Three Minutes Retirement Speech

Dennis Ginoza
Retirement Speech
June 19, 2009 Annual Conference
University of Redlands, California

(Dr. Bill Klements, professor at Claremont School of Theology, chose not
to speak, he just greeted Bishop Swenson, received his pin and sat down.
From the audience there was applause and laughter. The MC, Derek Nakano
said, “Dennis, don’t think you have extra time.” Laughter. When Dennis Ginoza
Took his turn, he began by thanking Dr. Klements for his extra time. It was
humorous moment.)

God is good! Audience responded: “All the time!” Dennis: “All the time!”
Audience responded: “God is good!” Dennis, “Hey, you’re good!”

Bishop Swenson, members of Annual Conference, my
good friends and all who wonder who this character is, and all
good Methodists: This is my 40th consecutive Annual Conference.
Do I hear an Amen? Audience: “Amen!”

One thing I will miss in retirement is greeting the
people every Sunday with Good Morning in different languages.
Help me out folks! Good morning! Buenos Dias! Bon Jour!
Bon journo! Malolele! Chau An! Guten morgen! Kalymera! Salam
Alikim! Ohio goizamas! And Aloha!

38 years. In 38 years I have received insight and guidance from
what people have said. Dwayne Zimmerman said, “One thing you
don’t do your first year in the church: Don’t fire the choir director.”
Lyle Schaller says, “Every new idea is rejected three times.” He
was right! Don Locher said to me, when I was appointed to Reseda,
“Dennis, just love them.” Elton Trueblood: “Be tough with ideas,
but be kind with people.” Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over till it’s over!”
My Old Testament professor at Earlham said there are three things
We must read: the Bible—the good book, the newspaper, and
Shakespeare. Once a Baptist minister said, “The main thing is to
keep the main thing, the main thing.”

A few years ago, someone said, we all have to learn three
Languages: English, Spanish, and computer.” May we have the
video, “sil vou plait.” Please!

Video: images of 38 years: Calexico, Santee, Reseda, Chula
Vista, and Fallbrook. Fallbrook 15 years.

I have here a yo yo. A yo yo is a fundamental teaching tool.
One of the things I will miss is the children’s message. Once
There was a man who got lost in New York City. He stopped his
car to ask for directions. “How do I get to Carnegie Hall.” The
stranger said, ‘Practice, practice, practice!” If you want to get good
at anything, practice, practice, practice.” This is the same with our
faith. In the game of baseball, I learned, you have warm up.
otherwise you’ll mess up your arm. It’s the same with people.

And...every day we must walk with God. (Dennis walks with yo yo).
John Wesley said, “The world is my parish.” Dennis goes around
the world with the yo yo.)

Jesus said: “Go ye into the world and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them.” (Dennis
goes around the world with the yo yo).

This is my wife Sylvia, of 30 years, or was it 37? It
will be 37 years on September 2. Without her, all this
would not be possible. (Applause)

Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream.” I have a
Dream. I have a dream that I will see the glory of God, the
glory promised to us. (Dennis releases his butterfly
Balloon. The Fallbrook members present release ten
balloons in the audience.) Dennis says: I am free at last,
I am free at last!” And all God’s people will say: Amen!
The Fallbrook people echoed, “Aloha!”

(Dennis was selected to pass the legacy of ministry
from the retirees to the new class being ordained in
full connection.”)