Bishop Matthews issues call to daily prayer as New York West Area celebrates his assignment

Appreciation
It was with deep appreciation to family, friends, Episcopacy staff, and the Area, Bishop Matthews opened his meditation. He thanked his wife Barbara for 34 good years, noting that he thanks God everyday he is able to look into her face at the start of each day.

He noted that members of the Episcopacy staff, Christine Doran and Mary Bradley, have gone well beyond their job descriptions in preparation for his move and this welcoming service. Cited also was the hospitality the Matthews’ have received since arriving, especially the “delicious vegetarian soup.”

Saved by grace
“I want every card carrying United Methodist in the New York West Area to start their day off with prayer,” Bishop Matthews said. “You will hear me say it again and again and again … Start with prayer.”
“I would not be standing except by the power of prayer,” Bishop Matthews said. “I wish I could say it is because of my academic training... but it is not true.” Bishop Matthews instead credited the people, men and women, who have prayed for him throughout his life. He shared that his mother, who recently died at the age of 91, was a lifelong Methodist, and that every time he called she told him, “we’re praying for you.” Bishop Matthews grew up in Florence, South Carolina, a small segregated city which he thought was the largest city in the world until one day he traveled North. He shared that as he grew up he knew what it was like to be rejected because of his skin color, and indicated it was the grace of God and example of adult leaders in his church which shaped his views.

“Three important values” developed to guide him, Bishop Matthews said: Interdependence is the key to survival; Positive thinking; and The ability to look at road blocks, not as stumbling blocks, but as challenges to overcome and opportunities for growth.

As an example of the first, Bishop Matthews shared that he grew up in a neighborhood where everyone shared what they had so no one went lacking. “It is good to share another person’s burdens,” Bishop Matthews said. “God does not just bless us for us to simply keep it for ourselves.”

Positive thinking was a lesson Bishop Matthews learned from his uncle who served as a role model after his father died. “Circle yourself with people thinking positively,” his uncle told him.
“I have been blessed in adult life with friends who support me, tell the truth in love, and won’t let me take short cuts,” Bishop Matthews said. He encouraged all to surround themselves with positive people and to trust God.

Looking at examples of seeing roadblocks as challenges, Bishop Matthews shared his experience on February 8, 1968, when he joined about 200 college students protesting segregation and not being allowed to bowl in the only such recreational facility in the community. They all hit the ground, Bishop Matthews shared, as they heard the sound of shots fired by policemen in what was to become known as the Orangeburg Massacre. Twenty-seven students were shot in the back, three of whom died; one of the three, was Bishop Matthew’s friend.

“I was angry, afraid, in shock,” Bishop Matthews said, “I felt like sinking to the bottom and then I remembered the song – ‘Jesus loves Me and I love Him, Jesus loves me and I love Him.’ I knew that only by the grace of God my life was spared and I wanted to be a change agent. I knew it was a call from God.”

The celebration
The Rev. Dr. W. Mark Ralls, Senior Pastor, Asbury First UMC brought greetings and opening prayer as the service began in Asbury's sanctuary. Bishop Woodie W. White, a friend of Bishop Matthews, also shared in prayer.

Dr. Ronald Bretsch and Rev. Larry Baird represented the Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy as they presented Bishop Matthews to the Area. Dr. Bretsch described Bishop Matthews as deeply spiritual and inclusive, a man of unchangeable integrity, strong but not authoritarian. “He seeks consensus,” Dr. Bretsch said. “He is held in high esteem by other bishops.”

Dr. Bretsch referenced Bishop Matthews’ relationships in the denomination which will be valuable resources as the New York West and portions of the Albany Area create the Upper New York Area.
“What a wonderful journey of responsibility in our denomination,” Dr. Baird said of Bishop Matthews’ areas of service over the years. “How gifted... how many responsibilities God has entrusted to him.” Ms. Christine Doran, Assistant to the Bishop, shared greetings from Bishop Hassinger of the Albany Area. “I am delighted to greet you,” Bishop Hassinger wrote. “On behalf of the Troy and Wyoming Conferences, I pray God embraces and empowers you. I look forward to working with you.” Dr. Scott Johnson, Lay Leader of the WNY Conference, introduced Bishop Matthews, noting that Lay Leader of the North Central New York Conference Mr. Chuck Forbes had planned to join him in that introduction but was recovering from an accident and was unable to attend.

The Rev. Dr. Gregory Crispell, and Rev. Cassandra Salter-Smith, Chairs of the NYWA Committee on Episcopacy presented Bishop Matthews for welcome to the Area. “We, the representatives of the New York West Area Committee on Episcopacy, do certify that Bishop Marcus Matthews was duly elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church at the 2004 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and has been assigned by the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy to the New York West Area. We, therefore, present Marcus Matthews to be installed for the exercise of the office to which he has been chosen and welcome him, his wife, Barbara, their children Jaime and Marci, and their extended family to the New York West Area to which he has been assigned,” they said.

Covenant
Leading the Covenant Service portion of the celebration was Mr. Gerald Richardson, NEJ Committee on Episcopacy. The litany of which follows:

The church is the community of those called by God, justified by grace, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We, who are baptized into Christ’s death and raised with Christ in the resurrection, are living members of the body of Christ who return thanksgiving to God in ministries of worship, nurture, witness and service.

A bishop has been ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament; and to represent Christ’s servanthood in a special ministry of oversight.

A bishop is called to guard the faith, to seek the unity, and to exercise the discipline of the whole Church and to supervise and support the Church’s life, work, and mission throughout the world.
As a servant of the whole Church, a bishop is called to preach and teach the truth of the gospel to all God’s people; to lead the people in worship, in the celebration of the Sacraments, and in their mission of witness and service in the world; and to provide for the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the congregations committed to the bishop’s care.

Let the shepherd who has been called now affirm these ministries in our midst.

Bishop Matthews:
With God’s help, I promise faithfully to hear and to proclaim God’s Word, and rightly administer the Sacraments, as your pastor and servant.

People:
With God’s help, we promise to join with you in the life of praise and thanksgiving, and in the faithful use of the means of grace that God has given us.

Bishop Matthews:
By the grace of Christ, I promise to be among you as a teacher of the faith, a pastor of souls, and a means to the unity of the body of Christ.

People:
By the grace of Christ, we promise to join with you in the life of learning, in the nurturing of God’s people, and in the seeking of that oneness in Christ, which is Christ’s gift to us.

Bishop Matthews:
In the power of the Holy Spirit, I promise to be for you a means of reconciliation and healing, that all those who are burdened or oppressed may be made whole and able to rejoice in the new life in Jesus Christ.

People:
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we promise to be, and with you, faithful witnesses, serving justice, showing mercy, and in all things proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord.

Signs of Episcopal Ministry
Representatives of the people of God presented signs of the Episcopal office to Bishop Matthews.
The Rev. Deborah O’Connor-Slater and Rev. Natalie Hanson Deans of Cabinet presented the Pastoral Staff. The staff was handmade by Mr. Larry Elliott for the New York West Area. “Receive this pastoral staff, and be upheld and sustained by Christ, the Good Shepherd, as you exercise the ministry of a shepherd among us in Christ’s name. Amen” they said.

First lay delegates elected to General Conference, Mrs. Eleanor Collinsworth and Mr. Greg Forrester presented Bishop Matthews with a Bible. “Receive this Bible, and proclaim fearlessly the prophetic Word in the cause of justice and peace for all people,” they said.

A Lay member from each of the nine districts within the New York West Area brought forward a offering of water from their district which was commingled and presented with the invitation for Bishop Matthews be renewed in his baptism and to renew us in ours. Rev. Joseph Auslander, Rev. Nancy Araujo, and Rev. Rebecca Ward, Chairs of Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members led this presentation.
Miss Grace Lowry and Miss Chelsea Aiosa WNY and NCNY Youth presented the lamp to Bishop Matthews. “Receive this lamp and be among us as one who studies and one who teaches,” they invited.
The Bread and Cup were presented by the Rev. Lynn Spence, Rev. Rhonda Kouterick, and Rev. Sherri Rood, Co-Chairs and President of Boards of Ordained Ministry as they invited Bishop Matthews to, “receive this bread and cup, and keep us in communion with Christ and his Church.” Presenting the towel and basin with the invitation to “be among us as one who serves,” were Rev. Sheila Price and Rev. Robin Blair, Chairs of the Order of Deacons.

“As heirs of John Wesley, the whole world is our parish,” Mrs. Valerie Cark and Mrs. Ruth Dietrich, President of UMW said in presenting the Globe.

“Bishop Matthews, receive this stole, as the yoke of Christ, and be among us our pastor, preacher, and teacher; encourage and support all baptized people in their gifts and ministries, and pray for them without ceasing. Lead us in the worship of God, the celebration of the sacraments and the ordination of women and men for ministry,” Rev. Jeff McDowell, Rev. Kathleen Turnbole, and Rev. Paul Womack, Chairs of the Order of Elders said ash they presented the Stole.

Presenting the Book of Discipline and the charge to “guard the faith, seek the unity, exercise the discipline of the whole Church, and supervise the Church’s life, work, and mission throughout the world,” were Rev. Larry Baird, and Rev. Darryl Barrow, first clergy delegates elected to General Conference.
The gavel, presented to Bishop Matthews as he serves among us as the president of the North Central New York and Western New York Annual Conferences was presented by Conference Chancellors, Mr. Peter Abdella, Mr. Scott DelConte. “Faithfully administer discipline, but do not forget mercy, that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory,” they said.

Bishop Matthews responded to the presentations as follows: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, I gladly assume, with you and among you, this ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order, of pastoral supervision, government, and service. Strengthened by the love of God and the remembrance of my consecration to the episcopacy, I am resolved to serve faithfully God and the congregations and people of the New York West Area as bishop, pastor, and friend.”

The People responded; On behalf of the clergy and laity of the North Central New York and Western New York Annual Conferences, we receive you, Bishop Matthews, with joy and thanksgiving, as our bishop and pastor. We pledge to you our prayers, our loyalty, and our support as you lead us in the ministry of reconciliation and entrusted to us all.”

“He is a man led by God’s amazing grace and he leads with grace,” Dr. Nathaniel Bishop, said of his long-time friend as he prepared to read the scripture, Romans 12:2-21, for Bishop Matthews’ meditation.

Prayer
Mr. Edward Enstine, United Methodist Men led a unison prayer asking God to look with favor on Bishop Matthews and “grant that, by word and example, he may assist those among whom he is placed, so that he and the people entrusted to his care may fulfill the promises that they have made this day; grow together in unity, love, and service; and at last attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Offering
The Africa University Scholarship Fund will receive the offering taken during the celebration service in honor of Bishop Matthews. The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Lundgren, WNY Director of Connectional Ministries shared the ministry and agent of change Africa University provides and the Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Deckard, NCNY Director of Connectional Ministries called for the gifts to be blessed.

Music
The celebration choir, with vocalists from United Methodist choirs throughout the New York West Area, sang “O How Amiable,” “Be Thou My Vision” and “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Also sharing special music during the service was Ms. Amy Cochrane who sang “Psalm 23.”