“Who presents these candidates to be ordained or commissioned?” Bishop John Schol will ask that question to begin the 2024 Eastern PA Conference’s Service of Ordination and Commissioning May 21.

The congregation’s response will remind all present of where these clergy members’ call to ministry is nurtured: “We have recommended them in our local congregations. We present them with our prayers and support.”

And then Bill Thompson, Conference Lay Leader and Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM) member, will complete the response, indicating their movement from recommendation to readiness—from being sent forth to being set apart. “We have examined these candidates according to the standards of our Discipline and this annual conference of The United Methodist Church,” he will say. “We present them with our prayers and support.”

The Revs. Mike Remel and Tracy Duncan, BOOM co-chairs, will then present the eight candidates for ordination and commissioning by the bishop. They will present for ordination as Full Elders (i.e., in full connection):  

• Jeffrey D. Kapp
• Mark Salvacion
• Graham Truscott

They will present for commissioning as Provisional Elders preparing for ordained ministry:

• Heather Hammel
• Jeong Gyun Hong
• David Roy Piltz
• Jared Kent Stoltzfus

And they will present for commissioning as a Provisional Deacon preparing for ordained ministry: Brittany Jaine Whyte.

Ordinands

Jeffrey D. Kapp’s home church is Zion UMC in Myerstown. He has served in pastoral ministry Zion UMC in Avon, Ebenezer UMC in Lebanon, Bethany UMC in Lebanon, and currently, Kochenderfer UMC in Lebanon.

Mark Ignatius Salvacion’s home church is St. Luke UMC in Bryn Mawr. He has served in pastoral ministry Historic St. George’s UMC in Philadelphia, and currently St. Luke UMC in Bryn Mawr.

William Graham Truscott’s home church is Christ UMC in Lansdale. He has serve in pastoral ministry Conyngham UMC. He will offer a testimony to represent his fellow ordinands.

Commissionees

Heather Hammel is from Geneva, Ohio, but has served in ministry two EPA churches: Hempfield UMC in Lancaster and Annville UMC.

Jeong Gyun Hong’s home church is Korean Community Church in Englewood NJ (GNJ). He currently serves in ministry Prospectville First Korean UMC in Ambler. He will offer a testimony to represent his fellow commissionees.

David Roy Piltz’s home church is Emilie UMC in Levittown. He has served in ministry Holmesburg UMC, St. Paul’s UMC in Kensington, Drexel University Campus Ministry, Valley Forge UMC, and currently, St. Andrew’s UMC in Warminster.

Jared Kent Stoltzfus’ home church is Covenant UMC in Lebanon. He has served in ministry Bethany UMC in Palmyra, and currently, Ironville UMC in Columbia and Newtown UMC.

Brittany Jaine Whyte’s home church and ministry location is Royersford UMC.

‘With the help of God‘

“Remember you are called to serve rather than to be served,” Bishop Schol will say to those being commissioned and ordained, “to proclaim the faith of the church and no other, to look after the concerns of God above all.” He will then ask them nine General Examination questions inherited from Methodism’s founder John Wesley.

And each will answer repeatedly and with conviction, “I will, with the help of God.”