Conference bids farewell to Holston, welcomes Fairley
By Jessica Brodie
IRMO—A crowd of well-wishers gathered Aug. 11 to bid the Holston family farewell and God’s blessings as they move from South Carolina to Alabama.
Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, with his wife, Felecia, has been the episcopal leader of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2012, when he was elected on the first ballot at that year’s Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Because of the pandemic, he served this conference for 12 years instead of the typical eight, and his departure left many saying they will miss a dear friend as well as a spiritual leader. The Holstons have been appointed to the Alabama Panhandle Conference.
Appointed to serve the South Carolina Conference is Bishop Leonard Fairley, along with his wife, Dawn, who leave the Kentucky and Central Appalachian Missionary conferences.
Fairley takes the helm Sept. 1. His installation will be 11 a.m. Sept. 28 at Mount Hebron UMC, West Columbia. (More at https://umcsc.org.)
To show their love, appreciation and care, hundreds from across the state gathered at Union United Methodist Church, Irmo, for an appreciation service filled with laughter and thoughtful reflection on the many ways Bishop Holston has touched their lives and helped them through what has been a difficult season in the church.
On behalf of the South Carolina Committee on the Episcopacy, the Rev. J. Jeannette Cooper served as the host of the event, welcoming the crowd and sharing gratitude about the gifts and graces the Holstons brought to this conference.
A host of South Carolina leaders took the stage to offer words of affirmation and thanksgiving: Union’s senior pastor the Rev. Stephen Taylor, United Women in Faith President Clarice Blakeney, United Methodist Men President Kenny Bingham, Lay Leader Barbara Ware, Board of Ordained Ministry Chair the Rev. Morris Waymer, Connectional Ministries Director the Rev. Millie Nelson Smith, Cabinet Dean the Rev. Cathy Mitchell, and Youth Ministry Coordinator Chris Lynch.
Their heartfelt words underscored the genuine love felt for the departing episcopal leader.
As Blakeney shared, “We are better because of you.”
the conference navigated “new and unknown territory.”
Ware remembered how, when she first met Holston at his 2012 election in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, he told her then, “I’m going to be the bishop for the laity.”
He did indeed live up to that pledge, she said, noting how his caring, relational approach made it an honor to work alongside him in ministry.
“You made the laity feel like we matter,” Ware said.
A video tribute featuring many other pastors and laity across South Carolina further reflected on the warm, compassionate leadership Holston brought to this conference.
As the Rev. Tiffany Knowlin Boykin said, lifting up his calm and holy spirit during times of difficulty, “You made us realize we don’t have to lose our minds or our souls when things are uncertain.”
The Holstons stood to offer their own departing thoughts, thanking South Carolina for their love and hospitality.
“I was a rookie bishop, and you allowed me to make mistakes,” he told the crowd, acknowledging goodbyes are difficult for him, as he doesn’t want these relationships to end, and offering encouragement as they shift into a new phase in the life of the church. “Keep on moving. God has dreams for each of us.”