Annual Conference session members and family and friends joyfully supported clergy and lay ministries recognized at the Celebration of Ministry on June 9.

Five elders and one deacon were commissioned for ministry. This begins a provisional period in their ministries. They are licensed for their ministry, appointed, and preparing for ordination interviews in a few years.

Elders have ministries of word, service, sacrament, and order. Most elders are appointed by the bishop to pastor churches.

Commissioned for the ministry of the elder:

• Dawn Marie Gardner
• Michael Mitchell Sr.
• D. Josiah Montgomery
• Hyesang Jay Shin
• Jacob R. Tipantasig-Wolverton

Commissioned to the ministry of deacon

• Alexander Dade Dungan

Six people were ordained as elders:

• Kicheon Ahn
• Jaeeon Cho
• Chan Ik Choi
• Clayton Scott Edwards
• G. Morris K. Jarkloh Jr
• Matthew James Smith

The bishop also recognized the consecration of Ruth Smith-Sumrall, a deaconess who had been consecrated at the United Methodist General Conference.

Deaconesses (laywomen) and home missioners (laymen) are called by God to be in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church for engagement with a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. They are members of a lay order.

Six people were licensed for ministry as local pastors: Rene Bello, Kurt Beystehner, Saturnino Espinoza, David Profitt, Sanha Kan, and Robert Wandell.

The service ended with a service of communion, in which the newly commissioned and newly ordained clergy distributed the elements.

Watch the Celebration of Ministry Service