By J.A. Buchholz

LAKELAND — The Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Wills thought he had missed his window of opportunity when he withdrew his name as a nominee for the office of bishop four years ago.

While honored that Florida Conference delegates to the 2000 United Methodist General and Southeastern Jurisdictional conferences had selected him, Wills, pastor at Christ Church United Methodist in Fort Lauderdale, was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions, which led to his resignation several months later. Now, he says this time feels right.

“I thought I was in the will of God by being a nominee, yet I was filled with a lot of dissonance,” Wills said of his nomination four years ago. “Every morning in prayer, I had no peace being on this path. After a month of being filled with this lack of peace, I withdrew as a nominee…I sensed I did exactly what God wanted, which was to stay here at Christ Church.”

Going into the 2003 Florida Annual Conference Event Wills said he didn’t think he would be given another opportunity to become a delegate to the 2004 United Methodist General and Southeastern Jurisdictional conferences, yet he was surprised to become the first clergy person elected. He was subsequently elected as a nominee to the office of bishop when delegates met for their first meeting Sept. 13 in Lakeland.

At General Conference Wills will meet with the Southeastern Jurisdiction’s delegates to present his vision for the church.

“This is God’s timing. It’s the right timing or I don’t think this would have happened,” he said. “I have great peace with this. I feel that God has prepared me, taught me so much about spiritual leadership that I’m to make myself available if the church confirms that call.”

Wills said his spirituality was renewed in 1991 after a trip to South Africa.

“As a young pastor, I was taught being a United Methodist pastor is not about a calling, but a career,” he said. “God gave me this rebirth or renewal, and I rediscovered my life is about a calling, not a career. God gave me a brand new life, faith and joy that I’ve had ever since. Since that time everything has changed.

“All the gifts I bring, I’m aware they come from God. They’re not mine. All the wonderful things that have happened here at Christ Church have been gifts from God.”

If he were elected bishop Wills said that would also be a gift from God, a gift he and his wife, Eileen, would accept.

When he withdrew from the nominee process four years ago, Wills cited Eileen’s then new position as principal of an area school as an additional reason for declining the opportunity.

“I value her life and her ministry and the things God has called her to, but we see life on the same page,” Wills said. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have her 100 percent, absolute support, and I do. I think this is God’s timing. I want to fit into whatever God wants.”

Wills said he has had the opportunity to travel throughout the country and there is countless potential for the church.

“I am extremely hopeful about the future of the denomination,” he said. “I have seen here and there, churches, districts where the Holy Spirit is active and churches are growing and vital.