Written by Rev. Ryan Christenson
The Clergy of the Iowa Annual Conference gathered online and in person at the newly-opened Waukee United Methodist Church for their annual clergy session.
In liturgy, prayer, and encouragement, Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, Resident Bishop of the Iowa Annual Conference, greeted the diverse gathering. “We come with all kinds of emotions. Oh, God, hold us…hold your church, in the palm of your hand.”
Rev. Chad Jennings, Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, described the time, saying, “Because we as clergy are not members of our own churches but members of the annual conference, today was a gathering of the church body that is the clergy of the annual conference. We do our worshipful work to care for all of those who are among our family. We took care of those who are retired. We took care of those coming into ministry. We took care of those who are serving in specialized ministry. All those things we do for each other as clergy of the Iowa Annual Conference.”
Uniquely this year, the clergy session included a time of “farewell” for disaffiliating clergy who withdrew their membership in the Iowa Conference. The gathered people read in unison “We feel sorrow in the leaving, yet we rejoice in anticipation of this new phase of our lives. We will miss the love and support, yet we know we will add much to the lives of those who will be our new church family, as we have added much to each other’s lives before. We pray for each other and for the whole family of God.” Jennings estimated about 45 pastors withdrew their membership.
The clergy session celebrated the ministry milestones, listed below. The group affirmed the calling to the ministry as provisional elders Mechille S. Boldt, Lewis A. Cox, Heidi L. Farmer, and Rachel J. Lamparek. Additionally, the group voted to ordain as elders and receive into full connection Kristina R. Roth, Catherine A. Stokes, and Lana K. Williams. Recognized as Course of Study Graduates were Kristin D. Boysen, Kathleen A. Christie, Jill E. Darling, Brent A. Hanna, Jessica L. Jacobsen, Kenneth C. Miller, Diane L. Olson Schroder, Susan M. Simmons, Gina M. Spohnheimer, and John P. Wagner.
The clergy received Roberta S. Maltas from the Texas Annual Conference. Caesar J. David, Jihoon Lee, and Hojin Shin were all received from the Korean Methodist denomination.
The gathering recalled active and retired clergy who had died in the past year. And the group voted to approve clergy moving to retired status.
The gathered group of clergy cared for the worshipful work, and many of these milestones will be marked with corporate worship later in the weekend of the Annual Conference.
Rev. Edgar Solis Romero, Vice Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, reflected, “The message and the spirit that I feel today is that the Church belongs to God, and God will take care of our church. We will move forward with hope.”
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Milestones and Anniversaries
Ordination anniversaries are as of when the individual obtained their Final Status (Ex. Full Member & Elder or Full Member & Deacon)
Ordination Class of 1953—70 years
Paul M. Dietterich
J. Donald Johnson
Ordination Class of 1958—65 years
Melvin W. Reth
Wayne E. Wasta
Ordination Class of 1963 – 60 years
Carroll D. Brown
Leland C. Eyres
Merlen F. Howe
James R. Nelson
B. Gordon Packard, Jr.
Vernon K. Robbins
Kenneth D. Royar
Jerrold W. Swinton
Harlan W. Winter
Ordination Class of 1968 – 55 years
William J. Hiebert
James N. Louk
Dennis D. Nicholson
Jerry L. Richards
Ray K. Seney
Gordon E. Watson
L. Scott Woodworth
Ordination Class of 1973 – 50 years
Paul L. Akin
Donald N. Bardole
Brian E. Carter
Charles E. Curl
James L. Dotson
Leonard M. Eberhart
James F. Hanke Jr.
Merlin R. Mather
David M. Nolte
Kenneth D. Suetterlin
Donald R. Turkelson
Ordination Class of 1978 – 45 years
Robert D. Dodge
James D. Perdue
Douglas A. Peters
Allen D. Ricks
Glennys M. P. Ulschak
Ordination Class of 1983 – 40 years
Ron G. Blix
Marvin D. Cleair
Robert W. Dean
Gary W. DeGeest
Jill S. Leveck
Kevin M. Leveck
Leland J. Webb
Dana E. Wimmer
Mark A. Young
Ordination Class of 1988 – 35 years
Janice R. Burnett
Russ L. Burnett
Kathleen Clark
Robert J. Dagit
Steven J. Hansen
Douglas P. Harding
Kay Hooper
Henrietta Klarenbeek
Roland E. Kramer
Brian K. Milford
Merrill G. Muller
Neil R. Montz
Andrew L. Rubenking
Marcia F. Sangel
James F. Schutter
Brian J. Sherman
Philip J. Webb
Ordination Class of 1993 – 30 Years
Duane L. Anderson
Douglas C. Cue
Danilo G. Fernandez
Blair S. Frank
Anita M. Johnson
F. Anne Lippincott
Neva Thorn Perdue
Stephen R. Peters
P Edward Poston
Lane S. Riggle
Shirley H. Will
Michelle L. Williamson
Ordination Class of 1998- 25 Years
Steven W. Campbell
Edward E. Frank
Barbara R. Furman
Eric P. Guy
Joel Higgins
Gerry L. Kahler
Jung-Sook Kim
Barbara K. Mittman
Associate Member Class of 1983 – 40 years
Walter J. Bernard Jr.
Larry L. Pauley
Associate Member Class of 1988 – 35 years
Marvin G. Lindley
Sara B. Malone
Shurmaine K. McApline
Associate Member Class of 1993 – 30 years
A. David Arulnathan
C. Lucille Elrick
Associate Member Class of 1998 – 25 years
Sheryl K. Ashley
Gary D. McDonough
John V. Gaulke
