June 18, 2012
Pastorgraphs: “Bishop Swenson”
Mary Ann Swenson and I grew up about
40 miles apart in Mississippi. Little did we know then the youth minister from
Jackson and the kudzu farmer from Yazoo City would cross paths later in life in
California.
Because
we are about the same age, we had front row seats to the civil rights movement
with its turbulent and frightening scenes, often too close for comfort. The
fabric of the society we were born into was rent asunder before our eyes. That
included the role of the church in social justice. Not only did we not see
black and white on Sunday mornings, we did not see female pastors, and
certainly not female bishops. Mary Ann has been at the forefront of every major
battle for social justice the Methodist church has faced in our lifetimes.
Often, it has been a most uncomfortable and unpopular place to be. Her moral
compass demanded that she do no other. Her life story is a testimony she chose
right over comfort or personal ambition.
Sunday’s
service at the California-Pacific Annual Conference in Redlands was Mary Ann
Swenson’s last as Bishop. She officially retires in August. There is only one
Bishop per Annual Conference. Most serve four or eight year terms. We in the
Los Angeles area have been blessed to have Bishop Swenson for 12 years. So, for
all but the first two years of my ministry in Southern California, she has been
“my Bishop”.
Bishop
Swenson hosted a cruise in Hawaii a few years ago and invited the clergy along
to see the beauty of the islands while connecting with the Methodist churches
in our “western district”. Anita and I signed up. I said it was our delayed
honeymoon. And since Anita is from Hawaii, she was able to show me places and
tell me events from her early life. On that trip (see photo) I had a few brief
opportunities to speak with my Bishop. I gave her an old post card from my
collection with a beautiful drawing of her home church, Capital Street United
Methodist Church in Jackson, MS. She seemed deeply touched by this simple gesture.
And from that moment, we shared our Mississippi connection and deep South
roots. (Bishop Swenson knows where Yazoo City is located, and can pronounce
“Yazoo” correctly!)
We
share another connection. We are both cancer survivors!
Like
literally thousands of Methodists from Southern California to Hawaii to
American Samoa and Guam, I felt she was more than our Bishop. She has that
special gift of knowing our names, our ministry settings, our successes and our
challenges. We all felt she was (and is) our friend. I have never been one to
seek “face time” with the Bishop. They are far too busy with important work.
But on those special times I was privileged to spend a few moments with her, I
always felt she remembered me, and more importantly, knew me! An extraordinary
gift for one who has almost a thousand ordained and lay clergy under her care,
not counting the many thousands of lay leaders in our local churches and
districts.
During
the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Bishop Swenson was a major supporter
of the only Haitian congregation in the California-Pacific Conference at Christ
Church, San Diego.
Last
year, when I entered the retired status, Bishop Swenson gave me a hug, and
whispered in my ear, “You are too young to retire. Please continue to serve the
church!” I took that as a direct order, and will serve as long as I am able.
I
know she will take her own advice. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Thank
you for being our leader, and our friend.
Bless
you, Brother Bill
From the Quote Garden
“Retirement at sixty-five is
ridiculous. When I was sixty-five I still had pimples.”
~ George Burns
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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