And so proceeded the ordination of the eight candidates (seven male and one female) aligned along the front pew before the massed congregation made up of their families and the many supporters from their churches and Circuits. The excellently prepared Orders of Service provided the dual roles of information-resource and handheld fan on that gloriously hot and sunny evening of Sunday, 29th June 2003 - all of which seemed so exactly in tune with the warmth and joy of the occasion.
Earlier, the ordinands had listened to the reading of verses 1-18 of St. Paul's epistle, Romans 12, which contained the exhortation, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God..."
At the close of the Service, after the newly ordained Presbyters had been welcomed with loud applause (and even cheers!), they became literally mobbed by their supporters expressing personal congratulations and good wishes. There was something particularly moving to see Cris in the midst of an enthusiastic group of 14-16 year-olds from our Young Peoples' Department (yes, the happy source of the earlier cheers) who had also travelled all the way to Colwyn Bay to give him their support. These new Ministers will no doubt have many daunting challenges and difficulties, as well as joys, ahead - but as they commit to the will of God they'll also have one incalculable advantage - He will always be with them ...
"Sisters and brothers in Christ, these are the persons whom we intend, in God's name, to ordain to the Ministry of Christ's holy Church in the Order of Presbyters... Do you believe and trust that they are, by God's grace, worthy to be ordained?"
The response to the Rev Dr. Nigel T Collinson's (President of Conference) question to the 500-strong congregation, filling to capacity the beautiful and majestic sanctuary of St. John's Methodist Church, Colwyn Bay, was immediate and thunderous, "They are worthy".
This was then developed further by the Rev Dr. John B Taylor in his address - he also emphasised the vital need to sustain a constant prayer-relationship with God and a continuing study of the gospel message - advice assuredly applicable to us all!