Dr. Nina G. Gunter was on hand in Orlando, Florida, to congratulate Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, who was elected by The Wesleyan Church as its first-ever woman general superintendent on Monday, June 9. The Wesleyan Church Department of Communication labeled this as the writing of “a new chapter in the history of The Wesleyan Church."

Dr. Gunter, who herself was the first woman ever to be elected general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene in 2005, said: “The election of Dr. Jo Anne Lyon is a powerful testimonial of the heritage and Biblical, theological persuasions of The Wesleyan Church. Dr. Lyon lives out total devotion of God's gifts and graces for His purposes. The Wesleyan Church is commended for this giant step into the future."

Dr. Lyon, the founder and CEO of World Hope International (WHI), was elected on the second ballot at the 11th General Conference of the denomination, the Wesleyan News reports. World Hope is the compassionate ministries partner of The Wesleyan Church and has been affiliated with the Church since WHI’s founding 12 years ago.

“What a wonderful statement you have made as The Wesleyan Church,” said outgoing Wesleyan Church General Superintendent Earle L. Wilson. “We have been trying to say to the Christian world that we believe in women in the ministry.”

Lyon said her father, who now is in heaven, trained her to serve the Church. “My father used to tell people, ‘I trained that girl to be a good churchman.’ He didn’t know about gender-specific language.”

Representing both their respective denominations and all women in church leadership, Gunter and Lyon later posed for a series of historic photographs.

Dr. Gunter was present at The Wesleyan Church General Conference as the official representative of the Board of General Superintendents to bring greetings on behalf of the Church of the Nazarene:

It is with deep appreciation and profound respect that I bring fraternal greetings to you on behalf of the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene.

The Wesleyan Church and the Church of the Nazarene share important commonalities on the ecclesiastical landscape.

We share the commonality of HERITAGE, HISTORY, and THEOLOGY which rests upon the Wesleyan scriptural message of holiness, our very reason for being.

We share the commonality of MISSION and OBJECTIVE. As daughters of John Wesley whose vision saw the world as his parish, we courageously advance the cause of Christ to the ends of the earth. Our mutual passion continues to be for the lost, the broken, the marginalized, the oppressed, and the disenfranchised.

The gratitude the Church of the Nazarene has for The Wesleyan Church extends far beyond the brief expression of fraternal greetings. We pledge to you our cooperation and collaboration so that the mission of God will advance in His world.

May the grace, peace, and blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.

In a final, fraternal aside as further congratulations to Dr. Lyon, Dr. Gunter added, “And now we share the commonality of women general superintendents.”