40 CityLight.org
may 2012
T
he Ecumenical Church Worldwide
held its annual Convocation at the
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Cen-
ter in Columbia, SC. The Convocation is
the assembly of representative church pas-
tors, officers and lay members representing
congregations throughout the eight regions
of the world. The 2012 Convocation was
hosted by the First Ecumenical Church of
Columbia, SC where Rev. Samuel Perry is
the senior pastor. Rev. Perry and his wife
Rev. Paula Perry were appointed to serve
the First Ecumenical Church a year ago.
Rev. James P. LaRose, who served as the
convener and worship leader of the Con-
vocation declared to the assembly, "the pur-
pose of the Ecumenical Church has been and
will always be to bring about the fulfillment
of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19)
and the two Great Commandments (Mat-
thew 22: 37 39)."
Rev. Dr. Theodore Cunningham delivered
the sermon, "Living and Serving in the
Midst of Criticism." Rev. Cunningham is
the Chief of Staff of CityLight (A non-
profit prayer and mission ministry). He told
the candidates for ordination, "Be prepared
for criticism. They criticized Jesus and John
the Baptist; surely you must know they're
going to criticize you."
The 9 candidates were submitted to the
Convocation for ordination by the Ecu-
menical Council of Ordination. The can-
didates were charged with the responsi-
bility of developing Prayer and Ministry
teams of 12 disciples in the manner as
Jesus and the 12 apostles. The 10 candi-
dates presented for ordination were: An-
nette Balaguer, Eric Bowden, Andrew Dev,
Penelope Evans, Shirley Groce, Charles
Mpagi, Andrew Oliver, Harriet Smith and
Alexis Tsangning.
Rev. Cunningham performed the Ordi-
nation and each candidate had hands laid
upon by a senior minister of the Ecumeni-
cal Church. The newly ordained ministers
were presented their Sword of Ministry
from a spouse, family member or a col-
league in ministry.
Two of the ministers were ordained via sat-
ellite and video internet connection. Rev.
Andrew Dev was ordained while viewing
the services with family, church members
and ministry partners in Chennai, Tamil
Nadu in Southeast India. Rev. Dev has or-
ganized Prayer and Ministry teams across
southern India.
Rev. Charles Mpagi was ordained while
watching from Magamaga, Uganda in East
Africa. Mpagi has been organizing Prayer
and Ministry teams in the 13 countries of
East Africa. Rev. Mpagi is building a Min-
istry Center for training new ministers to
serve throughout the African continent.
In February 2012, the General Council of
Ecumenical Church
Consecrates New
Bishop & Ordains
New Ministers at
Annual Convocation
By Reverend Paula Dargan Perry
ECUMENICAL CHURCH