Retiring North Texas clergy offer some send-ups at their send-offs
The retirement speeches from clergy are one of the highlights of Annual Conference. Those stepping down from active roles come before the microphone full of emotions but also with funny stories and witty one-liners. Here are a few of them.
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“Ministry, when done right, results in significant
hair loss.”
Leighton Bearden
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 “My 3-year-old granddaughter has a direct line to God. She walked over to a clergy woman after one service and said, ‘Bye, God!’” Kathryn Johnson, with husband Karrell |
 “When babies that I’ve diapered become elders, it’s time to go.” Georjean Blanton, with husband Michael Renquist |
“My daughters call us a traveling sideshow. Mary is on the keyboard and flute,
and I am preaching.”
Ben Shinn
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 Albert Fisher recalled that he was once a supply pastor for four years. “I finally asked the district superintendent when will you find someone else? The response was, ‘When I start to look.’” |
 After serving 16 years in Buenos Aires, Betty Crowell, with J. Richard “Dick” Wilson and Donna Whitehead, joked that she would ask Madonna to change the words of the star’s song in the movie Evita to, “Don’t cry for her, Argentina.” |
Photos by Wil Murphy.
