Sowers for God: Service celebrates 15 called into ministry, honors 32…

Billy Keith Stewart is ordained as an elder during AC2025. Photo by Matt Brodie.

By Jessica Brodie

GREENVILLE—Reminding them that God brought them to this day because God saw something significant in them, Bishop Leonard Fairley preached a Commissioning, Ordination and Retirement Recognition Service that celebrated 15 people called into ministry by the Lord and honored 32 who are retiring after many years of service.

“In a world plagued by so much deep polarization and division and injustice, you are called to be sowers of the seed of a more excellent way, to become sowers of a seed planted at your baptism,” Fairley preached to applause. “You are called to put your trust not in man but called to put your trust in the grace of Jesus Christ.”

In his sermon, “What God Sees in You,” Fairley shared that God has never called a person he has not equipped or who he will not empower.

“You are set apart to become sowers of God’s seed of love and justice,” he said.

This means sowing seeds of liberation over oppression, hope over despair and light over darkness.

In essence, he noted, they are being called to be “a spiritual Johnny Appleseed.”

“I believe you can do it because he that is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” Fairley preached.

Ordained as elders were Leo Wesley Roy, Thessa Goodwin Smith and Billy Keith Stewart.

Ordained as deacon was Kim Moultrie Bryant.

Commissioned as provisional elders were Grayson Edward Fallaw, Joseph Brannon Gambrell, Rachel Elizabeth Headden, Faye Juanita Jones, Larry McCray, Fred Preston Moore Jr., Adrienne Elaine Stokes and Sheera Disher Yates.

Commissioned as provisional deacons were Heather Roberts Connor and Ronald Brent Crimm.

And with orders recognized in the United Methodist Church as a full elder member was Gary Lloyd Rivas.

Passing the mantle

After the ordination and commissioning, the service shifted to celebrate the 32 retiring clergy. Each came onstage as their names were read to shake hands with the bishop as they took their place for the passing of the mantle ceremony.

The Rev. Dwight Nelson, representing the retiring class, knelt at the altar with the Rev. Leo Wesley Roy representing the newly ordained class as the bishop placed a stole upon Nelson’s shoulder. Then, Nelson rose to place the mantle upon the shoulders of Roy.

“I transfer this mantle from our generation to the young, indicating thereby that the responsibilities and dedication of the older generation will be caught up and carried on by the young, and the spirit of today’s Elijahs will rest upon today’s Elishas,” Nelson proclaimed.

Roy responded, “We who come after you take up the mantle which falls upon us. May we inherit a double share of your spirit.

The Rev. Cynthia Taylor prayed over the new class to conclude the ceremony.

Retirees recognized were as follows: Morgan David Arant Jr., Christopher Edward Arries, Graham Miller Bennett, Robert Arthur Brawn, Harry Lee Brown, Dennis Jay Devorick, Jimmie Will Duncan, Edward Herbert Franklin Jr., Curtis Davon Harrelson, Bette Ann Hedden, William Allen Hightower, Mary Benton Holladay, Adlai Stephen Holler, George Palmer Hudson, Cassandra Pasley Jackson, Emma Roderick Jones, Marvin Wilbur Karn Jr., Steven Paul Keck, Joseph Gregory Martin, Mark Douglas Mitchell, Dwight Arnold Nelson, Irvin Vincent Plowden Jr., Rodney Keith Powell, Henry Lee Ravenel Sr., Dewey Lee Shaffer, James Ronald Singleton, James Moses Smith, Cynthia Cooke Taylor, David Carroll Taylor, Palma Duncan Thomas, Michael Cunningham Walker and Wade Anthony Wyatt.

The service ended with the singing of “Lift High the Cross,” followed by a reception.