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Woolley, Marsha M. Bitson
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Detroit Conference ordains 25 including ten elders
By Ed Duncan
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ADRIAN (MCA)-Ministry issues, concerns, and celebrations played a prominent part in the 146th session of the
Detroit Annual Conference.
Besides the usual powerful services of
ordination and consecration on Friday
night, June 5, there was a special Ministry
Night on June 4, which included the introduction of new diaconal ministers, the
introduction of new elders and deacons,
and the recognition of chaplains.
The usual Tuesday evening executive
session of the conference, consisting of
ordained ministers dealing with specific
disciplinary questions about the ministry,
and the reception of the soon to be ordained elders Wednesday morning as new, full
ministerial members able to vote for
General and Jurisdictional Conference
delegates were other highlights.
\
Martha Ball
Ordination and consecration
The ordination and consecration worsnlp servrce followed by the new ordinands and diaconal ministers serving
the sacrament of holy communion was the
highlight of the various ministry celebrations. Family, friends, church members
where ordinands are serving, and conference members fil led Dawson
auditorium.
The colorful procession , and the music
augmented by the conference choir and
brass choir added pagentry and life to the
occasion.
Bishop Judith Craig lifted up a model of
ministry for all who are called to ordination with a powerful sermon entitled "The
Unnamed."
Using as a model and example for
ministry the unnamed woman from
Bethany who lavishly and spontaneously
ministered to Jesus in the home of a
Pharisee (Mark 14: 1-11 ), she called on or... _:_ .... _:..,.;o4..o ..o to oono,dor hor
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model of ministry. --· · ·- ·· ··-- ·-- v
Noting that too often we are concerned
about getting credl\ and being named In
our ministry, she said, " The unnamed
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Peter Harris
Sylvia Bouvier
Richard Richmond
ten 11::., dllll ways mey can be modeled as
well as ignored, she closed with a powerful call to ministry for all present using the
unnamed woman as example:
"Therefore, she stands at the portal of the hallway of Christ's suffering, forever remembered, forever
modeling, forever beckoning, winsome, extravagant, spontaneous. Will
you look at her, my sisters and
brothers who would serve Christ,
and consider if you will become her
name? May someone, someday,
describe some moment of my
ministry as in some small way akin
to her."
After consecration of diaconal ministers,
and ordination of deacons and elders, this
modeling was begun as the new ordinands shared the bread and cup of Holy r.nmm11ninn with those present at the
service, - - ... ~ , , ..•. ~ . ··- -·-·- .,--··
Elders, "1 987
The following persons were recommo:mriori
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David Collins
Edwin Collver
Kathrvn Snedeker
Randy Whitcomb
'
Michelle Gentile
Marsha Woolley
Lakeville/Leonard UMC.
David Clark Collins, spouse: Roberta.
Graduate of Michigan State University,
1980, B.A. English Literature, and Asbury
Theological Seminary, 1984, M. Div.
Deacon/Probationary Membership 1983. Carlyle Stewart, Ill
Home church: Columbiaville UMC, currently serving Lincoln Community UMC in
Ypsilanti.
Edwin Milton Collver, spouse: Diane.
Graduate of Saginaw Valley State ColReception as elder by transfer from
lege, 1974, B.A. in Educ.; 1980, M.A., and
Methodist Theological Seminary, 1984, another denomination after two year proM.Div. Deacon/Probationary Membership bationary period:
1983. Home church: Swan Valley UMC,
Carlyle Fielding Stewart, Ill, Transfer
currently serving LaPorte/Mapleton UMC. of Elder Ordination 1985, Wilberforce
Michelle Annette Gentile, spouse: University, 1973, B.A. in Psychology, Cum
Randy Whitcomb. Graduate of Central Laude, Hull University, England, 1972,
Michigan University, 1977, B.S. Elemen- University of Chicago , 1974, M.A. ,
tary Educ./Theater, Penn State Universi- Chicago Theological Sem_inary, 1978, M.
ty, 1978, and 'Methodist Theological Div. and D. Min.,- ana Nonnwestern
school; 1'M5," M. · oiv~ · Deacontfl'rob-a-" u n~.v.er.sit.y.,~ .. ~ 9&2 .~- .flh. g., ,:~·a~ot or-' -of
.,.,..,.. ry MolT'lboJ"Ohlp 1 9 84 . Home c hurch;
Philosophy. 1965 Probationary Memt>efPaint Creek UMC , Rochester, currently ship . Currently serving Hope UMC ,
serving as associate pastor, Dearborn Southfield.
Noting that too often we are concerned
about getting credit and being named in
our ministry, she said, " The unnamed
woman of Bethany lives in the Gospel of
Mark, her act of grace tucked in between
two acts of disappointment: one of
betrayal sought, the other of betrayal
undertaken. We know the actors in those
moments-the Chief Priests and Scribes
Judas lscariot. We remember th~
betrayer by name, but we remember the
loving one by what she did.
. Bishop Craig soon asked the key question to all present, "What is important for
us? That our names be recorded in
history? Or that our ministry bear such
fruit as to leave tangible marks in life
which become a living legacy in others,
rather than in our own name?"
Noting that the unnamed woman did
something lovely, extravagant, and spontaneous, Bishop Craig used these three
traits to characterize the possibilities of
ministry today. After describing these
Elders, 1987
The following persons were recommended by the Board of Ordained Ministry
for ordination as ELDERS {after serving
satisfactorily for two years under appointment). They were received as full
ministerial members of the Detroit Annual
Conference, and ordained.
Martha Gregg Ball, spouse: Ben .
Graduate of Miami University, University
of Michigan, 1960, B.A.; 1968, M.A., and
United Theological Seminary, 1984, M.
Div. Deacon/Probationary Membership
1983. Home church: Calvary UMC, currently serving Britton Grace UMC.
Sylvia Ann Bouvier, spouse: Carl.
Graduate of Western Michigan University, 1962, B.S ., Oakland University, 1982,
M.A., and S.S. Cyril and Methodius
Seminary, United Theological Seminary,
1985, M. Div. Deacon/Probationary
Membership 1985. Home church: Lake
Orion
UMC,
currently
1985 Probationarv Ma"'b<>•tionary Membership 1984. Home church: Philosophy.
Paint Creek UMC , Rochester, currently ship. Currently serving Hope UMC,
southfield.
s~rving as associate pastor, Dearborn
F1rst UMC.
Peter Harris, spouse: Jan . Graduate of
Michigan State University, 1980, B.A.
Criminal Justice, and Perkins School of
Theology, 1984, M. Th. Deacon/Probationary Membership 1982. Home Church:
Ann Arbor First UMC, currently serving
Flint Eastwood.
Richard James Richmond, spouse:
Bonnie. Graduate of Taylor University,
1981 , B.A. Ancient Languages/Church
History, and Princeton Theological
Seminary, 1985, M. Div. Deacon/Probationary Membership 1984. Home church:
Waterman Preston UMC , currently serving Deckerville/Minden City UMC.
Kathryn Sue Snedeker, spouse: Hal
Ferris. Graduate of Albion College, 1982,
A.B. Magna Cum Laude, and Duke
University Divinity School, 1985, M. Div.
Deacon/Probationary Membership 1984.
Home church: D l~boro UMC, currently
:.~rv1ng as assoc1ate pastor. Flushina
UMC.
Randy James Whitcomb, spouse:
Michelle Gentile. Transfer from Minnesota
Annual Conference, 1985. Deacon/Probationary Membership, Minnesota Annual
Cont., 1984. Graduate of Minnesota Bible
College, 1981 , A.A. Westmar College,
1982, B.A., and Methodist Theological
School , 1985, M.Div. Home church: Faith.
UMC, Eyota, Minnesota, currently serving
as a~sociate pastor, Aldersgate UMC,
Detro1t.
Marsb.a Marie Woolley, spouse:
Charl9s. Transfer from West Michigan
Conference, 1985. Deacon/Probationary
Membership 1984. Graduate of:
Muskegon Community College, 1980,
A.A. Asso. in Arts, Cum Laude, Adrian
College , 1982, B.A. Speech Communications, Cum Laude, and Garrett
Evangelical Theological Seminary, 1985,
M. Div. Home church: Fremont UMC, currently serving as associate pastor First
UMC of Ypsilanti.
