Friends,

The 2023 session of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference is fast approaching!  It’ll be a blessing and privilege to celebrate the ministry God’s accomplished through us in the last year, and to look ahead to the possibilities our Maker’s unfolding before us as we seek to be messengers of the Gospel wherever we are.

Part of our celebration is our Service of Licensing, Commissioning, & Ordination on June 20 at 7 PM.  Always a pinnacle of our shared life and work, we’re grateful for the opportunity to recognize and give thanks for the siblings in Christ who are offering their “yes” to God’s leading.  

The reaffirmation of our baptismal covenant is an integral component of the service, as it gives us opportunity to express gratitude for being received as God’s own and being gifted with a call to serve.  This year, as last year, we’re adding a layer to this reaffirmation by how we present ourselves in that service.

As such we request that all clergy (including candidates) who participate in any way in the Service of Licensing, Commissioning, & Ordination wear a white or off-white alb.  This piece of attire is modeled after a first-century tunic with which people were dressed after baptism, and remains a symbol of the sacrament to this day.  The alb therefore reminds us that we’re united primarily by our identity as those who are beloved of God.

Recognizing that perhaps not everyone who wishes to participate owns an alb, conference leadership welcomes you to wear what attire you have that’s appropriate to the occasion.  

If however you wish to procure an alb, you might seek to borrow from a colleague.  Jason Jones at Springfield First UMC and Dean Emerson at Bartlett UMC both have albs that can be used.

Moreover there are reasonably-priced options that you can peruse, including those found at:

https://www.cokesbury.com/search?q=alb&pagenumber=1 

https://almy.com/Category/AlbsForMen/parent/ChurchVestments
https://almy.com/Category/AlbsForWomen/parent/ClergyApparel-Woman 

https://www.autom.com/category/apparel-albs-monastic 

https://www.autom.com/category/apparel-albs-priest 

https://www.gaspardinc.com/clergy-essentials/albs.html

https://www.gaspardinc.com/women-s-clergy-apparel/albs.html

Ordained clergy who are participating in this service should also wear a red stole indicative of their order.

Vesting for this service will begin at 6:15 PM, in spaces designated in the final Annual Conference schedule.  Bishops and district superintendents will have their own spaces behind the ballroom.  All clergy who are participating must be dressed and ready to line up by 6:45 PM.  Any questions may be directed to Rev. Jason W. Jones at jason.jones@springfieldfumc.org.

We look forward to celebrating this evening and worshiping our God together!