As part of the ordination service, each of us candidates was permitted to select two UMC clergy to serve as sponsors. I was honored to have the Rev. Beverly CroweTipton and the Rev. Susan Leonard serve in this role. They placed the stole, the symbol of an Elder, for the first time.
Susan, Beverly, and I served together at Advent UMC from 2005 to 2010. It was a wonderful experience. These two mean the world to me.