Melissa Hinnen Ordination
The moment of laying on hands during Melissa Hinnen's ordination. Photo Courtesy of Rev. Hinnen
In my whole life I will never forget this sacred moment. As Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton put his hands on my head and Bishop Alfred Johnson, D.S. Denise Smartt Sears, Vicki Flippin, Doug Cunningham, (and yes I felt the hands of Bishop Martin D. McLee and Rev. Chris Hinnen) lay hands on me in prayer and surrounded by colleagues, parishioners, friends, and family, I felt intense joy and certainty.
What a wonderful Church! What a wonderful people called Methodists!
This conference who danced together in late night balloting the night before joyfully waiting to vote on a historic delegation to a historic General Conference.
This gracious Church conference where new babies were held in the arms of colleagues, we remembered those who have passed into eternal love, students were invited to engage in and lead worship, and a mantle was reverently passed from retired pastors to newly commissioned clergy.
With care for our sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico, an expression of solidarity with our neighbors in need of sanctuary, marking 50 years since the dissolution of the racist Central Jurisdiction, knowing that we still have so much work to do.
I don’t know what The United Methodist Church will look like in the next year to two but I do know that the mission God is asking us to partner in will not change. Thank you everyone for your prayers and your support and your love and your grace. God bless you. You are LOVED and treasured.
Melissa Hinnen
The Rev. Melissa Hinnen
The Rev. Melissa Hinnen of the New York Annual Conference describes herself as "Parent to Cassie, Spouse to Chris, Mima to SophiAna. United Methodist Pastor Justice Seeker Truth Teller Jesus Follower." This post is republished with permission from her blog Life Is a Sweet Jubilee.