Pension Fund of the Christian Church

We celebrate the dedication of C. William Bailey and Howard Ratcliff. Each served two terms on the Pension Fund Board of Directors (1996- 2006). They were presented with plaques expressing appreciation for their years of dedicated service to the ministry of the Pension Fund. In addition, each received the Honored Minister Pin provided by the Pension Fund. 

C. William Bailey and Jim Hamlett

C. William (Bill) Bailey (Seattle, Washington) is a retired partner from the law firm of Mills  Meyers Swartling. He is a graduate of Northwest Christian College, Brite Divinity School, Yale University and Wayne State University Law School. He has served on the General Board and Division of Overseas Ministries Board, and was second Vice Moderator of the Christian Church (1989-91). He and his wife, Laura, are active members of the University Christian Church in Seattle, WA.

Honored Minister's Pin Presented to Rev. Millie Slack

Pension Fund Chair, Harry K. Ratliff, presented the Honored Ministser's Pin, which was supplied by the Pension Fund, to the Rev. Mildred "Millie" Slack at her retirement celebration on July 30, while her nephew, Jim Slack, did the pinning. Rev. Slack completed thirty-four years as Head of Staff of Isaiah 58 Ministries (an ecumenical inner-city ministry) in St. Louis, and thirty-eight years as an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her official retirement date was August 8, 2006. 

Rev. Norman H. Wasson, who concluded nearly 34 years of ministry at the Flemingsburg Christian Church in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, was presented an Honored Ministers Pin during a joint meeting of the Board of the church on Monday evening, June 12, 2006. The ceremony, a first in the history of the Flemingsburg Church, was conducted by Board Chairperson, Paula Hyatt, who presented the pin to Wasson’s wife, Janice, who then pinned it on her husband. A Certificate of Service was also presented to Mrs. Wasson by her husband.

On Sunday morning, June 25, 2006, a Celebration of Worship and Ministry was held with the Rev. Mrs. Lynne Josselyn of Limestone, Maine, a High School classmate of Rev. Wasson, serving as Guest Speaker. A Retirement Dinner and Celebration was held that afternoon with spoken tributes, music, and gifts being presented.  The Wassons will continue to reside in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

Submitted by Paula C. Hyatt, Chairperson of the General Board

Twin Oaks Honors Dr. George Knox

Sunday, February 13, 2005, George Knox was presented the Honored Minister Pin by his wife, Frances Knox. George and Frances have been married for over 55 years. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

George Knox has served as a pastor and a professor. His service includes student pastorates in Noti, Peoria and Sisters Church of Christ in Oregon. While attending Philips University, he served Ceres Christian Church.

His located pastroates includes: Westside Christian Church, Roseburg OR; Milton, Freewater OR; and a team ministry with Oris Doty and Edith Parrish at Kern Park Christian Church, Portland OR.

In 1978, Northwest Christian College called George to be professor of New Testament and Homiletics. He spent a sabbatical lecturing at Springdale College in Birmingham, England.

While teaching at NCC, Dr. Knox served a church in Irving OR for two years and Twin Oaks Christian Church in Eugene for 14 years. During those years he earned his Doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

He continues to do pulpit supply, lectures on occasion at NCC, is active in the Twin Oaks Church as Chairman of the Church Board, and is teacher of the Adult Bible Class.

The Honored Minister Pin was provided by the Pension Fund of the Christian Church.

A Worship Celebration for the Retirement of the Rev. Marilyn W. Spry

The Rev. Herb Knudsen, Regional Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois/Wisconsin, presented the Honored Minister Pin to Rev. Marilyn Spry during a Worship Celebration of Mministry on Sunday, August 7, 2005. Rev. Stephen V. Cranford was the guest preacher.

Rev. Marilyn Spry is a graduate of Lexington Theological Seminary, having attained her Master of Divinity degree, with honors, in 1965.

Rev. Spry is married to Rev. Ed Spry, also a graduateof Lexington Theological Seminary. While finishing their degree programs, they served as Team Ministers for Little Eagle Creek Christian Chuchin Westfield IN until 1978. They were then called as Team Ministers to serve First Christian Church in Scottsbluff NE, where they served for two years. Marilyn continued as Senior Pastor of that congregation for another three years while Ed moved into a social action minsitry.

In 1983, Marilyn became the pastor of Northside Christian Church in St. Louis MO, where she served for eight years. During that time she was very active in the Region of Mid-America, chairing the commission on Minsitry and eventually serving as Moderator of the Region. She was also a member of the General Board of the Christian Church.

Following her ministry at Northside, Rev. Spry served as Senior Pastor of First Christian in Downers Grove IL. During her 14 year tenure at First Christian, Rev. Spry participated in a teaching parish program with the University of Chicago Divinity School.

As Rev. Spry retires, she celebrates 42 years in ministry. She said, "From the time I was a child going to Sunday School and Church Camp, I loved the church and knew that, in some way, that was where I wanted to invest my life. I had no idea the path or experiences that would open up for me, but there has never been a time when I wanted to do anything else. It has been a good life and I am looking forward to finding new ways to share my life in retirement as Ed and I move to our new home in Florida."

Rev. John Matsel Awarded the Honored Minister Pin

On Thanksgiving Sunday, November 21, 2004, Poseyville Christian gave thanks for Rev. John Matsel by awarding him the Honored Minsiter Pin from the Pension fund of the Chrisitian Church (Disciples of Christ).

John is a much-loved Timothy of Poseyville Christian. He served successful pastorates at these Indiana churches: Cynthiana United Church of Christ, Bloomfield Christian (DOC), and Owensville Christian (DOC). Since his retirement in 2003, he has been an active member of Poseyville, and served a three-month interim there in 2004 while Rev. Doris Beckerman was on sabbatical. Currently, he is completing the course work for his Doctor of Ministry degree.

After a This is Your Life, John Matsel at morning worship, John and his wife, Sharon, both were honored - John receiving the Honored Minister Pin, Sharon receiving the Honored Minister Spouse certificate from the Pension Fund, and a Special Angel Pin from the congregation.

Also, a fund to aid retired ministers and missionaries has been established with the Pension Fund in John's honor.

Guets from John and Sharon's family attended, as well as from the Owensville church. This is Your Life material on both John and Sharon, some serious and some humorous, was supplied by John's good friend, Billy Ed Hostetler, who is now the interim at Bloomfield, and and by John's sister, Margaret Sue Boren of Poseyville.

Information submitted by Rev. Doris Beckerman

Steinmetz Receives Honored Minister Pin

Larry Steinmetz, Editor of the Disciples' Year Book and Directory for the past ten years, has been honored with the Pension Fund's Honored Minister Pin. The pin was presented during worship on Sunday, August 22, 2004, at Allisonville Christian Church, Indianapolis, where he has served as elder, teacher, and Chair of the Worship Department.  Inasmuch as Larry's ministry has been primarily in regional and general manifestations of the church, guests bringing greetings at the "pinning" included John Imbler, Division of Higher Education; Timothy James, Office of the General Minister and President; and Tom Jewell, Oklahoma Regional Minister and Chair of the General Commission on Ministry. Bill Morrison, Florida Regional Minister, was unable to attend because of the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. Robert Riester and Deb Strock-Kuss are ministers at Allisonville.

Information submitted by Robert Riester, Allisonville Christian Church