67, pastor of Alamo UMC, San Antonio, since 1997. He began his ministry in 1995 as a licensed local pastor. He was associate pastor of Schertz UMC in 1995.
He served two congregations in the Texas Conference in 1996 before going to Alamo.
Jacob was ordained a deacon and elected an associate clergy member of the conference in 2002.
> The Rev. Kathleen B. Jones, 70, minister of education at First UMC, Austin, since 1977. Originally a consecrated diaconal minister, she was ordained a deacon in full connection in 1997.
> The Rev. Chung Keun Kim, 68, pastor of Korean UMC, San Antonio, since 1988. He began his ministry in 1966 in South Korea. He came to Southwest Texas in 1986 to serve Korean UMC, Austin.
Kim was ordained a deacon in 1966 and an elder in 1970.
> The Rev. Leah King, 64, director of the summer church music school at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, since 1996. She began her ministry in 1986 as a consecrated diaconal minister. She served First UMC, Columbus, as minister of music for 10 years. She was ordained a deacon in full connection in 1997.
> The Rev. Howard Mims, 70, pastor of Jacob’s Chapel UMC, San Antonio, since 1995. He began his ministry in 1976. He served congregations in Columbus, Edna, Ganado, Luling, Seguin and Victoria—as well as two in the Oklahoma Conference—before going to Jacob’s Chapel.
Mims was ordained a deacon in 1976 and an elder in 1979.
> The Rev. John L. Nicholson, 68, pastor of St. Matthew’s UMC, San Antonio, since 2001. The Houston native began his ministry in 1985 as a licensed local pastor. He served congregations in LaGrange, Three Rivers and Whitsett before going to St. Matthew’s.
Nicholson was ordained a deacon and elected as an associate clergy member of the conference in 1990. He was ordained an elder in full connection in 2000.
> The Rev. Phillip G. Robberson, 65, pastor of First UMC, Schulenburg, since 1996. The San Antonio native began his ministry in 1962 in the North Texas Conference. He returned to Southwest Texas in 1963.
He served congregations in Eden, Ingleside, Pearl Valley, Pleasanton, San Antonio, Sinton, Sterling City, Veribest and Wall before going to Schulenburg.
Robberson was ordained a deacon in 1961 and an elder in 1964.
> Pastor Timothy L. Ryan, 67, associate pastor of Bulverde UMC since 2000. He began his ministry in 2000 as a licensed local pastor.
> The Rev. Jerry D. Smart, 68, president, Southwest Ohio Senior Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, since 1973. The Wewoka, Okla., native began his ministry in 1958 in the Oklahoma Conference.
He transferred to Southwest Texas in 1965 to work as an administrator at Morningside Manor, San Antonio.
Smart was ordained a deacon in 1958 and an elder in 1965.
> Pastor Carolyn Sue Taylor, 68, of Castell and Hilda UMCs. She began her ministry in 1997 as a licensed local pastor. She served congregations in Eagle Lake, Freyburg and Garwood before going to Castell and Hilda in 1999.
> The Rev. Fredrick B. “Rick” Waters Jr., 62, pastor of First UMC, San Marcos, since 1999. The San Antonio native began his ministry in 1973 in the Texas Conference. He transferred to Southwest Texas in 1976 and served congregations in Burnet, Fredericksburg and San Saba.
He was superintendent of the McAllen District for five years before going to San Marcos.
Waters was ordained a deacon in 1973 and an elder in 1977.
> The Rev. L. Joanne “Jodie” Windbigler, 65, pastor of First UMC, McCamey, since 1996. The Boerne native began her ministry in 1983. She served congregations in Bloom-ington, Cedar Park and Fannin before going to McCamey.
Windbingler was ordained a deacon in 1983 and an elder in 1986.