Distinguished Alums 1993

February 24, 1993

Susan D. Messenger

Undaunted by eight years in Zimbabwe with her missionary husband and five children ages 3-9, Susan D. Messenger returned to the States where she spent a year in the North Central Jurisdiction working with committees and councils to interpret the concept of mission. She then entered Garrett-Evangelical’s Master of Divinity program. After graduation, Sue was Associate Pastor for two years at Woodmar UMC in Hammond, IN. Following her ordination as Elder, she and her husband Frank went back to the mission field, this time to Sierra Leone, where they served as pastors and teachers for three years. In 1987, they returned to the US where they were Co-Pastors of the Congress Street UMC in Lafayette, IN. In 1988, Sue was appointed Superintendent of the Logansport District and most recently of the Kokomo District-the first woman in the Northern Indiana Conference to serve in that capacity. She was elected Chair of the Cabinet for 1991-92. In the words of her former bishop, Leroy C. Hodapp: “Sue brings insight, commitment, and skill to any task which she is called upon to perform. At the same time, the spirit of Jesus Christ remains active in her life and spirit at all times.”

Anthony J. Shipley

After graduating from seminary, in the midst of the turbulent ’60’s, Anthony J. Shipley began a ministry that quickly identified him as a pastor and leader who could command the respect of both black and white communities, and who could serve as a mediating force without ever compromising his Christian principles. During his long tenure in the Detroit Conference, Tony served as Director for the Council on Ministries, Community Developer, District Superintendent, and most recently as Pastor of Scott Memorial UMC. He was a founder of Black Methodists for Church Renewal and creator of the ASPIRES Program. Tony is on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Urban League, the Black United Fund, and Adrian College. Today Tony is in a new ministry in a new place, as Deputy General Secretary for the Board of Global Ministries in New York City. Wherever he serves, Tony is distinguished by his commitment, his energy, and his love of all God’s people.