“Therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in us all.” Ephesians 4:1-6 (NRSV)
“In the challenges of life, we are called by the Holy Spirit to live our call as one body of Christ,” said Bishop Deborah Kiesey, as she delivered the message, “Our Calling,” at the 2022 Celebration of Life in Ministry Service. View Bishop Kiesey's message. 

Bishop Deb Kiesey

“Unity! Not uniformity, not conformity, not everyone thinking alike, not everyone agreeing, but unity within this holy spirit because there is only one body, there is only one God,” said Bishop Deb at the service, attended by more than 500 people, at the Event Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Kiesey told attendees that responding to God’s call and seeking the Holy Spirit is critical during this divisive time. “We have seen our world torn apart by war and destruction. We have seen our church torn apart by division and suspicions. Our culture is torn apart by the violence of guns in our streets,” said Kiesey.

She invited the candidates to ministry to commit to the kind of unity expressed by Paul in Ephesians. “I beg you, live a life worthy of this call. Because there is just one Lord, one faith, one baptism. To Paul, the very heart of our call, the very center of our faith, is to see this world, to see this creation, as God sees it. And for Paul, that can be summed up in just one word, unity.”

During the service, persons were remembered, recognized, and celebrated as they entered a new stage and commitment to ministry.

Bishop Deb exclaimed, “So, let’s celebrate today. In spite of all that is going on in our world. Despite everything that’s happening within our church. Let’s celebrate these women and these men who’ve answered the call God has placed on their hearts. And my prayer for you takes the form of those great words of invitation to the holy eucharist, and if you know them, as I think you do, say them with me. ‘By your spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. May it be so, dear Lord, may it be so. Amen and Amen.’”

These persons were honored at the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service.

Those Who Have Died

Clergy
Reverend Gordon Higgins (June 24, 2021)
Reverend Dale Emery (November 6, 2021)
Reverend Steven Johnson (January 25, 2022)
Reverend Randolph “Randy”  Cross (March 19, 2022)
Reverend Charles Sommers (March 21, 2022)

Clergy Spouses
Bernice Rath, widow of Reverend Ted Rath (May 22, 2021)
Loretta Stein, spouse of Reverend James Stein (June 26, 2021)
Phyllis Sortland, widow of Reverend John Sortland (September 7, 2021)
Edythe Cascini, widow of Reverend Willliam Cascini (October 8, 2021)
Ronald Mackey, spouse of Reverend Janis Sue Kana-Mackey (October 23, 2021)
Thelma Moberly, widow of Reverend Richard Moberly (March 9, 2022)
Harlan Hansum,  widower of Reverend Carolyn Hansum (March 31, 2022)
Doris Horner, widow of Reverend Charles Horner (April 11, 2022)
Donna Masartis, spouse of Reverend Russell Marsartis (April 11, 2022)

The 2022 clergy retirees were honored in the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service by retired Bishop Bruce R. Ough.

The Retirement Class
Reverend Michelle Brennan
Reverend Greg Kroger
Reverend Ken Mund
Reverend Bob Ruedebusch
Reverend Glen Sayler
Reverend Mark Turner
Reverend Tim Vorlage

Licensed Local Pastors
Jared Cass, serving as associate pastor at First UMC at Huron
Seth Duncan, serving Cresbard and Tolstoy
Stephanie Eliason, serving Canyon Lake UMC at Rapid City
Jeff Hauser, serving The Road and First UMC at Rapid City
Jesse Irvine, serving Park River Feredeated and Fordville PCUSA
Cheryl Nymann, serving Murdo, Draper, and White River
Bobby Postal, serving Clark, Garden City, Henry, and Kellerton
John Schomberg, serving Zion UMC at Beresford

Licensed local pastors completing educational requirements
Sandy Marquardt
Brett Roes
Mike Waldrop

Comissioned as deacon
Sandee Prouty Cole

Comissioned as elders
Bryce Blank
Thanael Certa-Werner
Rey Colon
Teresa Person
Teresa Whetsel

Ordained as elders
Martin Avery
Jeff Lathrop
Jordan Louks
Jennifer McDonald
Jeanne Sortland

VIEW THE ENTIRE SERVICE. 
VIEW THE WORSHIP SERVICE PROGAM.