Everyone in attendance wore a facemask and practiced social distancing and other safety protocols, in accordance with COVID-19 guidance from state health officials.

Bishop Holston

“We wish that we could all be in one big arena where we could all hug each other and congratulate each other, but this time does not present itself for us to do those things,” said Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference, who led the service. “I’m grateful for your willingness to participate in this service, whether online or in person.

“We pray that God’s grace has been with you and that you have been filled anew with what God can do with us and through us.”

Bishop James E. Swanson Sr., resident bishop of the Mississippi Conference, centered his sermon on the lesson of The Good Shepherd (John 10:1-10) – telling the ordinands and provisional members to model their ministry as “Life Givers” on the symbiotic relationship between shepherd and sheep.

Sheep provided milk and wool to the shepherds, their families and the community, he said, while shepherds provided their flocks with protection, food and water.

Bishop Swanson

“Sheep are skittish; they like calm water,” Bishop Swanson said. “It’s your job as a shepherd not to get caught up in a lot of the stuff that’s going on, but to be a non-anxious presence.

“At night, when it was time for the sheep to rest, shepherds found rock formations where the sheep could huddle safely. Most of the time there was no gate to keep them inside, so the shepherd would become the gate and lay himself prostrate across the entryway so that if a predator tried to get to the sheep, it had to cross over the shepherd to get to the sheep.

“Sometimes, we let predators in among our folks, because we are not willing to sacrifice ourselves on behalf of our people. That’s why you need power beyond yourself, because some predators are more powerful than you. You provide the protection so that they cannot get to your people.”

The Service for Ordination and Commissioning came a week after the Clergy Session of the 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference convened virtually on August 1 – approving and electing all 20 candidates.

Ordained as elders

Commissioned as provisional elders

Commissioned as provisional deacons

Seminary Key