NTC Retirees provided 210 years service NTC

Eight clergy members --- three women and five men --- totaling 210 years of service retired from the North Texas Conference during the June 3-6 sessions in Plano Centre.

Five delivered their memories and thanks in person. One, temporarily confined with illness, e-mailed her message and two were not present but were recognized.

Rev. Donna Whitehead introduced Rev. Betsy Alden in absentia, calling her a pioneer among women to attend seminary and saying that both men and women "liked Betsy."

Dr. Alden, who specialized in ministry in higher education settings, e-mailed her thoughts to Rev. Don Benton, her self-identified "first mentor in ministry." She sent greetings by name to a dozen or more male conference members but also special recognition to women clergy colleagues from seminary days in the 1970s.

"All of my gifts and graces were tested in campus ministry," she confessed. Her final ten active years were at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Rev. Joe Ed Goolsby said he had two objectives in his time-limited remarks. One he gained from the late Rev. Julian Thomas was "get up and say what you have to say and sit down."

The other, he said, would be harder, namely to avoid cliches frequently heard in retirement remarks. He indulged in one or two, thanking his family and churches he had served, then brought a peal of laughter by quoting his 9-year-old grandson on his retirement, saying, "Granddaddy, you've never really had a job, have you?"

Rev. John Gondol identified four "kairos" moments in his ministry. First, in 1977, being prompted by two consecutive pastors to consider entering the United Methodist ministry, a significant change from his training in industrial management. Second, in 1984, hearing retiree Rev. Wilson Canafax lament that he didn't "get a real job so I can afford a home."

Third, in 1991, taking his first Walk to Emmaus and beginning deep involvement in that program continuing to this day. Fourth, in 2005, a book study at First UMC, Van Alstyne, and encountering the phrase "don't take it personally." He closed by saying, "Jesus Christ took it personally, freeing us to love God's people."

Rev. Joan Humphries had had two careers --- school teacher and computer programmer --- before entering the ministry. She referred to her participation in a 12step program as "life-changing" and noted that she both entered and is retiring from the ministry "early." She said she had enjoyed the view from the chancel and had felt her most blessed moments there. With a friend on either side, she closed with a moving story about her son, Jefferson, who took his own life.

Rev. Jung Nong Na raised the program's decibel level as the first Korean-American retiring from North Texas, "number one annual conference" in his view. He has specialized in organizing new Korean-American United Methodist churches --- two in New Jersey, one in Washington-Baltimore and five in the South Central Jurisdiction, including two in North Texas. He brought the house down by identifying as "number one" in their respective duties Dallas South District Superintendent Rev. Milton Guitterrez, Bishop Alfred L. Norris and Area Provost Rev. James Dorff.

Rev. Bart Smith, who shares a birthday with John Wesley said he found the church to be a warm and nurturing place as he grew up in West Texas. After referring to several especially close clergy friends (all but one retired or retiring), he mentioned a lengthy serious illness and the "blessing in ministry" he received from the church he was serving, First UMC, DeSoto. He then was rewarded with applause as he announced that his oncologist recently informed him that there is no sign of cancer in his body. He praised the conference’s insurance program.

Not present for the service but recognized were Rev. Boyd Sawyer and Rev. Linda Carmichael.

Class of 2007 retirees and spouses are, from left, Rev. Bart and Ann Smith, Rev. Jung Yong and Jung Ja Na, Rev. Joe Ed and Juanille Goolsby, Rev. Joan Humphries, and Rev. John and Marilyn Sue Gondol