After the fixing of appointments and the conclusion of business, 41 persons publicly proclaimed their call to ministry during the Ordering of Ministry Service on Saturday, June 14, in the Greenville Convention Center. 

Paul Saik and the Annual Conference Choir sang “You Are Holy” to gather and prepare the people, followed by the tradition of leading the congregation in the singing of “Lift High the Cross” for the opening processional hymn. After recognition by Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton, the persons to be licensed, certified, commissioned, and ordained were presented. 

Shelton presided over the service and warmly introduced retired Bishop Paul Leeland, who served in many roles in the NC Conference, and guest preacher Bishop Gregory V. Palmer with gratitude for their many years of service to The United Methodist Church. Palmer was elected to the episcopacy in 2000 and was the Resident Bishop of the Ohio West Episcopal Area, which included the West Ohio Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church before his retirement in 2024.  

After the special offering of music by the choir and the offering collected for The Endowment Fund for Theological Education in the Central Conferences of The UMC, Palmer offered a message of “Living Love,” anchored in John 13 where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He remembered a homily he once heard that included recounting Jesus’ interaction with those disciples, focusing on verse one: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” 

Palmer has pondered what those words actually mean, realizing that many spend much of their lives trying to figure out how to exist in this world. Jesus was at the communion table with people who would betray him and those who did not “get him” all the time. Palmer questioned whether people really comprehend what it means to be Jesus’ servants in the world.

Palmer pointed out that, after speaking, Jesus rose, shed some of his garments, and dropped to his knees to wash the feet of his disciples. He then referred to the autobiography of theologian Howard Thurman, With Head and Heart, and Thurman’s recollection as a student on the Morehouse campus. Thurman said it seemed as though they were trying to place a crown above their heads, so they would need to spend the rest of their lives standing tall enough to wear it. Palmer challenged the candidates to remember what led them to today’s mile marker and to never forget what got them here. He said the hard work begins now, so they should stand tall enough to wear the “crown” the NC Conference is placing above their heads of ministerial recognition and responsibility. He then reminded them: “When you’re tall enough to wear it, you can be like Jesus. Then, you can take it off and get down on your knees and wash feet.”

Palmer described the journey as one of discovering, owning, and fully living into who individuals are as Christians, which results in being equipped to lovingly do everything God calls each one to do. He encouraged the candidates to “love into your role” without losing their essential identity in Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus knew who he was in his belovedness, an identity that couldn’t be stolen even by the “enemy in the wilderness,” he encouraged each person to fully know and live into their identity, to take off the things of this world, to get down on their knees, and to shape their congregations and people in love. Otherwise, he said that love will be just a word. Palmer proclaimed, “Love boldly! Love all the folks God loves!”

Palmer reiterated that Jesus loved his own when he was in the world and loved them to the end. He said, despite the resistance the candidates will face, his last word of advice was: “Be a transformation for love in the world. Just tell the truth about God and love.” Although the church has given the world reasons not to trust the church, Palmer said, he strongly encouraged everyone gathered to lead in love to the Gospel.

His message concluded with lyrics from the hymn, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” by George Matheson: “O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.” 

Palmer offered a benediction saying: “It is a love that will not let you go. Now go forth and love the world like that!”

After those gathered shared in the Affirmation of Faith and Gloria Patri, Shelton examined the candidates, followed by their licensing, certification, commissioning, and ordination. She also reminded the pastors and laity to consider the Fresh Expressions opportunities offered by Discipleship Ministries and how they might be used to put love into action.

Everyone joined in the singing of “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” during the clergy recessional and were then dismissed with a blessing by Shelton.

Certified Lay Ministers

Jennifer Alison Burns
Tammy Davis Munns
Cornelius John Vaandering
Kendall McDougald Chalmers
Tod Alan Puckett
James Stephen Veverka
Catherine Elizabeth Colardo

License for Pastoral Ministry

Desirée Christa Adams
Kristyl Williams Kepley
Catherine Elizabeth Poindexter
Jorge Israel Borrayo
Victoria Bette-Lane Regulski
Lawrence Eugene Vacek, Jr.
Lee Herbert Covington
Jay Douglas Locklear
Trevor Ashton Warren
Stacie A. Holmes
Bruce Wayne Miller
Ramon Michael Wycoff
Beth Alayne Johnson
Amanda Renee Morrow

Commissioning as Deacon

James Patrick Longest III
Justis Tate Mitchell

Commissioning as Elder

Elias Taylor Ballew
Daeho Kang
Kathy Newton-Dunton
Amanda Stewart Bunce
Katelyn Marton MacDonald
Jonathan Mayer Sobel
Haley Elizabeth Capps

Ordination as Deacon

Zachary Tucker Moser
Elijah Michael Dato-on Raynor

Ordination as Elder

Thomas Adam Benson
Matthew Ray Hayes
Tyler Houston Moore
Rebecca Marie Bradley
Rhonda Lei Grant Jordan
Edward Nicholas Priestaf
Grayson Hicks Dye
Eunsoo Kang
Britney Ann Toner