Crowns weren’t handed out and there was no punch bowl in need of constant refills, but it was a homecoming celebrating of sorts for Rev. Mark Spaw on Sept. 26.
The revered United Methodist leader had his speech well prepared and the crowd gave him an abundance of love, as Spaw was officially installed as the new Ann Arbor District Superintendent at Brighton FUMC — just miles from where he spent 16 years of his ministry as pastor of Hartland UMC.
He helped grow Hartland UMC from 33 members to over 300 while he was there and more than 300 members have joined Trenton: Faith UMC since he was appointed there in 1999.
That aptitude, as well as Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton’s conviction that Spaw was just the man of God the Ann Arbor District needed, landed Spaw the position he started July 1.
“He brings energy, passion, knowledge, experience, a dash of humor and a servant’s commitment to the seat of district superintendent,” he said. “I am convinced the only reason I’ve called Mark Spaw to be the District Superintendent for Ann Arbor in this time is not because I just happened to choose him, but because God chose to use me as an instrument to do the calling.”
With a host of family members and lay members from his previous ministry stops crowding the pews, Spaw delivered a sermon reminding people that Jesus was the ultimate shepherd in his time on earth. Spaw said people can learn a lot from John 10:11-16 where Jesus speaks of knowing all of his sheep and being willing to lay down his life for them.
“My friend, a sheep who is trapped in the bramble may squeal and be resistant to the shepherd’s rescue because of the pain, but a good shepherd will ignore the squealing and save the sheep,” he said.
Spaw has shown deep commitment to neighboring communities during his career in ministry. He is the chaplain for the Trenton High School football team and Trenton City Fired Department and he has a longstanding history of working with everyone from non-profit organizations to local school districts to the Boy Scouts of America.
He said in his experience, trying to be a good shepherd is like being a good parent — loving a child even when they are offering no love back. Spaw was definitive that his installation service was not about him, but the people of the church who are shepherds to their brothers and sisters all over the district, and even world.
He acknowledged the three months as district superintendent have gone smooth and been exciting, but a recent e-mail from a colleague reminded him the road ahead is not without it’s bumps and potholes.
“The e-mail said, ‘Don’t let them get you down — I’ve seen some before and after pictures of DS’s,’” he joked. “But God, he doesn’t care who we are, he will never leave us…the Good Shepherd will shoulder (everything) for you.”
The Ann Arbor District consists of 66 churches and has the largest membership of the seven districts in the Detroit Conference.
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