Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner
I was honored to serve Bishop Tom, Teresa, Kaitlin, and Olivia Murray and the members of the Golden West Conference (GWC) as their presiding officer on Saturday, October 6, 2018.
The 70th anniversary session of the Golden West Conference was hosted at the Doubletree Hotel in Torrance, California. With this being an election year, there was a full house.
In a meeting with the members of the Golden West Conference Executive Council on Friday evening, I presented them with the following recommendation/motion pursuant to the election of conference officials namely, Conference Superintendent Murray:
MOTION ADOPTED: “Due to the extenuating circumstances regarding his recent election as President of Southwestern Christian University, the EC COB is recommending that the Golden West Conference, in session, give consideration to re-electing Dr. Tom Murray to serve as Conference Superintendent of the Golden West Conference for the period of one year (first year of a four-year term). During this time frame, Bishop Murray will lead the Conference in a strategic planning process that would better prepare the Golden West Conference for the future and a planned transition. The remaining Council positions would be elected as proposed. This motion is contingent on Dr. Murray’s consent to submit his name for nomination.” – Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops (EC COB)
Following their discussion regarding the EC COB’s recommendation/motion, the GWC Executive Council adopted the following motion which was recorded in the Minutes for October 1, 2018:
MOTION ADOPTED: “The Golden West Conference Executive Council unanimously affirms the recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops that the Golden West Conference, in session, give consideration to re-electing Dr. Tom Murray to serve as Conference Superintendent of the Golden West Conference for the period of one-year contingent on Dr. Murray’s consent to submit his name for nomination.”
In the Saturday business session, the conference reduced the size of its executive council from seven to five members. The following persons were elected to serve:
- Conference Superintendent, Bishop Tom L. Murray (by acclamation)
- Assistant Conference Superintendent, Rev. Bill Kenedy
- Conference Secretary/Treasurer, Rev. Paula Raines
- Conference Executive Council Member-at-Large, Rev. David Lopez
- Conference Executive Council Member-at-Large, Rev. Bill Woods
Clergy credentials were issued as follows:
Ordination (1) –
- Rev. Ernest McNair
The Memoirs Report was presented by Rev. Bill Kenedy. It lovingly memorialized the life and ministry legacies of the following clergy members that had gone on to be with the Lord over the course of the past quadrennium:
- Rev. Pat Lackey
- Rev. Cathryn Shipley
- Rev. David Morales
- Rev. Maria Mata
- Rev. Jim Hedge
- Rev. Carol Demery
- Rev. Carlene Tucker
- Rev. Pat Crane
- Rev. James R. Pennington
I was privileged to recognize Rev. Stephen Hanscom, vice president for lending services, IPHC Extension Loan Fund (ELF), as an honored guest attendee. The ELF has become a very supportive ministry resource/partner with the Golden West Conference during Bishop Murray’s tenure as conference superintendent.
The transformation that has taken place in the Golden West Conference over the course of the past seven years is significant. The members of the conference, particularly its pastors/ministers, commented about the unbiased pastoral/shepherding support that Bishop Murray has given them.
I know that Bishop Murray covets our prayer support as he leads the conference in a strategic planning process as they envision their future. His family also covets our prayer support as they relocate from Los Angeles, California, to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to begin their service at Southwestern Christian University – in particular, remember Kaitlin (10) and Olivia (6).
Our family members in the Golden West Conference are wonderful and loving people. I am always honored to serve them in any capacity.
