Beginning A New Appointive Year – My Sixth

1 07 2011

Today I officially begin my sixth year under appointment as a pastor in The United Methodist Church. I have served in two roles as an associate pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

It is a joy and an honor to serve God in this place. I am looking forward to another year of serving God as a United Methodist pastor.

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Categories : leadership, ministry, united methodist church

What is a guaranteed appointment in the UMC?

28 06 2010

According to the 2008 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, “Every effective elder in full connection who is in good standing shall be continued under appointment by the bishop…” (¶334.1) There is conversation about changing the “shall” in this paragraph to “may.” This would, in effect, end a guaranteed appointment to serve at a local church.

In addition to the characteristics of an effective clergy person from ¶340 in the Book of Discipline, there are several other professional responsibilities that are necessary to continue to be eligible to be appointed to serve at a local church. According to ¶334.2, they are:

  • Be available for appointment
  • Complete an annual evaluation with both the church and District Superintendent
  • Show evidence of continuing effectiveness reflected in these annual reviews
  • Participate in continuing education and formation.
  • Willingness to supervise and mentor others

Shall, may, guarantee or not all this seems reasonable to me. How about you?


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Categories : ministry, renewing the church, united methodist church

Guaranteed Appointments: Discrimination and Prophetic Voice

25 06 2010

A few of the key points in favor of continuing guaranteed appointments include:

  • Guaranteed appointments prevents a congregation from hiring or firing a clergy person based on her or his race, color, national origin, or sex.
  • Guaranteed appointments prevents a congregation from hiring or firing a clergy person in response to their prophetic voice in the pulpit or pushing the congregations in directions that they do not wish to go.

Guaranteed appointments don’t make a difference in these areas of potential influence of the congregation. It is still up to the Bishop with the guidance of the cabinet to appoint clergy to churches. I trust the bishop and cabinet to be responsible and faithful in the appointment process. An open communication channel between the District Superintendent and the clergy person will prevent trouble in these areas.

If clergy are not guaranteed appointments, will churches be guaranteed to have clergy assigned to them?


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Categories : annual conference, church, renewing the church

Top 13 Characteristics of Effective Clergy

23 06 2010

Some of the hoopla around guaranteed appointments is around the question – How do you determine what makes for an effective clergy person? That’s easy. Straight from paragraph 340 of the Book of Discipline, an effective clergy person will…

  • love God and love their neighbor.
  • preach, teach, lead worship and engage people in witness.
  • provide spiritual guidance.
  • marry and bury.
  • visit people in their homes to provide care.
  • practice integrity in maintaining confidences.
  • be responsible for sharing baptism and holy communion.
  • provide administration for the local church, annual conference and general church.
  • be inclusive.
  • live as a servant leader.
  • organize the church to live out their faith in the world.
  • equip others in the care and spiritual formation of others.
  • work for unity in the church.

If a clergy person is gifted and effective in these things, there will be clear evidence in the church.

A clergy person with evidence of gifts and effectiveness will continue to be appointed regardless of her or his appointment being guaranteed.


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Categories : church, leadership, renewing the church

Pre Marital Appointment via Skype

8 06 2010

In a couple weeks, I will be officiating at the wedding of a couple who have recently moved to Texas. I met with them in person several months ago for our initial pre marital appointment. They were not able to travel to Kansas to be present again before the week of their wedding and asked if we could meet online for their next appointment. Despite being Pastor of Resurrection, this was my first premarital appointment online.

It was a great experience.

Like other online interactions I have experienced, it was helpful to have met them in person before. I would definitely do it again, as needed. What kinds of pastoral interactions have you had online?


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Categories : ministry

Speedlinking – July 6, 2009

6 07 2009

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Categories : blog

New Appointive Year

3 07 2009

As of July 1, 2009 I have completed three years under appointment as a United Methodist pastor. At this point my appointment history is pretty simple:

As I begin my fourth year of appointment, I am looking forward to ordination in 2010 in the Kansas West Annual Conference. I hope to continue to serve God as a United Methodist pastor for many years to come.


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Categories : church, leadership, united methodist church

April Fool’s Day

1 04 2009

I am going to be appointed to a different church in July.

Nicole and I are expecting a child.

We bought a new car.

There is a spider in your hair.

As far as I know, only one of the above is true. So choose the best as an April Fool’s Day message from me to you.

Which is your favorite?


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Categories : fun

What I Learned from the Board of Ordained Ministry

31 03 2009

Several weeks ago, I interviewed with the Board of Ordained Ministry in Kansas West and was continued as a provisional member of the conference. This is good news. It means that next year I will be eligible to be fully ordained and have all the rights and responsibilities of a clergy person within the United Methodist Church. I interviewed with a team of three persons – two clergy and one lay. I recognize that I am just starting out this ministry thing and always seek to learn from others. My final question for them was, “What advice would you have to offer me, as someone just starting out in ministry?” There responses are excellent.

  • Love the people.
  • Don’t denigrate what is happening when you first arrive in an appointment.
  • There are hands on practical things to do as a pastor – call when someone is not in worship, call when they come back to worship, make rounds like a doctor.

I appreciate all the wisdom that those who have gone before me in the path of ministry. I hope to always continue to learn from others.

What is some advice that you have received or that you have to offer for somone just starting out in ministry?


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Categories : leadership, ministry, renewing the church

Bishop Jones Said… (3 of 4)

12 02 2009

Another quote from Bishop Scott Jones at the Kansas East Residency Retreat:

“I am a Methodist preacher and I will go where the church sends me.”

I was struck by the plain missional approach in this statement. Being in ministry is not primarily about my goals, desires or needs. These are an important part of my life, but as a Methodist preacher, it is not my primary guidance as to where to go and how to be in ministry.

God is at work in the process of making appointments and I am committed to be able to say the same thing as Bishop Jones.

I am a Methodist pastor and I will go where the church sends me.


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Categories : united methodist church

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