15 ordained, 13 commissioned June 4 in Corpus Christi
Bishop Joel N. Martinez set apart 13 men and 15 women last week in Corpus Christi for various orders of United Methodist ministry in Southwest Texas.
Another man was recognized June 4 for moving into a new clergy status within the Southwest Texas Conference.
Nearly 1,500 people witnessed the historic ceremony—done jointly with the Rio Grande Conference—in the Selena Auditorium of the American Bank Center.
Seven Rio Grande Conference ministry candidates were also set apart. The service....
....was conducted in English and Spanish.
The commissioning and ordination service concluded the June 1-4 Southwest Texas Annual Conference session and preceded Rio Grande Conference business sessions.
The two conferences, which share a bishop and a common area for ministry, had never met in joint session before. The Rio Grande Conference ministry to Spanish-speaking residents of Texas and New Mexico began in 1853. The Southwest Texas Conference traces its roots to 1859.
Sudden illnesses among participants in the two conferences reduced the crowd somewhat and keep several worship leaders from taking part in the rite.
Martinez laid hands on 12 Southwest Texas probationary elders—five men and seven women—to ordain them as elders in full connection.
The laying on of hands symbolically passed on the power of the Holy Spirit for church leadership. Elders are called to ministries of word, sacrament, order and service.
The bishop ordained three others—two men and one woman—as deacons. Two were designated deacons in full connection.
The third became a deacon and an associate clergy member of the conference. He may choose to retain that status or seek ordination as an elder in full connection.
Deacons are called to ministries of word and service.
Martinez prayed over 13 other Southwest Texas candidates. Ten of those—five man and five women—were commissioned as probationary elders and licensed for ministry. They are working toward eventual ordination as elders in full connection.
Three others—one man and two women—were commissioned as probationary deacons. They are working toward eventual ordination as deacons in full connection.
The Rev. Larry L. Scharmann, 54, pastor of Oak Meadow UMC, San Antonio, since 2003, was recognized as a probationary clergy member. That’s a different path toward ordination as elder in full connection. He was ordained a deacon in 2003 and elected as an associate clergy member of the conference.
Scharmann was licensed as a local pastor in 1998 and served Christine UMC from 1998 to 2003.
The 12 Southwest Texas candidates ordained as elders in full connection were:
> Judith Meryle Fincher Baskin, 59, pastor of First UMC, Aransas Pass, since 2002. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1999 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. She served as associate pastor of Berkeley UMC, Austin, from 1999 to 2002.
> Kristina Anne Carter, 42, pastor of The Rock UMC, Cedar Park, since 2002. She was licensed as a local pastor in 2001 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. She served as associate pastor of First UMC, Austin, from 2001 to 2002.
> John Adam Fluth Jr., 51, pastor of Ozona UMC since 2002. He was commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002.
> Thomas Field Gibbons, 60, pastor of Epworth UMC, San Antonio, since 2000. He was licensed as a local pastor in 1999 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. He has been pastor of Manor UMC; Albright UMC, San Antonio; Bethany UMC, San Antonio; and McKinley Avenue UMC, San Antonio.
> Gerald Holman Goodridge, 49, associate pastor of La Vernia UMC, since 2004. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2000 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. He served the three congregations of the Hallettsville Circuit from 2000 to 2002 and was associate pastor of Schertz UMC from 2002 to 2004.
> Milburn Edens Hazlewood, 52, newly appointed pastor of First UMC, LaGrange. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2001 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. He served as associate pastor of St. John’s UMC, Austin, from 2001 to 2002 and pastor of First UMC, George West, from 2002 to 2005.
> Richard Long Hope Jr., 54, a chaplain with Methodist Healthcare System, San Antonio, since 2004. He was licensed as a local pastor in 1991 and ordained a deacon in 1999. He has served Southwest Texas congregations in Donna, Pharr, San Juan and Smiley. He has also been pastor of three congregations in the Central Texas Conference.
> Cleo Sue Johnson Huntsman, 52, pastor of First UMC, Edna, since 2001. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1994 and ordained a deacon in 2000. She became a probationary member in 2002. She was pastor of Oak Island UMC, San Antonio, from 1994 to 2001.
> Gloria Voges Lear, 64, associate pastor of First UMC, Corpus Christi, since 1994. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1994, ordained a deacon in 2000 and became a probationary member in 2002.
> Valerie Jean Sansing, 42, newly appointed associate pastor of Oak Hill UMC, Austin. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1999 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002. She was associate pastor of Bethany UMC, Austin, from 1999 to 2005.
> Beverly Mae Schmidt, 48, pastor of St. Paul UMC, El Campo, since 1999. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1999 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002.
> Martha June Harrison White, 61, pastor of Lakeview and Trinity UMCs, San Angelo, since 2001. She was licensed as a local pastor in 2001 and commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002.
The two candidates ordained as deacons in full connection were:
> Darren Steve Cowdrey, 37, associate pastor of Bethany UMC, Austin, since 2002. He was commissioned as a probationary deacon in 2002.
> Nancy McDougall, newly appointed minister of education at Grace UMC, Granite Shoals. She was commissioned as a probationary elder in 2002 and served as minister of education at Wimberley UMC from 2002 to 2005.
Robert Edward Glenn, 58, pastor of Ernest T. Dixon UMC, San Antonio, since 2000, was ordained a deacon and elected an associate clergy member of the conference. He was licensed as a local pastor in 1996. He was associate pastor of Trinity UMC, San Antonio, from 1996 to 1999 and pastor of the three congregations of the Hallettsville Circuit from 1999 to 2000.
Commissioned as probationary elders were:
> James Ryan Barnett, 29, associate pastor of University UMC, San Antonio, since 2004. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2004 following graduation from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky.
> Stephen Kent Cottingham, 53, pastor of Alamo UMC, San Antonio, since 2004. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2004. He’s a 1984 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary.
> Seth Walter Hoke, 55, pastor of First UMC, Seadrift, and Austwell UMC. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2003 following graduation from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has served Fentress UMC and First UMC, Sabinal.
> Elizabeth Marie Kevilus, 57, pastor of First UMC, Carrizo Springs, since 2004. She was licensed as a local pastor in 2004 following graduation from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
> John Abner Lee III, 41, pastor of Parita UMC, Adkins, since 2004. He was licensed as a local pastor in 2004.
> Arvilla Jean Brown Reardon, 59, newly appointed pastor of First UMC, Brackettville. She attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
> William Ernest Rice, 33, newly appointed associate pastor of Grace UMC, Corpus Christi. He was licensed as a student local pastor in 2003 and a local pastor in 2004. The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary graduate was associate pastor of Oak Hill UMC, Austin, from 2003 to 2005.
> Marilyn Kay von Roeder, 50, associate pastor of First UMC, Victoria, since 2002. She was licensed as a local pastor in 2001. She was pastor of Waelder, Thompsonville and Frey-burg UMCs from 2000 to 2002.
> Janna George Sandidge, 49, pastor of First UMC, Raymondville, since 2004. She was licensed as a local pastor in 1998. She served First UMC, Seadrift, and Austwell UMC from 1998 to 2004.
> Veda Glover White, 55, newly appointed pastor of Manor UMC.
Commissioned as probationary deacons were:
> Taylor Scott Boone, 56, newly appointed director of Corazon Ministries at Travis Park UMC, San Antonio. Previously he’s worked as an attorney and certified public accountant.
> Linda Sue Gwathmey, newly appointed program director at Windcrest UMC. She had previously filled that position as a layperson.
> Tanya Marie Huber, 26, newly appointed associate pastor of Tarrytown UMC, Austin. The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary graduate previously served at First UMC, Elgin.
