July 15, 2016
Five Bishops Consecrated at SEJ Conference
The 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference concluded this morning with the consecration of five bishops. In a worship-filled service each Bishop was presented by two sponsors from their home conference. The following Bishops were consecrated:
Bishop Sharma Lewis, assigned to the Virginia Conference
Bishop David Graves, assigned to the Alabama-West Florida Conference
Bishop Leonard Fairley, assigned to the Virginia Conference
Bishop Lawson Bryan, assigned to the South Georgia Conference
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, assigned to the North Georgia Conference.
Bishop Lindsey Davis, who served North Georgia for 12 years, from 1996-2008, preached at the service.
Naming recent events that remind us how desperate our world is for redemption, Bishop Davis lifted up the unique spiritual gifts necessary for the crucial work of a bishop.
He shared glimpses into what ministry will be like for the new bishops:
- You will be asked to share your leadership in places and ways you never imagined
- By your very presence you will symbolize the unity of the church
- You'll experience United Methodist worship in all its diversity
- Be prepared to leave your comfort zone
- Sometimes your heart will ache
- Your joy will be to follow Jesus
- Give yourself completely to the task and God will bless you
But most importantly Bishop Davis emphasized, "Be assured of our constant prayers for you."
Bishop Goodpaster consecrating the new bishops prayed, "We thank you gracious Lord for raising up among us your faithful servants for the ministry of a bishop."
Their appointments as Bishops in their respective conference will begin September 1. A welcome reception for Bishop David Graves and his wife, Nancy, will be announced in the coming days.
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