By Reverend Ron Hines
Seven Rivers District Superintendent

Between February and June you’ll see several notices like this in the PNW News Digest: “It is the intention of Bishop Edward W. Paup to appoint Pastor X to the ABC United Methodist Church in Z-ville effective July 1, 2008.” This is prime time for appointing pastors to the “mission stations” that comprise the Pacific Northwest Conference. How does it work? Here’s one Superintendent’s view of the process.

The way our pastors and congregations are matched has seen many changes since the days of Brother Mack. From 1876 to 1915 he served 22 circuits, most composed of several preaching points. Each year he came to the Annual Conference, ready to be sent to a different circuit the next year, invited by a Presiding Elder (“District Superintendent”) and appointed by the Bishop. This circuit walker (with no horse!) would walk one circuit after another, gathering folks into communities where the gospel of Jesus Christ was experienced as life-changing good news.

Today, there is a lot more consultation. Here’s how Bishop Paup leads the process to discern how our pastors are sent for God’s mission among our congregations
and communities.

THE PROFILE
District superintendents regularly consult with pastors and with local church Pastor-Parish Relations committees. (In some cases the Superintendent designates another to do this consultation.) Charge Conferences in the fall often provide the backdrop for such consultation, but it can happen throughout the year. Profiles describing pastors and congregations are updated from time to time.

THE ADVISORY
When a pastor has been in a congregation for four years or more, Bishop Paup asks Pastor-Parish Relations Committees and pastors to advise whether the pastor remain or move. The Superintendent also makes a recommendation.

THE INVENTORY RETREAT
Although appointments may be made whenever the need arises, the usual appointment-making season begins in earnest with the Cabinet’s inventory retreat in mid-January. All churches and pastors are reviewed. How is the mission we share as an Annual Conference being carried out in each local “mission station?” Superintendents share with the Bishop the “advisories” and perspectives gleaned through consultations. Craig Parrish (Conference Treasurer) and David Valera (Director of Connectional Ministries) also share statistics and information available from Conference staff.

SQUIGGLE ON A WHITEBOARD
On a whiteboard in the Cabinet Conference room, we list “clear openings” created by retirements or other known pastoral vacancies (this year, there are 16 full-time and 12 part-time). We also list pastors “to be cared for,” those whom we are obligated to appoint. A file is also maintained of persons who have expressed interest in serving in our Conference. These lists of “clergy talent” and “ministry situations”
help us to keep in mind the larger picture as we reflect on specific local concerns. Sometimes we think about how best to use a particular person, but we typically start our work on the whiteboard by focusing on a particular congregation. The Superintendent presents the profile of the church, its context, and the pastoral leadership needs there. The name of the church is written on the whiteboard, and the Cabinet (beginning with that church’s Superintendent) lists names of pastors who might serve there. Discussion ensues and names are erased until only one remains, under which a squiggly line is drawn.

PRAYING TOWARD THE UNDERLINE
After prayer, silent meditation, and further discussion, the proposed candidate for appointment is either confirmed (by changing the squiggle to a straight underline) or held back for further discernment.

PHONE CALLS RAISE AN ARM
A phone call from the candidate’s Superintendent tests the willingness of that person to discuss a proposed move. The Superintendent also shares the congregation’s profile and expectations for the appointment. When the person agrees to be introduced as the new pastor in that setting, a straight line “arm” is drawn perpendicular to the underlining of the name on the whiteboard.

INTRODUCTION RAISES THE OTHER ARM
An introduction is arranged for the pastor to meet with the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee and discuss hopes for their partnership in ministry. This is not an interview of one candidate among many; it is an introduction of the person to be appointed. When both pastor and PPRC have given their consent, the other “arm” is added at the other end of the underline of the pastor’s name. Although the introduction is usually the beginning of a long-term relationship, sometimes the congregation’s committee or the pastor (or pastor’s family) will raise concerns that cause the Cabinet to reconsider the Bishop’s appointment, in which case, it’s back to the “whiteboard.”

ANNOUNCEMENT CAPS THE APPOINTMENT
As soon as possible after the meeting with the Pastor- Parish Relations Committee, a public announcement is made in the church that will receive the pastor and in the pastor’s current church, usually by reading a letter from the Superintendent in public worship. By drawing a line atop the appointee’s name, the Cabinet completes a box that celebrates that this appointment is ready to go. Where vacancies are created, the process begins again, but the Cabinet has usually already weighed carefully the impact of creating that vacancy.

3 C'S AND 3 P'S
By what criteria does Bishop Paup judge the appointment? He keeps in mind three C’s: Congregation, Context (or Community), and Connection (in The United Methodist
covenant). He evaluates pastors using three P’s: Performance,
Promise, and Passion.

THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS
It’s not perfect, but since the beginning of the Wesleyan movement, this “sending” of clergy has served the mission of making disciples. Persons in the Methodist covenant go where they are sent for the sake of the gospel. Is this old-fashioned as Brother Mack’s circuit riding? Through the years, it has proven to be effective. Several decades ago some community churches chose to become Methodist because the flexibility of our appointive system, in contrast to some other denominations, enabled us to guarantee them a Pastor. In Alaska, United Methodists are now providing clergy to remote villages, even in places where there are Presbyterian or Episcopalian churches, because of our culture of “sending” pastors.

(Note: The process is described primarily from the viewpoint of persons ordained as elders or licensed local Pastors and appointed to congregations. Deacons must seek their own ministry settings. Elders and Deacons appointed “beyond the local church” must have accountability procedures in place in their setting.)
Reverend Ron Hines serves the Seven Rivers District as its Co-Superintendent with Reverend Steve Schroeder.