Smyrna times., 1929-02-06
INTEREST AWAITS SESSION OF
METHODIST EPISCOPAL BODY
NEW PASTOR To SUCCEED REV.
DR.. STEPHENSON, TO BE MADE
Official Board of Asbury Church Look
ing Over Field of Available Candi-
dates-District Superintendents


With the announcement made in
these columns last week that Rev.
Robert K. Stephenson, D. D., had ask
ed to be relieved of his promise to re-
turn as pastor of Asbury NJ. E.Church
for another year and that he would
retire at the close of the conference
year, much speculation is had over
who will come to Asbury as DIR. Steph-
enson's successor. The Official Board
was so upset last week over the an
nouncement ard so loathe to part with
its beloved pastor, they have hardly
had time to fix on anyone whom they
will invite. Between now and the
time Wilmington Methodist Episcopal
Conference meets in April, they will
look over the field of available candi-
dates and no doubt come to some de
cision as to whom they want. DR..
Stephenson closes his ministry in
Smyrna with a good record and holds a
place near anI dear in the affections
cf the Smyrna community. The one
compensating thing about Dr.. Steph-
enson's retirement is that he will
probably make Smyrna his place Of
residence as it is in a sense their home
or at least that of Mrs. Stephenson,
whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. James i.
Truax, are residents Of Smyrna and
Smyrna community was her early
girlhood home.
Conference to Elect Superintendents
With the termination Of the four
year terms of the present incumbents
in the four district superintendencies
of the Wilmington NJ. 2. Conference
this year, much speculation is rife il
clerical and lay circles Of the denomi-
nation concerning possible successors.
No official statements, however, have
been issued in the matter BY the
bishop. The Rev. James w. Colona,
d. d., superintendent of the Whining
ton District; the Rev. Omar 2. Jones,
superintendent Of the Middletown Dis
trict; the Rev. Walter Gunby, super
intendent Of the Dover District, and
the Rev. E. Fl. Dashiell, superinten-
dent Of the Salisbury District, have all
completed their four-year terms, and
| as the church law does not permit a
man to be reappointed to district su
perintendency, four other ministers in
/ the conference must be chosen by
Bishop William F. Mcdowell, Of the
Washington Area, embracing this con
ference, to fill the vacancies thus ere
ated. OF the ministers whose names
are being talked Of or appointment to
district superintendency the one
most generally agreed upon as a viz
tual certainty is the Rev. George =.
Anderson, pastor Of Asbury NJ. E.
Church in Wilmington. He is an out
standing leader in the affairs Of the
denomination in Wilmington, and IS
possessed Of a large following in
towns in the conference. Others who
are considered to have a god chance of
appointment are: the Rev. John J.
Bunting, Christfeld, Md; the Rev.
| Theodore Beauchamp,s Georgetown;
the Rev. Lewis B. Morgan, Richard
son Park; the Rev. John L. Johnson,
pastor of Harrison Street Church, Will
mington, and the Rev. James A.Leach
pastor of Union NJ. F. Church, both Of
Wilmington. DR.. Leach's church was
host to the conference last spring and
Mr.J Johnson's is to be host this spring,
when conference opens on Tuesday,
April 2.