Rev. William “Bill" Cooley was granted the status of honorably retired at the most recent meeting of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, on Thursday, May 26, 2011. His retirement takes effect this weekend. I was given the opportunity to speak to the presbytery. As I reflected on my friend's retirement, I thought about what it means to be called to ministry in the first place. I give thanks for Bill's many accomplishments. I also knew that this would not be the end of his ministry but a transition. Here is what I said on Thursday:
It is my privilege to speak about the ministry of my friend, Bill Cooley. I know that I speak for all of us here, and his many friends and colleagues in other Presbyteries, when I say, we give thanks to God for Bill’s ministry and for his friendship.
When I reflect on Bill’s ministry, I think of the Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1. There, we read, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”
The Apostle Paul, in the following verses, writes about the “eyes of the heart” and this phrase also makes me think of our friend, Bill. The Apostle writes, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…”
Bill is a pastor and colleague, but most importantly, he is a leader who has sought to lead with the eyes of his heart enlightened. By God’s grace, Bill is one who possesses a spirit of wisdom and the knowledge of God.
I am thankful for this opportunity to mark this occasion—Bill’s retirement. We take this moment to reflect upon the lives Bill’s ministry has touched. We take time, now, to think about his acts of kindness, mercy, peacemaking and justice. We give thanks for his teaching and preaching ministry, his counseling, his hospital and nursing home visits, his humor, his faith, and his courage to journey through the past three decades of ministry which have been some of the most confusing and painful decades of our denomination.
During these past years, we have gradually discovered that we live in a time of massive change in church and society. Bill is a leader who has persevered through this time of awakening in the church. Because of his sense of call, Bill is just as excited about the gospel ministry today as he was in 1982 when he was ordained in Roanoke, Virginia. Bill, now, looks forward to future ministry in Lakeland, the Franciscan Center in Tampa and throughout the Presbytery.
Father Richard Rohr, in his most recent book, quotes Ecclesiastes 1:8, “No man can say his eyes have had enough of seeing, his ears their fill of hearing.” Richard Rohr then writes, “What is it that keeps us humans from reading reality truthfully, humbly and helpfully?’ What I appreciate about Bill, as he retires, is that he has sought to read reality truthfully, humbly and helpfully. Bill has been, and continues to be, a gift to this Presbytery and the larger church.
Before ordination, he served for seven (7) years as a Clinical Social Worker and Family Counselor in Sarasota, and then following ordination he served congregations in Roanoke, VA, Richmond, VA, Lutz, FL and Lakeland, FL.
Bill and Jean celebrate their new role as grandparents, and, today, their family and many friends take delight in this moment when we recognize Bill’s many accomplishments and his ministry. My colleagues at Eckerd College would want me to remind you that both Bill and Jean are Eckerd grads and their preparation for ministry was launched from Eckerd College.
At a time like this, in the life of our Presbytery, we look to Bill, and other colleagues like him, for guidance and wisdom. Bill knows how to connect us to God in more authentic and joyful ways. Bill calls us to have eyes to see and ears to hear. Please join me in thanking Bill for his ministry and friendship all of these years.
Prayer:
O God of grace and glory,
We praise you this day as we give thanks for the ministry of our friend, Bill Cooley.
During this season of High School graduations and College commencement services, we also pray that this recognition of Bill’s retirement wouldn’t simply be an acknowledgement of his accomplishments and the closing of another chapter of his life, but would also be a new beginning as he discovers fresh ways of fulfilling his call in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Bless, O Loving God, Bill and Jean and their entire family, and fill your people with the power of your Spirit that we all might continue to serve with faith, hope and love all of our days.
To your honor and glory, O God. Amen.
