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April 2004 |
Bishop's assistant to retire to Florida
INDIANAPOLIS -- When the curtain closes on the South Indiana Annual Conference stage in mid-June at Bloomington, the Rev. James D. Jones, executive assistant to the bishop, and his wife Judy will be heading south for their retirement home in Naples, Fla.
Jones, 62, completes a 41-year call to active ministry that began in 1963 when he held student appointments during college with The Society of Friends near Alexandria and Greentown, Ind. He told Together that after 41-years of ministry, "I am ready for a new chapter in life. It is neat to enter a new phase of life being led by a dream rather than pushed by a problem."
In reflecting on 41 years of ministry, Jones said, "While it is quite possible for me to say what my life and ministry has meant to me, ultimately the issue of meaning and impact of my ministry must be gauged by what my life has meant to others. If in various ways I have touched, lifted and given hope to persons, whose lives have interacted with my life, then my time in ministry has been meaningful."
When asked what was the most meaningful experience of his ministry, he simply responded, "Being called a friend has been more important than being called 'Reverend.' While the pulpit is important, walking with persons on their life pathways has been most important."
His first appointment in The United Methodist Church was at Eden UMC north of Greenfield, Ind., from 1968 to 1970. He was ordained a Deacon in 1968 and an Elder in 1971 in the North Indiana Conference. During his pastoral ministry (1971-1992), he served appointments at Decatur First and St. Mark, South Bend Grace, Fort Wayne Calvary, Winchester, Elkhart First and South Bend Grace. He served a four-year term as Fort Wayne District Superintendent, before becoming Executive Assistant to the Bishop in 1996.
Jones, a native of Marion, Ohio, graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (B.A. 1967) and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (M.Div. 1970). He also attended Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and Mansfield College at Oxford University in England. The University of Indianapolis granted him an Honorary D.D. Degree in 1997.
Beyond congregational responsibilities, Jones played an active role in the North Indiana Conference. Since the early 1970s, he served on the Conference Council on Youth Ministry, as district missionary secretary, volunteered for nine mission work camps, served on the Conference Boards of Global Ministries and Ordained Ministry, and served as a reserve delegate to General Conference and delegate to Jurisdictional Conference. He also served on the boards of directors at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Forth Wayne, Franklin Home, Wesley Manor, Asbury Towers, Oakwood Foundation, Indiana Children's Home, Indiana Area Foundation and on the Board of Trustees at the University of Indianapolis. Beyond pastoral and administrative duties, he served as consultant to the South Bend Community School Corporation and worked with the Indiana State Police and the Kiwanis Annual Career Camp for Young Adults.
His duties and responsibilities have taken him to Europe, West Africa, the Middle East and The Caribbean.
In retirement Jones plans "to thoroughly enjoy 'the barefoot days of the soul,' with Judy, my children, grandchildren and friends, and to drink deeply from the cup of life and as Jimmy Buffet says have many 'ragtop days.'" He has no plans for professional ministry in retirement.
To those entering ordained ministry, Jones advises, "Please don't take life more seriously than God does. Learn as early as possible the difference between who you are and what you do. And don't let the church rob you of the precious gift of your family and friends."
To celebrate his retirement, a North Conference reception is being planned at Grace United Methodist Church in South Bend for Saturday afternoon May 29.
Bishop White has selected the Rev. Donald Griffith, a retired minister of the South Indiana Conference and mission coordinator at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, as an interim Executive Assistant to the Bishop. He will serve a one-year term beginning in mid-June.
Last updated on 04/19/2004