While reading and considering the book: the blogging church, I began to think about how some of the themes presented in the book could be utilized in The United Methodist Church in the annual conference.
What if there was a blog about the appointment possibilities that the cabinet was considering?
While some annual conferences are increasing communication as appointments are made (i.e. – Kansas West and Kansas East), what if information was made available as it were considered. Would it decrease or increase the anxiety of any particular pastor if they were able to read and comment on an appointment that were being considered for them? What about for a congregation – if they could see what pastors were being considered for them, would that help or hurt?
I have great faith in the appointive process. I wonder how it could produce less anxiety for both pastors and congregations within The United Methodist Church?
Rev. Andrew Conard 
10 replies on “Appointment Blog”
Wikiappointments? I like the idea of more transparency, but I’m not sure this idea would work with appointments.
First of all, it seems that the privacy of the cabinet would afford more freedom to speak openly about the gifts and grace of ministers.
Second, I think it would create more competitive behaviors among pastors. What would you think if you were being considered for what you thought was a great fit at a plum appointment, when Joe or Sally Schmo down the street was placed there instead. As it is, in most cases we don’t know about these alternative plans, so we don’t give them a second thought.
Andrew,
Couple years ago the Baltimore Washington Conference got a new bishop and from what I’ve heard he has been really innovative including doing something with appointments on the web. Not sure of details but he might be thinking along those lines.
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Andrew,
Found your blog. I like it! Keep up the good work. Jeff in IN is a friend of mine, too.
In response to your article, I agree with Matt in that it might unintentionally produce competition. I ask myself how would I feel if my name were one of two up for a really cool church that I thought I was a fit for…Then, I find out that I’m not the one getting the appointment. Does that mean that the other pastor is better than me…after all we were both “good” fits?
Transparency is often good, but sometimes complete candor can actually be harmful…btw, never tell your girlfriend or wife that she looks fat in an outfit. Indeed, candor can be a bad thing.
Matt – Wikiappointments! I’m not sure that would quite be the right thing, but what if appointments were to work themselves out like that. There may be a mutual understanding of gifts and graces. You point out an absolutely key hole in this suggestion – privacy. I think that you are right on that more candid discussions are possible privately. Alternative plans, hmm… I think you are on to something here too… Hadn’t considered that. Thanks!
Gordon – do you have a link to which you can point us?
Mark – I appreciate your distinction between transparency and candor. There is a difference between having the process be open and clear and the actual discussions being open.
What other ways may lower anxiety during the time of appoitnments?
Thanks All
Honesty and communication are essential for lowering anxiety. To be honest, I think my conference does the best they can to get the best fits possible. Then again, I’m young and new to the process. My only real experience has been with my own appointment!
There may be real horror stories out there, but sometimes we “make our own appointments” so to speak. In other words, we all know people who have conflict in every situation they find themselves in. Sometimes we have to realize the common denominator in all of these situations is the person who is experiencing this.
Matt – True words. I agree with you and believe that God is at work in the appointment process for the best possible partnership in ministry. I appreciate your warning against making our own appointments. Thanks.
Andrew – thanks for prompting this discussion. I am not sure how well a blog for appointments would work. I think there is a fine line that needs to be walked between accountability for the appointments that are made as well as privacy so that strengths and weakness can be discussed in an open way.
Matt – I am guessing that you are right that most conferences do the best that they can to make the best fits possible. My question is: What does the cabinet value the most or place as the highest priority when making appointments. I don’t have much experience with D.S.s or bishops to generalize, but based on conversations with pastors (who might be D.S.s someday) to me there is a culture of “climbing the ladder” and there are many things that take precedence over gifts and grace. I am not sure I know exactly how that translates into appointments, but I am pretty sure it isn’t based on where you spouse’s job is or how close it is to a hospital.
My point is not at all that these things are irrelevant, but that appointments often seem to be made in large part due to practical things like that, more so than on really getting to know how God has gifted a pastor and what a church needs to move closer to God’s future – and then making appointments based on that above all else…
Having said all that, I think the cabinet has a much more difficult job in making appointments than I realize!
Kevin, thanks for your thoughts (and thanks to Andrew for a place to have this conversation!). I hear what you’re saying.
Sometimes it is disconcerting to know about the “practical” side of appointment making. Seeing the kitchen sometimes ruins the meal.
However, we serve a God who came among us as a particular person in a particular place. Jesus presumably cared about the details of people’s lives then, and still does today.
I say that to say this: in spite of the “ladder climbing” mentality that can rear its ugly head, I do believe practical concerns are important to God and therefore should be considered important by the Bishop and cabinet.
By the way, I really find “climbing the ladder” to be an unhelpful and unfortunate term. Is growth in gifts and graces climbing the spiritual ladder? What about sanctifying grace? Is that spiritual “ladder climbing” as well? If it is only about money, then appointment climbing is wrong.
If it is putting people with specific gifts for ministry in places where they can have broader impact for the kingdom, then it’s not wrong. I think the key here is honesty about who we are as pastors.
Sometimes I think all they need to show is a picture of the dart board or the dice they use….
I’ve only experienced appointments in my own conference, but so far I see much that is lacking. We have a semblence of consultation, but a fair amount of evidence that much of what is said in consultation is systematically ignored.
The scariest thing a DS ever said to me going into consultation was, “I feel like I know you pretty well.” I FELT like he didn’t know me at all – beyond perhaps, a basic familiarity with my appointment history.
Openness – if it were two way and not just a window on the process – might help weed out false information. I’ve had at least one person in leadership comment on my divorce – and I’m still married to my one and only wife. My brother, who serves in another conference, has been divorced, but this conversation took place prior to that event. With the level of “secrecy” at which they operate, it’s tough to know what they think they know about us and what needs correcting.
Finally, in my current appointment it goes much better for me than for my family. Ministry-wise I fit fine here. But they ignored everything I said about my family. But then maybe we’re supposed to sacrifice our families for the sake of the ministry. I’m just not convinced yet.
Twitter post from the cabinet would be a lot of fun. But we would have to up the dosage of anti-anxiety drugs that our Pastor’s consume should we choose to go that route:-)