LWC Hosts School for budding Methodist ministers

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Almost four dozen future leaders of The United Methodist Church spent the week of May 18-25 on the A.P. White Campus.

For the 10th time in the last 11 years, Lindsey Wilson College hosted the United Methodist License for Pastoral Ministry School. 

The weeklong school -- sponsored by the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church -- certifies laypersons to serve as pastors and present sacraments in their assigned United Methodist churches. This year's class is the largest in the school's history with 44 students from several districts of the Kentucky Conference attending the school.

The Rev. Ken Jessee, who is the school's director, said he was pleased with the record class and was glad the school was back at LWC.

"The whole idea of coming to Lindsey Wilson is based on two main points," said Jessee, who is also a 1981 LWC alumnus. "With this college being Methodist-affiliated, it makes us feel like we are a part of the college and in a supportive and caring atmosphere. Also, the staff at Lindsey Wilson is encouraging. Everybody on this campus makes us feel welcome."

The school's largest class also was the first class to use LWC's Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Discipleship. The 3,000-square-foot building -- which is attached to the Sumner Campus Ministry Center -- was opened in January. 

"Everything has gone like clockwork so far," LWC assistant chaplain Carol Weddle said on the school's second day. "Lindsey Wilson is a great place to be, and now that we are able to host the pastoral school in our new Hodge building, we are able to better serve the needs of the teachers and students."

The school's students said the program helps them gain knowledge needed to take back to their respective churches and communities.

Participants of the License from Pastoral Ministry School gather Tuesday morning in the Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Dicipleship.

Johnnie Long, a minister in Millerstown, Ky., said he feels the school has been a very important stepping stone in his process to developing a more effective ministry. 
 
"This week so far I've learned a lot and reaffirmed many things," Long said. "But most importantly this is the final step of getting licensed so I can do the things I haven't been able to do, such as the sacraments."
 
Terry Sallee of Edmonton, Ky., who is also an LWC human services and counseling major, said she came to the school with many questions. The school has helped her find her calling.
 
"I came with questions in my spirit and I knew I wanted to be used in ministry, but I wasn't sure how I needed to be used in ministry," Sallee said. "The school has given me more assets to draw from and it's making my path clearer."