Insight on Pastoral Appointments from Bishop
Max
Some of My Thoughts...March 3, 2006
The Appointive Cabinet meets
next week to begin the most important and difficult task that
we face each year. We will review the
ministry of each clergy person, assess the effectiveness
of each congregation in making disciples of Jesus Christ for
the
transformation of the world, and decide whether a pastor
needs to be appointed to a different congregation and if a congregation
needs a different pastor. We spend more time in prayer around
these issues than anything else we do.
A few congregations believe
the pastor's future is dependent upon the recommendation
from Pastor- Parish (Staff-Parish) Relations
Committee to the District Superintendent. This is a vital piece
of the Consultation Process. Other vital pieces of consultation
are also included. What is the tone and spirit of the congregation?
Is there growth in membership, average attendance, the Sunday
School, local Church finances, outreach to the community, outreach
around the world, and the number of professions of faith? Do
the pastor and Church Council have a clear strategy for making
maturing disciples of Jesus Christ and transforming the community
in which they live? If the pastor remains for the next one,
three, or five years, what happens to the Kingdom of God because
of
this appointment? Will the Kingdom of God be stronger, weaker,
or about the same? The answers to such questions are difficult
to discern. However, the answers provide essential information
in the total Consultation
Process. This means that some pastors will move to new appointments
before they anticipated it. Some pastors will continue to serve
in their present appointment when they wished to begin a new
adventure of leadership and service. Some congregations will
receive new pastors in spite of their happiness with their
present pastoral leadership. Some congregations will continue
with the
same pastoral leadership, when some others in the congregation
would prefer a change in leadership.
Recently, a person wrote
to me and claimed the SPRC moved their family to a different
appointment for invalid reasons. I wrote
back in frustration, The Committee did not move you. I moved
you to a different appointment. I hate taking such responsibility,
but that decision ultimately rests with me. Some people see
their appointments made by a capricious, unfair, or near-sighted
leader
who listen only to a few recalcitrant persons in a local
church. The truth is, I can never fully know my own motives.
I know
my intent and desire. The credit and blame for good and bad
appointments
belongs on my shoulders. On rare occasions, I receive dishonest,
inadequate, and inappropriate pieces of consultation. Yet,
I continue to seek multiple pieces of consultation and make
the
best decision possible with the advice and wisdom of some
of the best district superintendents one could ever hope to have
serving in the Cabinet.
My greatest consolation remains that
the Holy Spirit continues to work in and through these mortal,
sinful, broken vessels
to bring God's Kingdom here upon this earth, as it is in
heaven. God takes our feeble efforts, uses them, and transforms
them
to accomplish God's mission in our midst.
I hope that every pastor
and every congregation will lift the appointive cabinet and
me in prayer as we seek to be God instruments
in making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Grace & Peace, Max |
